glossary

[ glos-uh-ree, glaw-suh- ]

noun

, plural glos·sa·ries.

1. a list of terms in a special subject, field, or area of usage, with accompanying definitions.
2. such a list at the back of a book, explaining or defining difficult or unusual words and expressions used in the text.

glossary

/ ɡlɒˈsɛərɪəl; ˈɡlɒsərɪ /

noun

1. an alphabetical list of terms peculiar to a field of knowledge with definitions or explanations Sometimes calledgloss

Derived Forms

• glossarial, adjective
• glosˈsarially, adverb
• ˈglossarist, noun

Other Words From

• glos·sar·i·al [glo-, sair, -ee-, uh, l, glaw-], adjective
• glos·sari·al·ly adverb
• glossa·rist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of glossary¹

1350–1400; Middle English glossarye < Latin glōssarium difficult word requiring explanation < Greek glōssárion, diminutive of glôssa tongue, language; later taken as a collection of such words, by construing suffix as Latin -ārium -ary; gloss ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of glossary¹

C14: from Late Latin glossārium; see gloss ²

Example Sentences

In addition to the well-chronicled “Hitler” jab, he used a whole glossary of words like “idiot” to describe Trump, called himself “a Never Trump guy” and said he “never liked him.”

From Los Angeles Times

Unconcerned with bestseller lists, he would rather publish a glossary of colloquial Anglo-Indian words and phrases or a six-volume treatise on Nazi medical experiments than a hip new novel that his son Aaron believes can turn around the company’s dire finances.

From Los Angeles Times

He said one authority on the issue is the American Meteorological Society, which maintains a glossary of such terms.

From Los Angeles Times

The National Weather Service has no official definition for “heat dome” in its glossary, and meteorologists there are less likely to use the term.

From Los Angeles Times

To help meet that challenge, I’ve put together the following glossary of terms, drawing heavily on the work of others: First there’s the “Reporter’s Guide to the New Apostolic Reformation” co-authored by Gagné and Clarkson, about to appear in an updated, condensed version, along with a glossary.

From Salon

Related Words

• dictionary
• vocabulary