Meaning & use
synchronic
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Meaning
adjectivenot comparabletechnicalspecialist
Relating to something as it exists at one particular point in time, without considering its history.
Grammar: Used before a noun; not usually compared.
Patterns
- synchronic analysis
- synchronic study
- synchronic approach
A synchronic study of English focuses on how it is spoken today.
The synchronic approach ignores how the language developed over centuries.
Her synchronic analysis of the dialect described its current sounds.
Common combinations
- synchronic linguistics
- Synchronic linguistics examines a language at a single point in time.
- synchronic variation
- The synchronic variation in pronunciation was mapped across the region.
- synchronic description
- The synchronic description of the grammar was detailed.
Synonyms and how they differ
- contemporary
- Means 'of the present time'; synchronic is more technical and contrasts with historical.
- descriptive
- Describes how something is without judging; synchronic specifically contrasts with diachronic.
Opposites
Word family
- synchronically adverb
- In a synchronic manner; from a single time perspective.
- synchrony noun
- The state of occurring at the same time.
Commonly confused: synchronic or synchronous?
synchronic vs synchronous
Synchronous means happening at the same time; synchronic means studying something at one time without history.
Practice
In linguistics, what does a 'synchronic' study focus on?
Choose one answer.
Synchronic means looking at a language at a single moment, not its history. Option A describes a diachronic study.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “synchronic”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.