questionary
LowFormal, Technical, Archaic
Definition
Meaning
A set of questions used to gather information, especially for a survey or study.
1. (Historical/Rare) A person who asks questions, an inquisitor. 2. (Archaic) Inquisitive, questioning in nature.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
In modern use, primarily a noun referring to the instrument of data collection (synonymous with 'questionnaire'). Its historical and adjectival senses are obsolete and rarely encountered.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In both varieties, 'questionnaire' is the overwhelmingly dominant term for a set of questions. 'Questionary' is equally rare and formal in both.
Connotations
Connotes formality, technicality, or historical context. May sound deliberately archaic or pretentious in everyday contexts.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency. Used primarily in specialized academic, historical, or technical writing. 'Questionnaire' is the default choice in all registers.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The N was distributed to participants.Researchers administered a N on topic X.Responses to the N were analysed.To fill in/out a N.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None commonly associated.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. 'Market research questionnaire' would be used instead.
Academic
Used in some formal social science or historical texts as a synonym for 'questionnaire'.
Everyday
Virtually never used. 'Survey' or 'form' are common.
Technical
Possible in methodological sections of research papers, but 'questionnaire' is still far more common.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Not used as a verb.
American English
- Not used as a verb.
adverb
British English
- Not used as an adverb.
American English
- Not used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- (Archaic) His questionary demeanour made interviewees uneasy.
American English
- (Archaic) The author's questionary style explored every nuance.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The teacher gave us a short questionary about our hobbies.
- Please return the completed questionary to the reception desk by Friday.
- The study's methodology involved a detailed questionary distributed to 500 households.
- The 16th-century text reads like a theological questionary, probing the nature of faith.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: A QUESTIONARY is a direct-ORY (repository) of QUESTIONS.
Conceptual Metaphor
A QUESTIONARY IS A PROBE (a tool for extracting information).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating the Russian 'опросник' directly as 'questionary' in most contexts; use 'questionnaire'. The Russian word 'анкета' is also 'questionnaire', not 'questionary'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'questionary' in casual conversation where 'survey' or 'form' is appropriate.
- Misspelling as 'questionaire' (a common misspelling of 'questionnaire').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the MOST common and neutral synonym for 'questionary' in modern English?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In its modern, primary sense, yes. However, 'questionnaire' is the standard and overwhelmingly preferred term in all contexts.
Almost never. Use 'questionnaire'. 'Questionary' might be used for stylistic variation in very formal or historical academic writing, but it risks sounding affected.
This use is obsolete and archaic. In historical texts, it could mean 'inquisitive'. In modern English, use 'questioning' instead.
It is equally rare and formal in both varieties. There is no significant usage difference between them for this word.