as in colloquial
used in or suitable for speech and not formal writing
writes essays in a very easy-to-read, vernacular style
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in idiom
Related Words
2
as in binomial
Related Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of vernacular
Jake Lundberg, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026
The design once enjoyed by Javanese nobility references the sacred Javanese architectural vernacular style of saka guru, which represents the cardinal directions and has spiritual significance too.
—Kathryn Romeyn, Architectural Digest, 9 Mar. 2026
Molly Lambert, Vulture, 20 Apr. 2026
AmEx changes the American lexicon American Express invested a lot in its marketing and advertising — many campaigns became award-winning industry standouts — and many have become part of the American vernacular.
—Nancy Cutler, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for vernacular
Adjective
Language, Chandler protests, lives and flourishes in bent rules, vernacular expressions—the unruly stuff of life.
—Jake Lundberg, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026
The design once enjoyed by Javanese nobility references the sacred Javanese architectural vernacular style of saka guru, which represents the cardinal directions and has spiritual significance too.
—Kathryn Romeyn, Architectural Digest, 9 Mar. 2026
Noun
Fontana would write dialogue for the character in American vernacular, and Akinnuoye-Agbaje would translate it into Nigerian pidgin.
—Molly Lambert, Vulture, 20 Apr. 2026
AmEx changes the American lexicon American Express invested a lot in its marketing and advertising — many campaigns became award-winning industry standouts — and many have become part of the American vernacular.
—Nancy Cutler, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for vernacular
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vernacular
Adjective
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Spaar’s colloquial flippancies only reinforces her fervency.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 May 2026
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The women’s game’s limited coverage meant his other honours with Umea — reaching two more UEFA Cup finals and five domestic trophies — were appreciated on a more colloquial level.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
Noun
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The Western musical tradition is mostly sidelined in favor of kuduro, gqom, batida, and sounds too free of familiar musical idioms to be easily categorized.—
Will Lynch,
Pitchfork,
11 May 2026
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While the work’s English title might indicate a sense of amusement or distraction, the Chinese title is an idiom that refers to being caught in a dilemma, like a boat that has left one shore but has not yet reached the other.—
Pauline J. Yao,
Artforum,
2 May 2026
Noun
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Whatever its origin story, it might be argued that as the shortest binomial composed entirely of vowels, Ia io gives scientists reason enough to shout hurrah.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
8 May 2026
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There was no third option in this binomial exercise.—
Chantel Jennings,
The Athletic,
24 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The exhibit’s title is derived from a Spanish colloquialism.—
Uwa Ede-Osifo,
Dallas Morning News,
13 Feb. 2026
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Ways to learn a new language Apps are a good way to learn the basics and proper pronunciation, but many colloquialisms, abbreviations and grammatically informal expressions used by fluent or native speakers aren’t taught on apps or in language classes.—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
12 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Even the name is a misnomer, Mackey said, since the same pain can arise among women who’ve had other procedures, including lumpectomies and lymph node surgeries.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
11 Apr. 2026
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Even the name is a misnomer, Mackey said, since the same pain can arise among women who’ve had other procedures, including lumpectomies and lymph node surgeries.—
Brett Kelman,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The Space Force has inked contracts with emerging space companies—non-traditional primes, in military contracting parlance—to buy services, manufacture satellites and payloads, and launch rockets.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
13 May 2026
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The decision singled out these compounders, which are known as 503B facilities in regulatory parlance, after growing controversy over their role in making weight loss treatments available over the past few years.—
Ed Silverman,
STAT,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
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One of them was Gleevec — though at the time it wasn't known by its brand name.—
Sydney Lupkin,
NPR,
10 May 2026
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Botox is a brand name for Botulinum toxin, which is used as a cosmetic treatment for wrinkles.—
Flint McColgan,
Boston Herald,
8 May 2026
Noun
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To qualify as critical regionalism, contemporary architecture had to use traditional tropes and local materials in unfamiliar variations, refuse to treat a site as just another blank slate, and use structure in an expressive way, visibly connected to a building’s purpose.—
Justin Davidson,
Curbed,
28 Jan. 2026
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Just don’t let the deniers know that regionalism and sustainability are essentially one and the same.—
Richard Olsen,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Vernacular.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vernacular. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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