Word
lexicon
Phoneticslex·i·con, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɫɛksɪˌkɑn/
UK/lˈɛksɪkən/
Countable noun
Definition
n. the set of all the words used in a particular language or by a specific group of people. It is like a mental dictionary that contains every word you know.
n. the vocabulary of a person, language, or branch of knowledge. In linguistics, it refers to the complete set of meaningful units in a language.
Examples
“Computer programming has its own unique lexicon.”
“The doctor used medical terms that were not part of my everyday lexicon.”
“As digital communication evolves, new emojis and abbreviations are rapidly integrated into the global lexicon, often bypassing traditional linguistic gatekeepers.”
Examples
simple
“Computer programming has its own unique lexicon.”
contextual
“The doctor used medical terms that were not part of my everyday lexicon.”
complex
“As digital communication evolves, new emojis and abbreviations are rapidly integrated into the global lexicon, often bypassing traditional linguistic gatekeepers.”
Usage
Often used in academic contexts to discuss the specialized vocabulary of a field.
Real-World Examples
“Arthur and the chivalric culture he evokes remain part of our cultural lexicon, as shown by his continued reimagining in popular media.” “The break had begun with a new phrase entering the football lexicon.” “The speech's most famous phrase, the "iron curtain", entered the political lexicon as he cautioned how the "ancient capitals and states of central and eastern Europe" were falling under tightening Soviet influence.” “But, Watts points out, the Vikings are also responsible for placing husband, window, egg, and kid in the English lexicon.” Etymology
Through Middle French or directly from New Latin lexicon, from Byzantine Greek λεξικόν (lexikón, “a lexicon, a dictionary”), ellipsis from Ancient Greek λεξικὸν βιβλίον (lexikòn biblíon, literally “a book of words”), from λεξικός (lexikós, “of words”), from λέξις (léxis, “a saying, speech, word”), from λέγω (légō, “to speak”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *leǵ- (“to gather, collect”). Attested at least since 1583 (in William Fulke's A Defense of the Sincere and True Translations of the Holy Scriptures into the English tongue) in the sense 'a dictionary of a classical language'.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Domains
- 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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
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