Tips on Using Lexicon in a Sentence
The word lexicon has a number of closely-related meanings, which can easily lead to confusion and may cause the word to be used in an awkward way. Lexicon can refer to a general dictionary of a language [as in "a lexicon of the Hebrew language"] and also to a narrower printed compilation of words within some sphere [as in "a medical lexicon" or "a lexicon of the German in Finnegans Wake"].
Similarly, lexicon can refer both to the vocabulary of a specific group of people ["the lexicon of French"] or to the general language used by an unspecified group of people ["a word that has not entered the general lexicon yet"]. It may also often be found in reference to the vocabulary employed by a particular speaker ["'Failure' is not a word in my lexicon"].
Examples of lexicon in a Sentence
a computer term that has entered the general lexicon an avid word enthusiast who is compiling a lexicon of archaic and unusual words
Recent Examples on the Web There’s a bit from the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes that’s recently entered the legal lexicon: Calvinball. — Aaron Regunberg, The New Republic, 12 July 2022 In Tubman, Cook saw the embodiment of what women, Black people and people with disabilities could achieve at a time when equal rights for all had not yet entered the American lexicon. — NBC News, 29 Apr. 2022 As an underused and somewhat archaic word, droll–which means unusually funny, usually in a dry way–ends in a classic double letter, has only one vowel, and really isn’t common lexicon. — Matt Gardner, Forbes, 7 July 2022 This isn’t the only time superheroes have entered the luxury lexicon of late. — Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 7 July 2022 During discussions about treatment, patients learn the lexicon of cancer — surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, and the like. — T. Salewa Oseni, STAT, 23 June 2022 His onomatopoeic surname begot the perfect nickname for a 6-foot-6, 265-pound tight end, as Gronk joined the lexicon as a noun, verb and, sometimes, even an adjective. — Ben Shpigel, New York Times, 21 June 2022 It’s about reclaiming the Black lesbian or queerness in the visual lexicon. — Rica Cerbarano, Vogue, 8 June 2022 The broadcast, clearly aimed at Ukrainian forces on the front lines, seems to have entered the lexicon of Lysychansk’s civilian residents, as well. — New York Times, 17 June 2022 See More
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'lexicon.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
History and Etymology for lexicon
Late Greek lexikon, from neuter of lexikos of words, from Greek lexis word, speech, from legein to say — more at legend
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Learn the definition of a glossary, discover its purpose, and view the glossary of terms examples. Examine how the glossary of a book is different from a dictionary. Updated: 02/16/2022
Table of Contents
- What is a Glossary?
- Glossary Examples
- Glossary vs. Dictionary
- Lesson Summary
To understand the glossary definition, it's helpful to first understand jargon. Jargon is a series of technical terms used in a specific profession. A heart doctor, for example, may use specific jargon such as "tachycardia" and "echocardiogram." While these terms may be well-known by doctors, patients may have difficulty understanding them. Difficulty understanding topical jargon is the problem glossaries help solve. A glossary is an alphabetical list of technical terms and definitions customized to a specific subject. Usually found at the end of a textbook or textbook chapter, glossaries contain sets of words narrowly geared toward the book's subject matter. A medical textbook, then, may contain a glossary defining the medical jargon foreign to normal speech. The term "glossary" comes from the Greek root "glossa," meaning "tongue" or "language."
What is the Purpose of a Glossary?
The purpose of a glossary is to make content-specific words easily accessible to the reader. Encountering many unfamiliar industry-specific words may be overwhelming for readers. This is why authors provide definitions for words related to the topic within a glossary. In an Algebra textbook, terms like linear, variable, coefficient, and laws of exponents may be part of a glossary. These are key terms and integral concepts when it comes to understanding algebra. As such, the author will provide a list of these important words, amongst many others, so students can easily obtain them. On the other hand, terms that are not specific to algebra, such as add and subtract, will not be included in an algebra glossary. A glossary is then used by the reader to gain a better understanding of the subject matter.
Where is the Glossary in a book?
The glossary of a book is an alphabetically organized list of terms located at the end of a book. Glossaries contain important information. Thus, authors usually place them at the end of a book for easy access. If a student studying psychology is asked to compare and contrast Sigmund Freud's, Id, Ego, and Superego vs. Erik Erikson's, Identity Crisis," the student could refer to the glossary of a book and find important vocabulary words. These words, such as id, ego, superego, and identity crisis would be simply defined in the glossary, allowing the student to become familiar with the material without having to re-read the entire psychology book.
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Glossary Examples
Books and textbooks containing glossaries provide essential tools for readers. Skimming the glossary of a book before reading can help boost reader understanding and familiarity with key terminology. Once completing a book, the reader should look at the glossary to ensure that the content was fully understood. This image represents a glossary example for an ethics book:
This is an example of a glossary in an ethics book. All of these terms are specific to the subject of ethics, and they are listed in alphabetical order.
The study of ethics has to do with morals and differentiating right and wrong. Notice how the terms provided in the image focus on words specific to this subject.
A Glossary of Terms Used in Heraldry
One glossary of terms example is heraldry. Heraldry dates back to medieval times and includes detailed symbols found on flags, shields and armor. During medieval times, most people were illiterate, so heraldry was used to set people apart from one another, denote status, and identify members of specific groups. Heraldry was visual communication. During war, this was a very important feature because it helped soldiers easily identify their enemies. Heraldry has a long line of history and many of the original symbols and patterns are widely used today. For example, an eagle symbolized honor, nobility, strength, and protection.. Arrows were used to denote readiness for vengeance; and stars were used to show achievements. All of these symbols now adorn The Great Seal of The United States. In a glossary of heraldry, words alone cannot bear to describe the richness and history behind the images; therefore, a glossary of terms used in heraldry will also include many images for further understanding.
The Great Seal of the United States is an example of heraldry. The eagle is used to represent strength, independence, and freedom. An olive branch is used to represent peace, arrows used to represent readiness for battle, and stars used to represent achievement. There are 13 arrows, 13 stars, and 13 stripes to represent the original 13 states.
What is the difference between a glossary and a dictionary?
A glossary defines words, phrases, and/or images that are specific to a particular subject only. A dictionary defines, states the etymology, pronunciation, and usages for all words in an entire language
What is a glossary in a book?
A glossary, found at the end of a book, alphabetically lists all specific language and phrases to the content being studied.
What is an example of a glossary?
In a biology textbook, difficult terms such as "photosynthesis" would be isolated and defined in a glossary. This makes these important words easily accessible to the reader.
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