Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
lexicology

lexicology

8.9
The study of how people form, change, and use words in a language
  • noun
  • /ˌlɛksɪˈkɒlədʒi/
  • Specialized
translation icon : lexicología
  • The professor introduced us to basic concepts in lexicology during our first linguistics lecture.

Examples

  • He specializes in lexicology and has written several papers on the evolution of English words.

  • Understanding lexicology is essential for anyone studying comparative linguistics.

  • The study of lexicology is essential for understanding language.

  • Many students choose to focus on lexicology in their linguistics courses.

  • He specializes in lexicology and has written several papers on the evolution of English words.

  • The professor introduced us to basic concepts in lexicology during our first linguistics lecture.

  • Understanding lexicology is essential for anyone studying comparative linguistics.

Synonyms

lexical semantics
vslexicology
  • Specialized
8.9

A study of word meanings and how words relate to each other

is broader, covering word structure, development, and everyday use
semasiology
vslexicology
  • Specialized
9.9

The study of word meanings and how people understand them

is broader, focusing also on form, history, and use of words

Surface Forms

lexicology singular
lexicologies plural

Morphology

lexicology = lexic + ology

This is a learned technical formation built on the combining form lexic- and the scholarly suffix -ology, but the parts are not transparent enough for an average B1 learner to infer the meaning productively.

Etymology

The word lexicology comes from the Greek parts lexi- meaning 'word' and -logy meaning 'study', the same 'study' you see in biology. So, lexicology is the study of words, their form, history, and how we use them.