# alphabet

/ˈæɫfəˌbɛt/ (US) · /ˈælfəbˌɛt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/alphabet
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. set of letters

noun · CEFR A1

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

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

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

### 2. an individual letter

noun · CEFR B2 · Dialect

a single letter of the alphabet.

For teachers: a single character or letter within an alphabetic system.

- The word 'apple' has five alphabets in it.
- 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.

Teaching tip: In standard British or American English, this is considered a mistake; use 'letter' instead.

### 3. basic elements

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary

the simplest or most basic parts of a subject.

For teachers: the fundamental principles or rudiments of a particular branch of knowledge.

- Learning to listen is the alphabet of good communication.
- 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'.

Teaching tip: This is a figurative use; 'the ABCs of' is a more common informal equivalent.

### 4. government agent

noun · CEFR C1 · Slang · American English

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

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

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

Teaching tip: This term is frequently used in online subcultures and often carries a suspicious or hostile tone toward authority.

### 5. to arrange in order

verb · CEFR C2 · Archaic

to put things in the order of the alphabet.

For teachers: to arrange or designate items in alphabetical order.

- The librarian began to alphabet the new collection of poems.
- 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'.

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

## Examples

- The English alphabet has twenty-six letters.
- Children usually learn to sing the alphabet before they begin to read simple words.
- Scholars believe the Phoenician alphabet served as the primary ancestor for many modern writing systems, including Greek and Latin.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.