alphabet

noun

al·​pha·​bet ˈal-fə-ˌbet 

-bət

1

a

: a set of letters or other characters with which one or more languages are written especially if arranged in a customary order

b

: a system of signs or signals that serve as equivalents for letters

2

: rudiments, elements

Synonyms

• ABC(s)
• basics
• elements
• essentials
• fundamentals
• grammar
• principles
• rudiments

Examples of alphabet in a Sentence

The Roman alphabet begins with “A” and ends with “Z.”

you need to learn the alphabet of genealogy before you can move on to more advanced study

Recent Examples on the Web

Sparing no details, Bell designed an album cover and wrote the lyrics to a track for each letter of the alphabet. —Megan Gambino, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Dec. 2024

Yellow: Words that all relate to a certain letter in the alphabet. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024

In the series, the mischievous Cat and his sidekick, the ever-cautious Fish, strike out on kooky adventures that feature alphabet song sing-a-longs, tremendous tongue-twisters, and wondrous wordplay. —Spenser Mestel, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Dec. 2024

Among their main fixations is modern Turkish, a language made up of flashy imports—French and English cognates, a new alphabet—and antique idioms. —Merve Emre, The New Yorker, 8 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English alphabete, from Late Latin alphabetum, from Greek alphabētos, from alpha + bēta beta

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing alphabet

• alphabet soup
• Arabic alphabet
• Aramaic alphabet
• Latin alphabet
• manual alphabet
• mixed alphabet
• phonetic alphabet
• the Roman alphabet

Kids Definition

alphabet

noun

al·​pha·​bet ˈal-fə-ˌbet 

-bət

1

: the letters of a language arranged in their usual order

2

: a system of signs or signals that serve as equivalents for letters

Etymology

Middle English alphabete "alphabet," derived from Greek alphabētos "alphabet," from alpha and bēta, the first and second letters of the Greek alphabet