vocabulary

American  

[voh-kab-yuh-ler-ee] / voʊˈkæb yəˌlɛr i /

noun

plural

vocabularies

1. the stock of words used by or known to a particular people or group of persons.

   His French vocabulary is rather limited. The scientific vocabulary is constantly growing.

2. a list or collection of the words or phrases of a language, technical field, etc., usually arranged in alphabetical order and defined.

   Study the vocabulary in the fourth chapter.

3. the words of a language.

4. any collection of signs or symbols constituting a means or system of nonverbal communication.

   vocabulary of a computer.

5. any more or less specific group of forms characteristic of an artist, a style of art, architecture, or the like.

---

vocabulary British  

/ vəˈkæbjʊlərɪ /

noun

1. a listing, either selective or exhaustive, containing the words and phrases of a language, with meanings or translations into another language; glossary

2. the aggregate of words in the use or comprehension of a specified person, class, profession, etc

3. all the words contained in a language

4. a range or system of symbols, qualities, or techniques constituting a means of communication or expression, as any of the arts or crafts

   a wide vocabulary of textures and colours

---

Other Word Forms

• vocabularied adjective

Etymology

Origin of vocabulary

1525–35; < Medieval Latin vocābulārium, noun use of neuter of vocābulārius of words, equivalent to Latin vocābul ( um ) vocable + -ārius -ary

Example Sentences

Also, as with read-alouds, if anyone needs to sort out a bit of confusion over plot or vocabulary, the narrative can easily be paused for discussion.

From The Wall Street Journal

The martial vocabulary of his books with titles like “The Bloody Crossroads,” “Why We Are in Vietnam” and “World War IV” was striking when American cultural elites were retreating from military engagement.

From The Wall Street Journal

And my Spanish is good, but it’s like maybe seventh-grade vocabulary.

From Los Angeles Times

For this new “Global War on Terror” against al-Qaida, a new vocabulary and a new story were in order.

From Salon

In fact, we had a whole vocabulary of different words and euphemisms we could use so as not to think too deeply about the unthinkable or our possible role in making it happen.

From Salon

Related Words

• dictionary
• glossary
• jargon
• terminology