as in dialect
the special terms or expressions of a particular group or field
the medical patois that the hospital staffers used among themselves was incomprehensible to me
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of patois
Elliott spits her verses in patois, freeing up space on the track for the drums to get some before Cartel and M.I.A. slide through.
41.
—
Steven J. Horowitz, Vulture, 11 Apr. 2025
And so there’s West Indian patois and language and music and food.
—Vanessa Franko, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2025
There are countless examples like these, in which English scaffolding has adapted to the demands and the cultural heritage of its speakers, from Jamaican patois to Tok Pisin, of New Guinea.
—Manvir Singh, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024
Instead, viewers are immersed in Millie’s Kingston, with dialogue spoken almost entirely in Jamaican patois, where opportunities are limited, gang violence persists and whiteness is still put on a pedestal.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 25 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for patois
Steven J. Horowitz, Vulture, 11 Apr. 2025
And so there’s West Indian patois and language and music and food.
—Vanessa Franko, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2025
There are countless examples like these, in which English scaffolding has adapted to the demands and the cultural heritage of its speakers, from Jamaican patois to Tok Pisin, of New Guinea.
—Manvir Singh, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024
Instead, viewers are immersed in Millie’s Kingston, with dialogue spoken almost entirely in Jamaican patois, where opportunities are limited, gang violence persists and whiteness is still put on a pedestal.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 25 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for patois
Recent Examples of Synonyms for patois
Noun
-
Yet Cornelius Krull, the patriarch, speaks only a German dialect and never utters more than two words.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
14 May 2026
-
Many older residents speak not just Italian and Croatian, but also a local dialect derived from Old Venetian and Old Croatian.—
Kevin West,
Travel + Leisure,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
The terminology was already there.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
11 May 2026
-
Benefit structures also include terminology and rules that require careful interpretation.—
Jason Phillips,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
That tension has long been part of Stewart’s red carpet shoe vocabulary.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
16 May 2026
-
Swifties often attempt to speak or sing as Taylor Swift does, employing a similar vocabulary and vocalizations.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
Akil had a stammer, and English was his third or fourth language.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 May 2026
-
There are languages besides English and Spanish.—
Steve Sadin,
Chicago Tribune,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
How did the name Go-Go being used as slang for parties come about?—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
11 May 2026
-
The home was dubbed Snowman in honor of Bryan’s late brother, Chris, who earned the nickname from the golf slang for a score of eight on an individual hole.—
Katie Schultz,
Architectural Digest,
16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Patois.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/patois. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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