context

American  

[kon-tekst] / ˈkɒn tɛkst /

noun

1. the parts of a written or spoken statement that precede or follow a specific word or passage, usually influencing its meaning or effect.

   You have misinterpreted my remark because you took it out of context.

2. the set of circumstances or facts that surround a particular event, situation, etc.

   Synonyms:

   climate , milieu , background

3. Mycology.  the fleshy fibrous body of the pileus in mushrooms.

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context British  

/ ˈkɒntɛkst /

noun

1. the parts of a piece of writing, speech, etc, that precede and follow a word or passage and contribute to its full meaning

   it is unfair to quote out of context

2. the conditions and circumstances that are relevant to an event, fact, etc

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Usage

What is context? Context is a noun that means the parts of a statement that immediately precede or follow a specific section of the statement and help explain that section. The context of a specific text clarifies the meaning of that text, as in When the politician was asked to apologize for lying, he claimed that he had been quoted out of context and that he wasn’t actually lying. Context is also the conditions related to an event or situation that helps a person understand the event or situation. Conditions can include surroundings (where something took place), circumstances (what else was happening at the time), and background (such as events that happened before). For example, the context of a historical event, such as what else was happening at the time and how people understood their environment, can help us better understand the event itself.One common expression that uses word context is context clues. Context clues are hints within a piece of writing that help us understand something unfamiliar, such as a word. For example, if you came across the word ethereal in a text, context clues could help you figure out that it means "delicate" and "beautiful." Another common expression that includes the word context is out of context. This expression is used to explain that the reason people understood a statement or text incorrectly was because the statement was removed from its surrounding text, which distorted its meaning. Example: Understanding the historical and scientific contexts of the Romantic period are essential to understanding Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein.”

Other Word Forms

• contextless adjective

Etymology

Origin of context

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin contextus “a joining together, scheme, structure,” past participle of contexere “to join by weaving,” equivalent to con- con- + texere “to plait, weave”; text

Example Sentences

“Problems with his brain? Um. Can you give me a little more context?”

From Salon

“This process spans eight weeks, involves coordination across 10 departments, and requires maintaining context over a long period,” Szczerba said.

From The Wall Street Journal

David Bier, director of immigration studies at the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank, said the government is relying on the shocking percentages, without proper context, to advance a narrative.

From Los Angeles Times

"All of this occurs in a larger global context where radical ideas are more mainstream and socially acceptable, manifested in this particular Croatian context," he said.

From Barron's

Given that context, a 1-1 draw secured through Mikel Merino's header to leave the Gunners five points clear at the top of the table is far from a poor result.

From BBC

Related Words

• background
• situation
• text