pho·nol·o·gy
fə-ˈnä-lə-jē 
fō-
1
: the science of speech sounds including especially the history and theory of sound changes in a language or in two or more related languages
phonological
ˌfō-nə-ˈlä-ji-kəl
adjective
also ˌfä-
or less commonly phonologic
ˌfō-nə-ˈlä-jik
also ˌfä-
pho·no·log·i·cal
¦fōnᵊl¦äjə̇kəl
-jēk-
variants
or less commonly phonologic
-jik
-jēk
: of or relating to phonology
Examples of phonology in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Steve Nadis, Wired News, 14 Dec. 2025
In the phonology task, the group made up 30 new mini-languages, as Beguš called them, to find out whether the LLMs could correctly infer the phonological rules without any prior knowledge.
—Steve Nadis, Quanta Magazine, 31 Oct. 2025
An expert in music and mathematics and an authority on English phonology, he had been contacted by the editor James Murray to assist with compiling what would become the Oxford English Dictionary.
—Malcolm Forbes, WSJ, 7 Dec. 2023
The calls and songs of some species in these groups appear to have even more in common with human language, such as conveying information intentionally and using simple forms of some of the elements of human language such as phonology, semantics and syntax.
—Betsy Mason, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Feb. 2022
Baker-Bell says Black language is a legitimate language with syntax, grammatical features, phonology and semantics.
—USA Today, 17 June 2021
The authors then tried to predict the tabooness of each word based on 23 variables, which included both semantics (meaning) and phonology (word length and sound).
—Neuroskeptic, Discover Magazine, 31 Mar. 2020
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Noun
The researchers also carried out experiments related to phonology—the study of the pattern of sounds and of the way the smallest units of sound, called phonemes, are organized.
—Steve Nadis, Wired News, 14 Dec. 2025
In the phonology task, the group made up 30 new mini-languages, as Beguš called them, to find out whether the LLMs could correctly infer the phonological rules without any prior knowledge.
—Steve Nadis, Quanta Magazine, 31 Oct. 2025
An expert in music and mathematics and an authority on English phonology, he had been contacted by the editor James Murray to assist with compiling what would become the Oxford English Dictionary.
—Malcolm Forbes, WSJ, 7 Dec. 2023
The calls and songs of some species in these groups appear to have even more in common with human language, such as conveying information intentionally and using simple forms of some of the elements of human language such as phonology, semantics and syntax.
—Betsy Mason, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Feb. 2022
Baker-Bell says Black language is a legitimate language with syntax, grammatical features, phonology and semantics.
—USA Today, 17 June 2021
The authors then tried to predict the tabooness of each word based on 23 variables, which included both semantics (meaning) and phonology (word length and sound).
—Neuroskeptic, Discover Magazine, 31 Mar. 2020
Cite this Entry
“Phonology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/phonology. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
phonology
noun
pho·nol·o·gy
fə-ˈnäl-ə-jē, fō-
plural phonologies
1
: the science of speech sounds including especially the history and theory of sound changes in a language or in two or more related languages
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