linguistic
Americanadjective
-
of or relating to language
-
of or relating to linguistics
Other Word Forms
- linguistically adverb
- nonlinguistic adjective
- pseudolinguistic adjective
- pseudolinguistically adverb
Etymology
Origin of linguistic
Explanation
Use the adjective linguistic to describe anything related to language, like the linguistic difficulties you might have if you visit a place where you do not speak the same language as everyone else. The word linguistic combines the noun linguist, meaning "a master of language, one who uses his tongue freely," with the adjective suffix -ic. It describes something that’s related to language, such as a linguistic theory about why some people drop the g sound in saying words ending in -ing. Or, if you want to brag about how good your vocabulary is, then rave about your linguistic skills.
Vocabulary lists containing linguistic
TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
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100 SAT Words Beginning with "J," "K," and "L"
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"A Night to Remember," Vocabulary from the history writing
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Nobody forced Mr. Rousseau to make a video and demonstrate his linguistic shortcomings.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026
A new study finds that about one-third of long-standing "linguistic universals" are backed by strong statistical evidence when tested using modern evolutionary methods.
From Science Daily • Apr. 5, 2026
The party also sought a constitutional provision that reflects the linguistic split between English and French-speaking regions.
From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026
Sauer therefore engaged in his first bit of linguistic legerdemain, telling the court, “ ‘Allegiance’ is what jurisdiction means.”
From Slate • Apr. 2, 2026
The powerlessness of dictionaries to enforce the prescriptivists’ dream of preventing linguistic change does not mean that the dictionaries are doomed to preside over a race to the bottom.
From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
