lexicon: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (C1/C2) in general contexts; medium in academic/linguistic contexts.Formal, academic, technical.
Quick answer
What does “lexicon” mean?
The vocabulary of a language, a person, or a subject.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The vocabulary of a language, a person, or a subject; a dictionary, especially of Greek, Hebrew, Syriac, or Arabic.
The complete set of meaningful units in a language; the mental dictionary of a speaker; the specialized vocabulary of a particular field or group.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage.
Connotations
Slightly more common in UK academic writing, but the term is equally specialized in both varieties.
Frequency
Rare in everyday speech in both regions, primarily confined to linguistics, psychology, computing, and other academic fields.
Grammar
How to Use “lexicon” in a Sentence
The lexicon of [LANGUAGE/SUBJECT]A lexicon of [SPECIFIC TERMS]To have/possess a [ADJECTIVE] lexiconVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “lexicon” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [Lexicon is not a verb]
American English
- [Lexicon is not a verb]
adverb
British English
- [Lexically is the adverbial form] The sentences differed lexically but not syntactically.
American English
- [Lexically is the adverbial form] The parser analyzes the input lexically first.
adjective
British English
- Lexical choices affect the text's tone.
- The lexical database was updated.
American English
- Lexical access is a key psycholinguistic concept.
- We performed a lexical analysis.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might refer to the specialized terminology of an industry (e.g., 'the fintech lexicon').
Academic
Common in linguistics, psychology, computer science (e.g., Natural Language Processing). Refers to the stored knowledge of words.
Everyday
Very rare. Used to sound formal or humorous when commenting on someone's vocabulary.
Technical
Core term in linguistics for the mental repository of word knowledge; in computing, a dataset of words for a program.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “lexicon”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “lexicon”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “lexicon”
- Using 'lexicon' as a fancy synonym for 'dictionary' in casual contexts.
- Pronouncing it /ˈliːksɪkɒn/ (like 'lexi' in 'lexical').
- Using it as a countable noun incorrectly (e.g., 'He has a good lexicon' is less natural than 'He has a rich lexicon').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. While it can mean a physical dictionary (especially of ancient languages), its primary modern use is in linguistics to mean the complete vocabulary of a language or the mental inventory of words a person knows.
'Vocabulary' is the general term for the set of words known or used. 'Lexicon' is more technical and systematic, often implying a structured, analyzable inventory, especially in academic contexts.
Yes, but it is formal. 'His vocabulary' is far more natural in everyday speech. 'His lexicon' suggests an analytical or measured perspective on his word knowledge.
It is countable. You can have 'a lexicon' (one specific collection) or 'lexicons' (multiple collections). It is also used uncountably in phrases like 'part of the English lexicon'.
The vocabulary of a language, a person, or a subject.
Lexicon is usually formal, academic, technical. in register.
Lexicon: in British English it is pronounced /ˈlɛksɪk(ə)n/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈlɛksɪˌkɑːn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Not commonly used idiomatically]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'LEXiCON' - LEX like 'lexis' (words) and CON like 'collection'. It's a CONtainer for LEXis.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE MIND IS A LIBRARY (the lexicon is the dictionary section); LANGUAGE IS AN INVENTORY (the lexicon is the stock list).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'lexicon' most appropriately used?