polyglot

American  

[pol-ee-glot] / ˈpɒl iˌglɒt /

adjective

1. able to speak or write several languages; multilingual.

2. containing, composed of, or written in several languages.

   a polyglot Bible.

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noun

1. a mixture or confusion of languages.

2. a person who speaks, writes, or reads a number of languages.

3. a book, especially a Bible, containing the same text in several languages.

polyglot British  

/ ˈpɒlɪˌɡlɒt /

adjective

1. having a command of many languages

2. written in, composed of, or containing many languages

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noun

1. a person with a command of many languages

2. a book, esp a Bible, containing several versions of the same text written in various languages

3. a mixture or confusion of languages

Other Word Forms

• polyglotism noun

Etymology

Origin of polyglot

First recorded in 1635–45; from Medieval Latin polyglōttus, from Greek polýglōttos “many-tongued”; poly-, -glot

Example Sentences

Users of Duolingo noticed that Leo, already a polyglot, was using the app in the small hours to study German.

From The Wall Street Journal

Cook, a polyglot who can speak six languages, has also been well served by nominative determinism: She is the founder and CEO of the Cook School Cooking School.

From Barron's

Their answer was to promote a polyglot society that straddled the line between Western and Muslim sensibilities, while promising wealth, efficiency and stability.

From The Wall Street Journal

In other words, a significant number of multiracial Americans will “airbrush” their polyglot lineage and instead focus on their European provenance.

From Salon

Having gained a reputation for punchy phrases, the polyglot politician appears unlikely to shy away from the fight.

From Barron's

Related Words

• linguist
• wordsmith