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Synonyms

linguistic

American  
[ling-gwis-tik] / lɪŋˈgwɪs tɪk /

adjective

  1. of or belonging to language.

    linguistic change.

  2. of or relating to linguistics.


linguistic British  
/ lɪŋˈɡwɪstɪk /

adjective

  1. of or relating to language

  2. of or relating to 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

Etymology

Origin of linguistic

First recorded in 1830–40; linguist + -ic

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.

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Vocabulary lists containing linguistic

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.

See Examples For:

This dual-language class is also a federally funded Head Start program — long considered a gold standard in early childhood education — and must integrate learning with each child’s cultural and linguistic upbringing.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 24, 2026

Instead they analyse probabilities and statistics, to see if certain linguistic patterns betray the use of AI.

From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026

If an onomatopoeia names a sound, non-lexical vocables create a linguistic expression of somatic emotion without using actual language.

From Salon ● Sep. 13, 2026

First published in 1902, then updated in 1905, the report reveals the country’s linguistic history spanning colonization, independence and westward expansion.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026

Along with the North African origins of Semites and the origins of Madagascar’s Asians, that’s another conclusion that we couldn’t have reached without linguistic evidence.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

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