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REFERENCE

linguistic

adj.
US //ɫɪŋˈɡwɪstɪk// UK //lɪŋɡwˈɪstɪk// lin·guis·tic
  1. 1 relating to language (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Academic

    relating to language or the way people use words.

    pertaining to human language or the specific use of words and grammar in communication.

    Example

    The children showed great linguistic skills by learning three languages at once.

    Example

    The researcher noted that the linguistic barriers between the two groups were more significant than their cultural differences.

    Usage

    usually placed before the noun
    • non verbal
  2. 2 relating to the study of linguistics (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Academic Technical

    relating to the scientific study of language.

    pertaining to the academic discipline of linguistics, including phonetics, syntax, and semantics.

    Example

    She published a linguistic analysis of how slang changes over time.

    Example

    The professor provided a detailed linguistic framework for understanding how tonal shifts alter meaning in Mandarin dialects.

    Usage

    non-gradable
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  1. 3 computing (adj.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Computing

    relating to the rules and structure of computer programming languages.

    pertaining to the formal syntax and structure of artificial or computer-based languages.

    Example

    The software uses linguistic patterns to understand what users are asking.

    Example

    The development of advanced linguistic algorithms has significantly improved the accuracy of real-time machine translation services.

    Usage

    often used in the context of natural language processing (NLP)
Origin

Borrowed from German linguistisch, equivalent to linguist + -ic. Compare linguistics. Ultimately from Latin lingua (“tongue, language”). Attested in English since 1825.

Word family

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