ENGLISH
REFERENCE

linguistic

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ɫɪŋˈɡwɪstɪk// UK //lɪŋɡwˈɪstɪk// lin·guis·tic

adj. relating to language or the way people study how languages work. You use this to describe things like skills, rules, or differences between languages.

adj. relating to language or the scientific study of language. Often used to describe structural features, cognitive processes, or social patterns involving speech and writing.


SIMPLE

The students have excellent linguistic skills.

CONTEXTUAL

The country is known for its rich linguistic diversity, with over twenty local dialects spoken across the islands.

COMPLEX

Researchers are investigating the linguistic development of children raised in bilingual households to determine how they differentiate between two distinct grammatical systems.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

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

Usage

Typically placed before the noun it modifies; often used in academic or professional contexts.

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