linguistics
Americannoun
-
linguistics
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of linguistics
First recorded in 1850–55; see origin at linguistic, -ics
Explanation
Linguistics is the formal study of language. If you like figuring out how words are formed and how they express meaning, you might enjoy studying the science of linguistics. Academics use the term linguistics to describe the science of language. Linguistics includes a broad range of topics ranging from how people learn languages to how phrases and sentences are formed. Remember that linguistics is a plural noun: although it takes a singular verb, it always has an “s” at the end. If you drop the “s” you get a different word, the adjective linguistic, which means "related to language."
Vocabulary lists containing linguistics
Write Makes Might: Words About Written Language
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Booked
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"Simon's Saga," Vocabulary from Episode 23
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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.
As Levine was dissecting the painting, an associate professor of Spanish historical linguistics at Utrecht University named Dorien Nieuwenhuijsen was researching her family tree.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 26, 2026
Spanish and maths were the other subjects Burnham was studying at St Aelred's, and he told people he was considering taking a linguistics degree at university.
From BBC ● Jun. 28, 2026
Given Shih’s academic background — she holds a PhD from Stanford University in linguistics — it makes sense that she brings deep research to her practice.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 17, 2026
The research team also included Matthew J. Baker, associate professor of linguistics at Brigham Young University, and Jordan Smith, assistant professor of English at the University of Northern Colorado.
From Science Daily ● Apr. 19, 2026
The origins of their language are among the most disputed questions of linguistics: for not a single other one of the world’s major languages are the affinities to other languages still in doubt.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
