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
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
By her 2nd birthday — when most children are expected to recognize basic shapes and colors and converse in short two-to-four word sentences — Alisa had already mastered the alphabet and could count into the hundreds.
—
Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2025
Naming storms after the Greek alphabet, done only twice in history when there were so many storms in a season that all of the names in the regular storm list were used, was also discontinued after the the record-breaking active 2020 hurricane season.
—Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 22 May 2025
Kermit, Cookie Monster, Elmo, and all their friends have been teaching kids not just to count and say the alphabet, but to love and accept your neighbor, since 1969.
—Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 19 May 2025
Use your foot to write each letter of the alphabet in the air, leading with the big toe.
—Sarah Jividen, Verywell Health, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for alphabet
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Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2025
Naming storms after the Greek alphabet, done only twice in history when there were so many storms in a season that all of the names in the regular storm list were used, was also discontinued after the the record-breaking active 2020 hurricane season.
—Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 22 May 2025
Kermit, Cookie Monster, Elmo, and all their friends have been teaching kids not just to count and say the alphabet, but to love and accept your neighbor, since 1969.
—Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 19 May 2025
Use your foot to write each letter of the alphabet in the air, leading with the big toe.
—Sarah Jividen, Verywell Health, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for alphabet
Cite this Entry
“Alphabet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alphabet. Accessed 29 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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