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alphabet

n. · v.
US //ˈæɫfəˌbɛt// UK //ˈælfəbˌɛt// al·pha·bet
  1. 1 set of letters (n.)
    A1 Beginner

    the complete set of letters used to write a language, usually in a fixed order.

    the standard set of letters or symbols used in a writing system to represent the phonemes of a spoken language.

    Example

    Children usually learn to sing the alphabet before they start to read.

    Example

    The Cyrillic alphabet was adapted from the Greek script to accommodate the specific phonetic requirements of Slavic languages.

    Usage

    Usually used with the definite article 'the'.
    Pitfall
    He is learning his alphabets.
    He is learning the alphabet.

    In standard English, 'alphabet' is a singular noun for the whole set. Do not use the plural form to mean individual letters.

  2. 2 an individual letter (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Dialect

    a single letter of the alphabet.

    a single character or letter within an alphabetic system.

    Example

    The word 'apple' has five alphabets in it.

    Example

    In certain regional dialects, it is common to hear speakers refer to the individual characters of a word as 'alphabets' rather than letters.

    Usage

    Common in Indian, Malaysian, and Singaporean English.

    Teacher's tip

    In standard British or American English, this is considered a mistake; use 'letter' instead.
  3. 3 basic elements (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Literary

    the simplest or most basic parts of a subject.

    the fundamental principles or rudiments of a particular branch of knowledge.

    Example

    Learning to listen is the alphabet of good communication.

    Example

    The young diplomat spent his first year abroad mastering the complex political alphabet of the region.

    Usage

    Often used in the phrase 'the alphabet of'.

    Teacher's tip

    This is a figurative use; 'the ABCs of' is a more common informal equivalent.
  4. 4 government agent (n.)
    C1 Advanced Slang American English Politics

    a person who works for a government agency like the FBI or CIA.

    a member of a federal law enforcement or intelligence agency, often used by those who distrust the government.

    Example

    The protesters were worried that there were alphabets in the crowd.

    Example

    Online forums often use the term 'alphabets' to refer to federal agents perceived to be monitoring private communications.

    Usage

    Often used as 'alphabet boys' or 'alphabets'.

    Teacher's tip

    This term is frequently used in online subcultures and often carries a suspicious or hostile tone toward authority.
  5. 5 to arrange in order (v.)
    C2 Proficiency Archaic

    to put things in the order of the alphabet.

    to arrange or designate items in alphabetical order.

    Example

    The librarian began to alphabet the new collection of poems.

    Example

    The clerk was instructed to alphabet the ledgers to ensure the records could be retrieved efficiently by the auditors.

    Usage

    The modern verb is 'alphabetize'.

    Teacher's tip

    This verb form is very rare in modern English; students should use 'alphabetize' instead.
Origin

From Middle English alphabete, borrowed from Classical Latin alphabētum, from Ancient Greek ἀλφάβητος (alphábētos), from ἄλφα (álpha) and βῆτα (bêta), the names of the first two letters of the Greek alphabet, Α (A) and Β (B), lowercase forms α and β. The Greek names derived from aleph, the name of the Phoenician letter 𐤀 (ʾ, “ox”) and beth, the name of the letter 𐤁 (b, “house”), so called because they were pictograms of those objects, having developed from the Egyptian hieroglyphs F1 (𓃾) and pr (𓉐). Doublet of alfabeto.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Last updated June 20, 2026