plural dialects
: a form of a language that is spoken in a particular area and that uses some of its own words, grammar, and pronunciations
They speak a southern dialect of French.
peasant/regional/local dialects
The author uses dialect in his writing.
The play was hard to understand when the characters spoke in dialect.
Cite this Entry
“Dialect.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/dialect. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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