lexicon

C2+ Topic:Communication

US /ˈlɛksɪkɑn/ UK /ˈlɛksɪkən/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

noun
the vocabulary of a language, person, or field; a dictionary

The word soon entered the everyday lexicon of teenagers.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the vocabulary of a... vocabulary dictionarywordbookglossarywordstockthesaurus

Word family

Derived forms lexicallexicographylexicographerlexically

Related forms lexeme

Simplified etymology

Lexicon entered English in the early 17th century from Greek lexikon (biblion), meaning “(book) of words.” Lexikon comes from lexis “word,” itself derived from legein “to speak.”

Etymology

From Ancient Greek lexikón (λεξικόν, 'wordbook'), neuter of lexikós ('of words'), from léxis ('word, speech'), from legein ('to speak, say').

λεξικόν Ancient Greek léxis Ancient Greek

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Communication Language & Linguistics

External links

# lexicon

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈlɛksɪkɑn/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈlɛksɪkən/

## Meanings
1. the vocabulary of a language, person, or field; a dictionary

## Examples
- The word soon entered the everyday lexicon of teenagers.

## Synonyms
- vocabulary
- dictionary
- wordbook
- glossary
- wordstock
- thesaurus

## Derived Forms
- lexical
- lexicography
- lexicographer
- lexically

## Related Forms
- lexeme

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: λεξικόν
- Root: léxis

## Etymology
From Ancient Greek lexikón (λεξικόν, 'wordbook'), neuter of lexikós ('of words'), from léxis ('word, speech'), from legein ('to speak, say').

## AI Etymology
Lexicon comes from Ancient Greek lexikón (λεξικόν, 'wordbook'), neuter of lexikós ('of words'), from léxis ('word, speech'), from legein ('to speak, say'). The form is best read as a historical transfer or inheritance, with its older language material carrying the main semantic load. As a noun, it denotes "the vocabulary of a language, person, or field; a dictionary", keeping the historical idea close to its dictionary sense. Relevant historical forms include Ancient Greek λεξικόν and Ancient Greek léxis. Derivative forms include lexical, lexicography, lexicographer, lexically; related words include lexeme.

## Topics
- Communication
- Language & Linguistics

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