lexical

[lek-si-kuhl]

adjective

1. of or relating to the words or vocabulary of a language, especially as distinguished from its grammatical and syntactical aspects.

2. of, relating to, or of the nature of a lexicon.

lexical

/ ˈlɛksɪkəl, ˌlɛksɪˈkælɪtɪ /

adjective

1. of or relating to items of vocabulary in a language

2. of or relating to a lexicon

Other Word Forms

• lexicality noun
• lexically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of lexical¹

First recorded in 1830–40; lexic(on) + -al ¹

Example Sentences

"Internet culture is changing the English language and the effect is fascinating to observe and capture in the dictionary," said lexical programme manager Colin McIntosh.

From BBC

People who speak English alongside other languages fill lexical gaps by "borrowing the untranslatable word from another language".

From BBC

She found that high-scoring essays shared features related more to the ability to express complex meaning, such as lexical diversity, noun modification, and soundness and number of arguments, than to structural complexity.

From Science Daily

Both reminiscing and book sharing increased the lexical richness of parent speech compared to toy play.

From Science Daily

No other lexical inspiration has been identified though,” the dictionary noted in an explanation published Monday.

From Washington Times

Related Words

• rhetorical 
• unwritten