alphabetic

[ al-fuh-bet-ik ]

adjective

1. relating to, expressed by, or using an alphabet:

   The language uses alphabetic writing.

2. alphabetical ( def 1 ).

Other Words From

• non·al·pha·bet·ic adjective
• un·al·pha·bet·ic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of alphabetic¹

First recorded in 1640–50; from French alphabétique, from Late Latin alphabēticus, equivalent to alphabet ( def ) + -ic ( def )

Example Sentences

What appears to be evidence of the oldest alphabetic writing in human history is etched onto finger-length, clay cylinders excavated from a tomb in Syria by a team of Johns Hopkins University researchers.

From Science Daily

From talks to tricolours, tribulations and tremors - here's my alphabetic run-down of the past 12 months in Northern Ireland politics.

From BBC

Here is my alphabetic rundown of the past 12 months.

From BBC

As the scientists explain in an article published Wednesday in the Jerusalem Journal of Archaeology, the 17 letters on the comb form the oldest full, decipherable sentence ever found in an early alphabetic script.

From New York Times

“There are just not enough securely dated early alphabetic inscriptions currently known,” he said.

From Seattle Times