website
A2Formal, informal, technical. Universal in all modern contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A set of interconnected webpages located under a single domain name, accessible via the internet.
A digital location or platform providing information, services, or interaction; often represents an individual, organization, company, or project online.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Compound word from 'web' (World Wide Web) + 'site' (location). Typically conceptualized as a 'place' one visits online.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling and word choice variations in surrounding vocabulary (e.g., 'site' vs. 'website' usage, colour/color). 'Web site' (two words) is an older variant now rare in both dialects.
Connotations
Identical core meaning. No significant connotative differences.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both dialects. 'Website' is the overwhelmingly dominant single-word form.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
have a websitego to [website name]access the websitenavigate the websitefind on the websitelink to the websiteVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Go live (with a website)”
- “Take the site down”
- “Crash a website (with traffic)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Our corporate website must reflect our brand values.
Academic
The journal's website hosts all supplementary data.
Everyday
I found the recipe on a cooking website.
Technical
The website's API allows for third-party integration.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- We need to website the new campaign properly.
- The project was poorly websited and hard to find.
American English
- They hired a firm to website their brand.
- The museum hasn't yet websited its new exhibit.
adverb
British English
- The information was displayed website-style.
- It was organised more website-like than a document.
American English
- He presented the data website-fashion.
- The layout felt very website-oriented.
adjective
British English
- The website analytics were crucial.
- Their website security is top-notch.
American English
- We reviewed the website performance metrics.
- She's a website design expert.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I use a website to learn English.
- Our school has a website.
- You can find the museum's opening times on its website.
- She is building a website for her small business.
- The government website was overhauled to improve accessibility for all users.
- Their website features an integrated booking system for appointments.
- The website's architecture was meticulously planned to ensure intuitive user navigation and high conversion rates.
- Critics panned the website for its opaque data privacy policy and clunky interface.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a spider's WEB built at a specific SITE. A website is information built at a specific location on the World Wide Web.
Conceptual Metaphor
A WEBSITE IS A PHYSICAL PLACE (visit a site, navigate a site, site traffic, homepage).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating directly as 'веб-сайт' in overly formal contexts where just 'сайт' is natural.
- Don't confuse 'website' (collection of pages) with 'webpage' (одна страница).
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect hyphen in modern usage: 'web-site'. Using 'internet' synonymously (e.g., 'I saw it on the internet' vs. 'on a website').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the most specific term for a single document you view in your browser?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Website' (one word) is the standard modern spelling for both UK and US English. 'Web site' (two words) is an older, now less common variant.
A 'webpage' is a single document or page (e.g., the 'Contact Us' page). A 'website' is the entire collection of interconnected webpages under one domain (e.g., all the pages on google.com or bbc.co.uk).
Yes. You can have one website or many websites.
Informally, in business/tech contexts, yes (e.g., 'We need to website our portfolio'), but it is not standard in formal writing. Use 'create/build a website' instead.
Collections
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Technology Basics
A2 · 48 words · Everyday technology and digital devices.
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