as in dialect
the special terms or expressions of a particular group or field
the medical patois that the hospital staffers used among themselves was incomprehensible to me
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Recent Examples of patois
But perhaps the most evident connection is a sense of individuality that’s preserved in the pockets of patois spoken across both the island and the bayou—the French Creole dialect is still alive and doing very well.
—
Essence, 20 June 2024
During a sketch set in a Caribbean church, comedian and first-time Saturday Night Live host Shane Gillis speaks confidently in Jamaican patois — generally a no-no for a white guy these days.
—Joe Berkowitz, Vulture, 25 Feb. 2024
Most of Levy's stories run fewer than 12 pages and feel like very long flash fiction, written in a voice dense with the chaotic patois of the internet.
—Leland Cheuk, NPR, 14 May 2024
One complaint was Jar Jar’s accent, which some perceived as derived from Jamaican patois.
—Carlos Aguilar, New York Times, 3 May 2024
See All Example Sentences for patois
Essence, 20 June 2024
During a sketch set in a Caribbean church, comedian and first-time Saturday Night Live host Shane Gillis speaks confidently in Jamaican patois — generally a no-no for a white guy these days.
—Joe Berkowitz, Vulture, 25 Feb. 2024
Most of Levy's stories run fewer than 12 pages and feel like very long flash fiction, written in a voice dense with the chaotic patois of the internet.
—Leland Cheuk, NPR, 14 May 2024
One complaint was Jar Jar’s accent, which some perceived as derived from Jamaican patois.
—Carlos Aguilar, New York Times, 3 May 2024
See All Example Sentences for patois
Recent Examples of Synonyms for patois
Noun
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What could be more revealing, fragile, and intimate — in any dialect — than the loneliness that pushes someone’s attempt to make a friend?—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
15 Feb. 2025
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Even today, traces of French can be found in the local dialect; the Palermitan aristocracy once spoke fluent French and frequently sent their chefs to Paris to master the art of haute cuisine.—
Tiziana Cardini,
Vogue,
27 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The intricacies of navigating multiple research firms—each with its own methodologies, terminologies and evaluation criteria—can be daunting.—
Reyne Quackenbush,
Forbes,
20 Feb. 2025
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Mexicans, in particular, have many issues with the film, including the violent cartel storyline, lack of Mexican involvement in the film, and the mishmash of accents and terminology.—
Anne Thompson,
IndieWire,
4 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The distinct local vocabulary is sprinkled with Guaraní, an Indigenous language widely spoken in neighboring Paraguay.—
Graciela Mochkofsky,
The New Yorker,
11 Feb. 2025
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Pulp Fiction might be the dictionary of his cinematic vocabulary, offering insights into the language of his other works.—
Paul Fitzgerald,
Rolling Stone,
7 Feb. 2025
Noun
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On Thursday, Nvidia launched a language learning platform using artificial intelligence that promises to do just that for American Sign Language learners, in partnership with the American Society for Deaf Children and creative agency Hello Monday.—
Clare Duffy,
CNN,
20 Feb. 2025
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Michigan’s approach through its Global Talent Initiative illustrates how comprehensive language programs can transform careers.—
Alison Griffin,
Forbes,
20 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Plus, since most of the app's content is in Mandarin, subtitles are suddenly rampant — as are posts from Americans who want to learn the language, including by exchanging translations of popular slang phrases with Chinese commenters.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
15 Jan. 2025
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Although challenges remain, future systems trained on greater amounts of non-English data could be capable of discerning subtle differences between dialects and understanding the meaning and cultural context of slang or Internet memes.—
Anne Neuberger,
Foreign Affairs,
15 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Patois.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/patois. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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