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 of alphabet

• elements
• principles
• grammar
• basis

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

Now it’s called H-40, referring to August of this year (H is the eighth letter of the alphabet), and the 40th release overall. — Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 6 Nov. 2026

His previous grid played with the NATO alphabet; today’s puzzle has fun with a different writing system. — Sean McGowan, New York Times, 5 Nov. 2026

Summaries of the Hebrew, Greek, and Latin alphabets in the beginning of the codex are accompanied by the Cyrillic and Slavic (Glagolitic) alphabets, which were added to the codex in the 14th century. — Laura Payne, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026

On that day, those two letters — MS — were so much more than a couple of symbols from the alphabet. — Lindsay Karp, STAT, 23 Oct. 2026

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

Rhymes for alphabet

• arpanet
• bassinet
• bayonet
• biuret
• cigarette
• clarinet
• coronet
• coverlet
• dataset
• epithet
• ethernet
• heavyset

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