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dialect

[ dahy-uh-lekt ]
/ ˈdaɪ əˌlɛkt /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR dialect

noun

Linguistics. a variety of a language that is distinguished from other varieties of the same language by features of phonology, grammar, and vocabulary, and by its use by a group of speakers who are set off from others geographically or socially.
a provincial, rural, or socially distinct variety of a language that differs from the standard language, especially when considered as substandard.
a special variety of a language: The literary dialect is usually taken as the standard language.
a language considered as one of a group that have a common ancestor: Persian, Latin, and English are Indo-European dialects.
jargon or cant.

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Origin of dialect

First recorded in 1545–55; from Latin dialectus, from Greek diálektos “discourse, language, dialect,” equivalent to dialég(esthai) “to converse” (dia- “through, between” + légein “to speak”) + -tos verbal adjective suffix; see origin at dia-

SYNONYMS FOR dialect

2 idiom, patois.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR dialect

synonym study for dialect

2. See language.

OTHER WORDS FROM dialect

sub·di·a·lect, noun

Words nearby dialect

diagrammatic, diagraph, diakinesis, dial, dial down, dialect, dialectal, dialect atlas, dialect geography, dialectic, dialectical
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Content related to dialect

3 Easy Tips For Writing Realistic DialectsMany writers use dialects to enhance realism in their stories, especially for characters in specific locations. However, it’s easy to overuse or misuse dialects if you aren't careful. To use them correctly, there are a few guidelines to keep in mind.
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Words related to dialect

patois, vocabulary, language, accent, idiom, pronunciation, vernacular, lingo, tongue, jargon, terminology, slang, patter, argot, cant, provincialism, localism, regionalism

Example sentences from the Web for dialect

British Dictionary definitions for dialect

dialect
/ (ˈdaɪəˌlɛkt) /

noun

  1. a form of a language spoken in a particular geographical area or by members of a particular social class or occupational group, distinguished by its vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation
  2. a form of a language that is considered inferiorthe farmer spoke dialect and was despised by the merchants
  3. (as modifier)a dialect word

Derived forms of dialect

dialectal, adjective

Word Origin for dialect

C16: from Latin dialectus, from Greek dialektos speech, dialect, discourse, from dialegesthai to converse, from legein to talk, speak
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