language

noun

ˈlaŋ-gwij How to pronounce language (audio)
Definition of languagenext
1
as in vocabulary
the stock of words, pronunciation, and grammar used by a people as their basic means of communication Great Britain, the United States, Australia, and other countries where English is the dominant language

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in terminology
the special terms or expressions of a particular group or field "love" means "nothing" in the language of tennis

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in diction
the way in which something is put into words we're finding the language of the legal documents to be tough going

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of language After graduating, he was hired as a reporter for Manoto, a Persian-language television channel based in London that, at the time, was one of the most-watched in Iran. — Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2026 The language surrounding the change encourages that interpretation. — Stefanie Waldek, Space.com, 24 Aug. 2026 Carney said the disagreement over French language rules for American companies amounted to an attack on Canada’s culture and identity. — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 24 Aug. 2026 The sticking points were both economic and cultural, with Quebec’s French-language laws even coming under attack. — Diane Brady, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for language
Recent Examples of Synonyms for language
  1. vocabulary
  2. terminology
  3. diction
  4. tongue
  5. dialect
  6. wording
  7. idiom
  8. slang
Noun
  • The long-form video uses the vocabulary of New Age therapy to achieve satirical retail wellness.
    — Sharon Edelson, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Having never been exposed to pictures, the children invented their own visual vocabulary.
    — Rachel Aviv, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of vocabulary
Noun
  • Standardizing Treasury Metrics Faces Real Obstacles The first obstacle is linked to terminology and classification, which while seemingly straightforward to address, have remained an open item for the accounting profession.
    — Sean Stein Smith, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • ChatGPT, however, rendered the scene using sterile, abstract terminology.
    — Billy J. Stratton, The Conversation, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of terminology
Noun
  • Regrettably, even after all this time living here, my bride never fails to seize the opportunity to suggest my diction is something less than poifect.
    — Irv Erdos, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026
  • This was a lexicon both earthy and expansive, a diction vulgar and elevated, granular and capricious.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 July 2026
Definition of diction
Noun
  • But by Friday, and with jurors barely out of the room for a recess, Keffe D couldn’t hold his tongue any longer, accusing the prosecutor’s office and their witnesses of putting his address on the street.
    — Andy Rose, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
  • The sneaker is built around a black suede upper with the spicy red shade appearing on the Air Jordan 5’s signature shark teeth midsole design, the visible Air unit, outsole Jumpman logo and on the inner tongue branding.
    — Riley Jones, Footwear News, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of tongue
Noun
  • Researchers have built ArabCulture-Dialogue, the first benchmark for testing whether leading AI models can understand and converse in Modern Standard Arabic and 13 national dialects.
    — Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 19 Aug. 2026
  • But after Carter reset the unit later that year by bringing in new leaders who were native speakers of both the tech world’s dialect and the language of warfighting, the organization succeeded in building a bridge between the two communities.
    — Doug Beck, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of dialect
Noun
  • Libra September 23 – October 22 The text, pickup time, or travel detail may need clearer wording today.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 20 Aug. 2026
  • There are caveats in the wording, which allow treatment as before if the keeper is fouled or suffers an impact injury and needs immediate attention.
    — Graham Scott, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of wording
Noun
  • There are plenty of idioms to describe Andrean outside hitter Aleece Ehler’s freshman season.
    — Noah Poser, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The Dodgers acquired Skubal in an abundantly predictable bombshell trade with the Detroit Tigers in exchange for a trio of prospects, wanting to test the idiom that a ballclub can never have enough pitching.
    — Mirjam Swanson, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of idiom
Noun
  • Young artists like the members of the Chilean boy band Q_ARE are fusing these elements with Latin music styles, Spanish and English lyrics and Chilean slang to pioneer a uniquely Latino pop subgenre.
    — Brittney Melton, NPR, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The latest slang to capture the Gen Z zeitgeist is a way to say poser, try-hard or fraud.
    — Rachel Hale, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of slang

Phrases Containing language

Browse Nearby Words

laneways
language
languages
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Language.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/language. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on language

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about language

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of devolve

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

16 Glee-ridden Words from Schitt's Creek
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
alt-684346df967d5
Add A Letter Quiz Pick the letter that goes in the same spot in fou...
See All