noun
Uncommon
linguistics
lihng-GWIHS-tihks
Linguistics (noun) means the academic study of language — its structure, sounds, meaning, and history. Example: “She's majoring in linguistics at university.”
noun
1
The academic study of language — its structure, sounds, meaning, and history.
"She's majoring in linguistics at university."
"Linguistics helped explain why the two dialects sounded so different."
How to use linguistics
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe scientific study of how language works.
Common pairings
study linguistics
a degree in linguistics
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Etymology
Coined from linguist plus -ics, modeled on the German Linguistik, in the mid-1800s.
Class of 1800
linguistics joined the language around 1800.
See the full Class of 1800 →
Synonyms
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Rhymes for linguistics
See all rhymes for linguistics →Frequently asked questions
What does “linguistics” mean?
The word “linguistics” means the academic study of language — its structure, sounds, meaning, and history. In plain terms, the scientific study of how language works.
How do you pronounce “linguistics”?
“Linguistics” is pronounced lihng-GWIHS-tihks (/lɪŋˈɡwɪstɪks/ in IPA).
How do you use “linguistics” in a sentence?
Here is “linguistics” used in a sentence: “She's majoring in linguistics at university.”
What part of speech is “linguistics”?
“Linguistics” is a noun.
Where does the word “linguistics” come from?
The word “linguistics” dates back to around 1800 and comes from German. Coined from linguist plus -ics, modeled on the German Linguistik, in the mid-1800s.
Is “linguistics” a common word?
“Linguistics” is an uncommon word in modern English.
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