idiolect

[ id-ee-uh-lekt ]

noun

, Linguistics.

1. a person's individual speech pattern. Compare dialect ( def 1 ).

idiolect

/ ˈɪdɪəˌlɛkt /

noun

1. the variety or form of a language used by an individual

Derived Forms

• ˌidioˈlectal, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of idiolect¹

First recorded in 1945–50; idio- + -lect, as in dialect