lexicographer

American  

[lek-si-kog-ruh-fer] / ˌlɛk sɪˈkɒg rə fər /

noun

1. a writer, editor, or compiler of a dictionary.

---

Etymology

Origin of lexicographer

1650–60; < Late Greek lexikográph ( os ) ( see lexicon, -graph) + -er ¹

---

Explanation

Ever wonder who writes dictionaries? They're called lexicographers. A lexicographer studies words and compiles the results into a dictionary. This is one of several words for a certain type of writer or editor. Just as a playwright writes plays and a poet writes poems, a lexicographer puts together dictionaries. Lexicographer come up with definitions, determines parts of speech, gives pronunciations, and sometimes provides example sentences. Lexicographer need to do a lot of research to make sure they're defining a word correctly; dictionaries are books that people need to trust. If you love words, you might enjoy being a lexicographer.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

lexicographer

All of these shows are also airing during a sea change in the way Americans speak, according to lexicographer Jesse Sheidlower.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 31, 2023

“The further back in history, the less we can find Black people having agency over how we’re written about,” said Bianca Jenkins, a lexicographer working on the project.

From Seattle Times ● May 27, 2023

That is according to responses to a tongue-in-cheek tweet from Countdown wordsmith and lexicographer Susie Dent.

From BBC ● May 18, 2023

“Watching that spell-off, you got a real sense of the actual work of preparing for the Bee,” said Kory Stamper, a lexicographer and the author of “Word by Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries.”

From New York Times ● Jun. 2, 2022

“Difficult do you call it, Sir?” the lexicographer Samuel Johnson once said after hearing a violinist perform.

From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---

Related Words

• linguist
• wordsmith

---