What does vocabulary mean?
Vocabulary is the collection of words that a person knows and uses, or the words typically employed by a language, community, profession, or subject. In its most common sense, it describes an individual's linguistic range: a person may have a broad vocabulary, meaning that they understand and can use many different words, or a limited vocabulary, meaning that their word choices are relatively restricted. Vocabulary can also refer to the terminology of a specialized field, such as medical or legal vocabulary. The word is countable, with “vocabularies” as its plural, and it is distinct from “vocabulary learning” because it names the body of words rather than the process of acquiring them. Everyday discussion may favor the informal shortened form “vocab,” but “vocabulary” remains the standard and more formal term. Learning new words can enlarge a person's vocabulary, while regular use and context help make those words active and precise.
nounThe body of words known or used by a particular person, language, group, or field of activity. In general use, it most often refers to an individual's range of words or the vocabulary associated with a particular subject or situation.
- The range of words known or used by an individual.
- The body of words used by a particular language, community, or specialized field.
- A list or collection of words, especially in a specialized dictionary or language-learning context.
"Her travels broadened her vocabulary and gave her a deeper appreciation for languages."
"Children often develop a surprisingly extensive vocabulary before they begin school."
"The paper assumes that readers already have a specialized vocabulary in molecular biology."
Used when referring to separate sets of words, such as the vocabularies of two languages or fields.
"The two authors have very different writing vocabularies."
Vocabulary ultimately grows from the Latin word for “voice”: language begins as a voice, then becomes a collection of words.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does vocabulary come from?
The English word comes from Latin vocabulum, meaning “word” or “term,” a diminutive of vox, meaning “voice.” It entered English in the early modern period, with its form influenced by Medieval Latin and French usage. Related English words such as “vocable,” “vocation,” “vocal,” and “advocate” come from the same broader Latin family of words associated with the voice and calling.
Related word forms
How vocabulary is actually used
The word is generally formal and neutral, although “vocab” is common in informal speech. A person has a vocabulary, and a language or discipline has a vocabulary; “vocabularies” is the standard plural.
Easily confused with vocabulary
Vocabulary usually means the words a person knows or uses, while a lexicon more specifically refers to the total vocabulary of a language or the vocabulary of a particular field.