glossary
5 synonyms for glossary, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — An alphabetical list of specialist or unfamiliar terms with short explanations, usually placed at the back of a book or on a website.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use glossary
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
glossary of terms
see the glossary
compile a glossary
glossary entry
Neutral and standard in publishing, education and technical writing.
Etymology
From Latin glossarium, from glossa, an obscure or foreign word needing explanation, borrowed from Greek glossa, 'tongue, language'.
Full origin of glossary →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a glossary and a dictionary?
A dictionary aims to cover a whole language and gives pronunciation, word class, etymology and multiple senses. A glossary is much narrower: it explains only the terms used in one book, field or organisation, and the explanations are usually a line or two.
What is the difference between a glossary and an index?
A glossary explains what terms mean; an index tells you which pages they appear on. Many books carry both, with the glossary first and the index last.
Where does a glossary go in a book?
Conventionally in the back matter, after the main text and before the index or bibliography. Textbooks sometimes place short glossaries at the end of each chapter instead, so readers meet the terms in context.
