# linguistics

/ɫɪŋˈɡwɪstɪks/ (US) · /lɪŋɡwˈɪstɪks/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/linguistics
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

the scientific study of how languages work. It looks at how people make sounds, how they build sentences, and how the meaning of words changes over time.

For teachers: the scientific study of language and its structure, including the analysis of morphology, syntax, phonetics, and semantics. Despite the '-s' ending, it takes a singular verb.

## Examples

- She decided to study linguistics to understand how children learn to speak.
- A degree in linguistics provides a deep understanding of the cognitive processes involved in human communication.
- While many people assume linguistics is simply the study of multiple languages, it is actually a rigorous discipline focused on the underlying rules that govern all human speech.

## Pitfalls

- Not "Linguistics are my favorite subject." but "Linguistics is my favorite subject." — Names of academic subjects ending in -ics are treated as singular nouns.

## Usage notes

- Takes a singular verb (e.g., 'Linguistics is...') despite the '-s' ending.

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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.