glossary

noun

glos·​sa·​ry ˈglä-sə-rē 

ˈglȯ-

plural glossaries

: a collection of textual glosses or of specialized terms with their meanings

glossarial

glä-ˈser-ē-əl 

glȯ-

adjective

Examples of glossary in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Instead of avoiding such language entirely, include a glossary or tool to explain unfamiliar phrases. —Hashim Hayat, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024

The intention with the glossary was to be as comprehensive, as representative as possible. —George Abraham, Them, 5 Dec. 2024

That’s part of the Dune trap — moviegoers for the 1984 version were greeted with a glossary of terminology — but so far, the show doesn’t have the magisterial wonder of the Villeneuve films to give it a boost. —Scott Tobias, Vulture, 17 Nov. 2024

Then last summer, Hurley essentially ripped up the UConn dictionary and came up with a new glossary of terms. —Cj Moore, The Athletic, 8 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English glosarie, borrowed from Medieval Latin glōsārium, glōssārium, from glōsa, glōssa gloss entry 3 + Latin -ārium -ary entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

glossary

noun

glos·​sa·​ry ˈgläs-(ə-)rē 

ˈglȯs-

plural glossaries

1

: a list of the hard or unusual words found in a book

2

: a dictionary of the special terms in a particular field