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Synonyms

lexical

American  
[lek-si-kuhl] / ˈlɛk sɪ kəl /

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 British  
/ ˈlɛksɪkəl, ˌlɛksɪˈkælɪtɪ /

adjective

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

  2. of or relating to a lexicon

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of lexical

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

Explanation

Something that is lexical is related to words. A dictionary is lexical, as is a tongue-twister! Lexicon is a fancy word for a dictionary. The word lexical is an adjective that describes anything that pertains to words or vocabulary, or to even language more generally. Solving a crossword puzzle is a lexical activity. A linguist, or someone who studies words for a living, has a lexical job. If you find yourself frequently correcting people when they misuse words, then it's likely you have a love of all things lexical.

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