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

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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

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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 On Saturday, that language bent toward Parton — nowhere more naturally than in Tennessee. — Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026 Many nurses and union officials said strengthening the law is essential and that the law’s language is unclear, leaving it open to different interpretations. — Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 6 Sep. 2026 In Westchester County, New York, AI tools are used to help English language learners or guide students' research. — Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2026 Babbel teaches 14 languages, including Spanish, French, German, and Italian, with lessons written by more than 150 linguists rather than generated by AI. — Stackcommerce Team, PC Magazine, 6 Sep. 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
  • Kitchen grandmacore could show up in that vocabulary within a year.
    — Ashley Lynch, Sacbee.com, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Lowenstein told me that the evolving maps have drained the meaning from those Obama-era debates about the viability of a Palestinian state, forcing a revision of the vocabulary that American politicians use to talk about the conflict.
    — David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of vocabulary
Noun
  • The terminology may differ, but the underlying patterns rarely do.
    — Farzana Abdulhusein, Forbes.com, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Lloyd will wear the green dot in Charlotte, however, with Okereke just trying to learn the terminology.
    — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of terminology
Noun
  • Touma said that, not unlike today, access to education and wealth often affected one's diction and vocabulary.
    — Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 23 Aug. 2026
  • 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
Definition of diction
Noun
  • And, in recent years, a new culinary wave has emerged, as chefs create bold fusion dishes or, more subtly, adapt Japanese recipes to uniquely Brazilian produce, from Amazon river fish to jambu, a tongue-tingling herb.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 6 Sep. 2026
  • The shoe also features a double-lace system that keeps the tongue in place and makes the fit feel more secure and sock-like.
    — Jasmine Gomez, Travel + Leisure, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of tongue
Noun
  • Owner and chef Stefania Marchesini, who fished professionally herself for 11 years, pays a premium to local fishermen, especially for soft-shell crabs known in the local dialect as moeche.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Sep. 2026
  • What used to be two entirely separate compliance projects is starting to look like two dialects of the same emerging language.
    — Abdelahhad Barbour, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of dialect
Noun
  • Inside a large company, familiar questions return with slightly different wording.
    — Erum Manzoor, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Analysts suggest this may reflect that as the Fed gradually downplays forward guidance, market sensitivity to Fed wording—as well as the Fed's overall influence over markets—could be waning.
    — , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of wording
Noun
  • In the more compressed idiom of three-act-movie storytelling, this chapter would represent the end of act two, when all hope appears lost.
    — Chris Klimek, Vulture, 2 Sep. 2026
  • There are plenty of idioms to describe Andrean outside hitter Aleece Ehler’s freshman season.
    — Noah Poser, Chicago Tribune, 18 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

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Cite this Entry

“Language.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/language. Accessed 10 Sep. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about language

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