linguistic

adjective

lin·​guis·​tic liŋ-ˈgwi-stik How to pronounce linguistic (audio)
variants or less commonly linguistical
Synonyms of linguisticnext
: of or relating to language or linguistics
linguistic scholars
linguistic changes
linguistically adverb

Examples of linguistic in a Sentence

the age at which children begin to acquire linguistic skills
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
That linguistic clue is not accidental. Rabbi Bruce D. Forman, Sun Sentinel, 25 Mar. 2026 Each family makes deliberate decisions about language use, customizing traditions and even the Haggadah text to suit their cultural and linguistic needs. Bryan Kirschen, The Conversation, 25 Mar. 2026 Kang noted that Demon Hunters’ visual style was consciously shaped by her lifelong love of anime and manhwa — Korean comics and graphic novels — and executed with careful attention to Korean linguistic and cultural nuances, even though the film’s lingua franca is American English. Dan Bilefsky, HollywoodReporter, 21 Mar. 2026 Interest in the field has skyrocketed as coders have used linguistic principles to build and improve large language models, which power much of today’s generative artificial intelligence. Emma R. Hasson, Scientific American, 19 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for linguistic

Word History

Etymology

linguist + -ic entry 1, probably after German linguistisch

First Known Use

1825, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of linguistic was in 1825

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Linguistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/linguistic. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

linguistic

adjective
lin·​guis·​tic liŋ-ˈgwis-tik How to pronounce linguistic (audio)
: of or relating to language or linguistics
linguistically adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on linguistic

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster