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Definition of "vocabulary" []

  • All the words of a language. (noun)
  • The sum of words used by, understood by, or at the command of a particular person or group. (noun)
  • A list of words and often phrases, usually arranged alphabetically and defined or translated; a lexicon or glossary. (noun)
  • A supply of expressive means; a repertoire of communication: a dancer's vocabulary of movement. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "vocabulary" in a sentence
  • "Written for the ‘Orca Sports Series’, this high-interest mystery moves at a fast pace but the vocabulary is appropriate for the reluctant reader."
  • "This subset of our vocabulary is a tiny core of useful words."
  • "Very importantly, this vocabulary is also used normatively."