# phonological

/ˌfoʊnəˈɫɑdʒɪkəɫ/ (US) · /fˌɒnəlˈɒdʒɪkəl/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/phonological
Updated: 2026-05-30

## Definition

relating to the sounds of a language and how they are organized. It describes the rules that decide which sounds are allowed in a specific language.

For teachers: relating to the systematic organization of sounds in a language. Often used in linguistics to describe the abstract representation of speech sounds rather than their physical production.

## Examples

- The child made a phonological error by saying 'pencil' instead of 'bencil'.
- Linguists study phonological rules to understand why certain sound combinations are common in one language but forbidden in another.
- While the physical articulation of the sound is clear, the phonological status of the glottal stop varies significantly across different dialects of English.

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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.