diachronic

American

[dahy-uh-kron-ik] / ˌdaɪ əˈkrɒn ɪk /

adjective

Linguistics.

of or relating to the changes in a linguistic system between successive points in time; historical.

diachronic analysis.

diachronic British

/ ˌdaɪəˈkrɒnɪk /

adjective

of, relating to, or studying the development of a phenomenon through time; historical Compare synchronic

diachronic linguistics

"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

diachronically adverb
diachronicness noun

Etymology

Origin of diachronic

1925–30; < French diachronique (term introduced by F. de Saussure); dia-, chronic

Compare meaning

How does diachronic compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

synchronic vs. diachronic

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.

In a publication, to appear soon, it is argued that both the syntax of subordination and negation systems in Tonya show different patterns and thus diachronic development from the Çaykara variety.

From Science Daily

But by making unlikely connections between well-described locations and events separated by aeons, she gives voice to those witchy, diachronic feelings in a spectacular fashion.

From Economist

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023