linguistics
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of linguistics
First recorded in 1850–55; 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.
“We’re using speech and writing so interchangeably,” said Naomi Baron, a linguistics professor emerita at American University.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 11, 2026
To conduct their analysis, the team digitized the sign sequences into a database and evaluated them using tools from quantitative linguistics, including statistical modelling and machine learning classification algorithms.
From Science Daily • Feb. 25, 2026
Like many college kids, Allaire became interested in the work of Noam Chomsky, an American scholar known for his work in linguistics, political activism and social criticism.
From MarketWatch • Nov. 14, 2025
When she turned 57, Margaret went back to university, graduating with a PhD in applied linguistics.
From BBC • Sep. 7, 2025
Unfortunately, it’s only a legend; the recursive title was dreamed up by the linguist Robin Lakoff for a satire of a linguistics journal.
From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker
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.
