noun
vocabulary
vuh-KAB-yuh-lair-ee/vəˈkæbjəleri/
The set of words used by a person, community, or field.
He matches words from his vocabulary to the right objects.
Etymology
A vocabularium was a list of words, and vocabulary initially meant such a list with explanations. The meaning expanded from a recorded collection to the range of words a person or group knows or uses.
In context
the common vocabulary is still there although it can be used very differently
More examples
- Medical vocabulary includes terms for symptoms, diseases, and treatments.
- The two communities share much of their everyday vocabulary.
- The choreographer's vocabulary of movement includes sharp turns and sudden pauses.
Forms
vocabulary · vocabularies
Similar words
- lexicon
- Often describes the collected words of a language or field.
- terminology
- Refers specifically to specialized terms used in a particular field.