Word of the Day

: July 24, 2021

lexical

adjective LEK-sih-kul

What It Means

1 : of or relating to words or the vocabulary of a language as distinguished from its grammar and construction

2 : of or relating to a lexicon or to lexicography

lexical in Context

As stated in the catalog, the university's second-year language courses are designed to emphasize lexical skills.

"Technology companies exhibit a curious lexical property. Google and Zoom are verbs." — The Economist, 27 Feb. 2021

Did You Know?

The word lexicon can be used as a synonym of dictionary, and the word lexicography refers to the practice of making dictionaries. Both of these words, as well as lexical, derive from the Greek word lexis, meaning "word" or "speech." Another descendant of lexis is lexiphanic, an archaic adjective describing one who uses pretentious words for effect. Lexis should not be confused with the Latin lex, meaning "law," which is used in legal phrases such as lex non scripta, "unwritten law."