alphabet

noun

al·​pha·​bet ˈal-fə-ˌbet 

-bət

1

a

: a set of letters or other characters with which one or more languages are written especially if arranged in a customary order

b

: a system of signs or signals that serve as equivalents for letters

2

: rudiments, elements

Synonyms

• ABC(s)
• basics
• elements
• essentials
• fundamentals
• grammar
• principles
• rudiments

Examples of alphabet in a Sentence

The Roman alphabet begins with “A” and ends with “Z.”

you need to learn the alphabet of genealogy before you can move on to more advanced study

Recent Examples on the Web

That became a reality on May 12, 1971 with the opening of Kopper Kettle – spelled with a K because there are no Cs in the Greek alphabet. —Shannon Greene, Charlotte Observer, 24 Apr. 2024

The recruits were forced to list the Greek alphabet and Founding Fathers, Tran wrote in the letter describing the events and provided to The Sacramento Bee. —Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 18 Apr. 2024

In the Artists Space exhibit, one drawing from 1964 seems to re-enact their embrace at the far end of the alphabet. —Walker Mimms, New York Times, 17 Apr. 2024

In contrast, in tests with the Omniglot database of 1,623 different handwritten characters from 50 different alphabets, Taichi displayed an accuracy of 91.89 percent, comparable to its electronic counterparts. —IEEE Spectrum, 12 Apr. 2024

Last May, Haim paid a visit to Sesame Street to sing through the alphabet with Elmo and his friends. —Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 6 Mar. 2024

Emojis are the hieroglyphs of the future, heralding a new era beyond the alphabet. —Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 8 Apr. 2024

The penguin’s voice teaches the alphabet and counting, among other educational features. —Maya Polton, Parents, 29 Mar. 2024

The lists include carnivals, alphabets, and equestrian games; traditions of boatbuilding and polyphonic song; systems of irrigation, navigation, divination, and conflict remediation; and at least one constitution—the Manden Charter, proclaimed eight centuries ago in present-day Mali. —Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English alphabete, from Late Latin alphabetum, from Greek alphabētos, from alpha + bēta beta

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing alphabet

• alphabet soup
• Arabic alphabet
• Aramaic alphabet
• Latin alphabet
• manual alphabet
• mixed alphabet
• phonetic alphabet
• the Roman alphabet

Kids Definition

alphabet

noun

al·​pha·​bet ˈal-fə-ˌbet 

-bət

1

: the letters of a language arranged in their usual order

2

: a system of signs or signals that serve as equivalents for letters

Etymology

Middle English alphabete "alphabet," derived from Greek alphabētos "alphabet," from alpha and bēta, the first and second letters of the Greek alphabet