context

noun

con·​text ˈkän-ˌtekst How to pronounce context (audio)
1
: the parts of a discourse that surround a word or passage and can throw light on its meaning
2
: the interrelated conditions in which something exists or occurs : environment, setting
the historical context of the war
contextless adjective
contextual
kän-ˈteks-chə-wəl How to pronounce context (audio)
kən-
-chəl
-chü-əl
adjective
contextually adverb

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Context, in Context

In its earliest uses (documented in the 15th century), context meant "the weaving together of words in language." This sense, now obsolete, developed logically from the word's source in Latin, contexere "to weave or join together." Context now most commonly refers to the environment or setting in which something (whether words or events) exists. When we say that something is contextualized, we mean that it is placed in an appropriate setting, one in which it may be properly considered.

Examples of context in a Sentence

… it was Dickens who first used the word 'detective' in a literary context John Mullan, How Novels Work, 2006
Entrepreneurship and civil freedoms depend on a context of civil order, predictability, and individual security. Susan L. Woodward, Balkan Tragedy, 1995
… the old building, its original acre, inside its high outer wall, was immune to change, out of context and out of time. Harriet Doerr, The Tiger in the Grass, 1995
We need to look at the event within the larger context of world history. The book puts these events in their proper historical and social contexts. We need to consider these events in context.
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
However, during a complex scene with a lot of context, complicated wording, and ambiguity about what is going on, more cognitive effort is required. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 6 Nov. 2024 These snug garments were once used primarily in medical contexts to improve circulation, especially in people with damage to their leg veins (say, due to a condition called chronic venous insufficiency). Cindy Kuzma, SELF, 5 Nov. 2024 For a tech company specializing in data, this inability to use that historical context to create better, more efficient, and effective services just doesn’t make sense. Anna Covert, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024 Meta’s licensing restrictions forbid using Llama in military contexts, but what’s the company going to do? Byandrew Nusca, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for context 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English contexte "text, composition," borrowed from Medieval Latin contextus "sequence, connection, setting," going back to Latin, "action of weaving, connection, coherence, ordered scheme, structure," from contexere "to weave together, connect (words), compose, combine" (from con- con- + texere "to weave, construct") + -tus, suffix of action nouns — more at technical entry 1

First Known Use

1577, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of context was in 1577

Dictionary Entries Near context

Cite this Entry

“Context.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/context. Accessed 12 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

context

noun
con·​text ˈkän-ˌtekst How to pronounce context (audio)
1
: the parts of something written or spoken that are near a certain word or group of words and that help to explain its meaning
2
: the circumstances in which something exists or occurs
contextual adjective
contextually
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on context

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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