Word
conversational
Phoneticscon·ver·sa·tion·al, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌkɑnvɝˈseɪʃənəɫ/
UK/kɒnvəsˈeɪʃənəl/
AI
Definition
adj. describing a style of speaking or writing that is informal and relaxed, like a friendly talk. In technology, it refers to software that can chat with you naturally.
adj. relating to or characteristic of informal spoken exchange. In a computational context, it describes interfaces or systems designed to simulate human dialogue through natural language processing.
Examples
“The article is written in a friendly, conversational tone.”
“The new customer service bot uses conversational AI to understand and answer complex questions without human help.”
“While the technical documentation is dense, the introductory video adopts a conversational approach to make the software's core concepts more accessible to non-specialist users.”
Examples
simple
“The article is written in a friendly, conversational tone.”
contextual
“The new customer service bot uses conversational AI to understand and answer complex questions without human help.”
complex
“While the technical documentation is dense, the introductory video adopts a conversational approach to make the software's core concepts more accessible to non-specialist users.”
Usage
Often used to modify nouns like 'tone', 'style', or 'AI'. When describing software, it implies the use of natural language rather than rigid commands.
Real-World Examples
“In short, when a customer is already upset, a faster and more conversational interaction may sometimes remove something valuable: a little time to cool down.” “Sometimes we had it make conversational mistakes, interrupting people or pushing illogical suggestions.” Etymology
From conversation + -al.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944EikenEikenTest in Practical English ProficiencyThe English proficiency test from the Eiken Foundation of Japan, widely taken by Japanese students. Grades run from 5 to 1, with Pre-1 and Pre-2 between them.Pre-1
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/conversational