Meaning & use
vernacular
The everyday language or dialect spoken naturally by ordinary people in a particular region.
See it in a sentence
The novel's dialogue is written in the local vernacular rather than formal English.
Linguists recorded the island's vernacular before it disappeared from daily use.
A note on using this word
Vernacular contrasts with a formal, literary, or classical standard language, and it doubles as an adjective, as in "vernacular architecture."
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Another way to use it
2. adjective
Relating to the ordinary spoken style or building tradition of a region, rather than a formal one.
The museum displayed vernacular furniture built by local farmers rather than imported designs.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “vernacular”, then compare your use with the examples above.