Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

isogloss

noun
iso·​gloss | \ ˈī-sə-ˌgläs How to pronounce isogloss (audio) , -ˌglȯs\

Definition of isogloss

1 : a boundary line between places or regions that differ in a particular linguistic feature
2 : a line on a map representing an isogloss

Other Words from isogloss

isoglossal \ ˌī-​sə-​ˈglä-​səl How to pronounce isoglossal (audio) , -​ˈglȯ-​ \ adjective
isoglossic \ ˌī-​sə-​ˈglä-​sik How to pronounce isoglossic (audio) , -​ˈglȯ-​ \ adjective

First Known Use of isogloss

1925, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for isogloss

International Scientific Vocabulary is- + Greek glōssa language — more at gloss

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about isogloss

Statistics for isogloss

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for isogloss

The first known use of isogloss was in 1925

See more words from the same year

More from Merriam-Webster on isogloss

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with isogloss

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about isogloss

Comments on isogloss

What made you want to look up isogloss? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

propitious

Listen to the pronounciation of propitious

likely to have or produce good results

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Words from Greek and Latin Quiz

  • roman forum
  • Which of the following months comes from a Latin word for “ten”?
How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games