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Meaning & use

vocabulary

noun·Everyday

Last updated

UK/vəˈkæbjələri/
US/voʊˈkæbjəleri/

Meanings

  1. nounusually singular

    All the words that a person knows, learns, or uses when speaking or writing.

    Grammar: Usually singular with a possessive or article: her vocabulary, a large vocabulary; no plural in this sense.

    Patterns

    • a large vocabulary
    • build vocabulary
    • limited vocabulary

    Reading widely helps build your vocabulary.

    The toddler has a vocabulary of about fifty words.

    A limited vocabulary can make writing feel repetitive.

  2. noununcountable

    The set of words used in a particular language, subject, or type of work.

    Grammar: No plural; often used before another noun: technical vocabulary, business vocabulary.

    Patterns

    • technical vocabulary
    • legal vocabulary
    • the vocabulary of science

    Medical students must learn a huge technical vocabulary.

    Legal vocabulary is hard for beginners.

    The book explains the vocabulary of modern art clearly.

  3. nouncountable

    A printed list of words with meanings, often for learners or for a particular text.

    Grammar: Countable and takes a plural: a chapter vocabulary, several vocabularies.

    Patterns

    • a vocabulary list
    • learn the vocabulary
    • test the vocabulary

    The coursebook has a vocabulary at the back of each unit.

    We learned the vocabulary before reading the story.

    The teacher tested the chapter vocabulary on Friday.

Word forms

pluralvocabularies

Common combinations

build vocabulary
Songs are a fun way to build vocabulary.
a large vocabulary
She has a large vocabulary for a nine-year-old.
technical vocabulary
The manual is full of technical vocabulary.
vocabulary list
Copy the vocabulary list into your notebook.
expand your vocabulary
Word games help expand your vocabulary.

Synonyms and how they differ

lexicon
Means the words of a language or field and sounds formal or technical; vocabulary is the everyday word.
wordstock
Rare and technical, used by linguists for the words of a language.
terminology
Refers only to the special terms of a subject, not all the words a person knows.

Word family

vocab noun
Informal short form meaning vocabulary.
vocal adjective
Relating to the voice; spelled and used differently from vocabulary.

Commonly confused: vocabulary or dictionary? vocabulary or vocal?

vocabulary vs dictionary

A dictionary is a book or website that lists words and meanings; vocabulary is the set of words themselves.

vocabulary vs vocal

Vocal relates to the voice or to speaking out; vocabulary is about the words a person knows.

Practice

Doctors use a lot of ___ that patients may not understand.

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