lexicography: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Academic
Quick answer
What does “lexicography” mean?
The theory and practice of compiling dictionaries.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The theory and practice of compiling dictionaries.
The scholarly discipline concerned with the principles and processes of dictionary-making, including word selection, definition writing, pronunciation guidance, and usage analysis.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The academic field is defined identically.
Connotations
Highly academic/specialist in both varieties.
Frequency
Very low frequency in general language; used almost exclusively in linguistic and publishing contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “lexicography” in a Sentence
[Subject] studies/practises/is an expert in lexicography.The book is a major contribution to lexicography.Advances in [computational] lexicography.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “lexicography” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He has been lexicographing for the OED for a decade. (extremely rare, non-standard)
American English
- N/A (The verb 'to lexicograph' is virtually unattested in standard use.)
adverb
British English
- The entry was compiled lexicographically. (rare)
American English
- The corpus was analysed lexicographically. (rare)
adjective
British English
- The lexicographic principles were sound.
- A major lexicographical project is underway at the university.
American English
- His lexicographic work is highly respected.
- They attended a lexicographical conference.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used in the context of publishing houses specializing in reference works.
Academic
Primary context. Used in linguistics, philology, and publishing studies.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Would only be used when discussing dictionary creation specifically.
Technical
Core term in linguistics and computational linguistics for dictionary database development.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “lexicography”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “lexicography”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “lexicography”
- Incorrect: 'He is good at lexicography' (sounds odd; use '...is a skilled lexicographer').
- Incorrect: Confusing 'lexicography' (practice) with 'lexicon' (product/vocabulary).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Lexicology is the theoretical study of a language's vocabulary, its structure, history, and meaning. Lexicography is the applied practice of compiling this information into a dictionary.
No, it is evolving. Digital lexicography is a major growth area, involving complex databases, corpus analysis, and online presentation of lexical data, requiring more specialists than ever.
A lexicographer researches words, analyses real-language evidence from corpora, writes and edits definitions, provides pronunciation guides, etymologies, and usage notes for dictionaries.
Yes, several universities offer postgraduate degrees (MA/MSc) or modules in lexicography, often within departments of linguistics, applied linguistics, or publishing.
The theory and practice of compiling dictionaries.
Lexicography is usually formal, academic in register.
Lexicography: in British English it is pronounced /ˌlek.sɪˈkɒɡ.rə.fi/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌlek.sɪˈkɑː.ɡrə.fi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “N/A”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'LEXI' (from 'lexicon', meaning word collection) + 'GRAPHY' (from 'graphy', meaning writing/representation). It is the 'writing of word collections'.
Conceptual Metaphor
LEXICOGRAPHY IS CARTOGRAPHY. Just as a mapmaker charts a territory, a lexicographer charts a language.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary focus of lexicography?