Definition of vocabulary noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

vocabulary

noun

/vəˈkæbjələri/

/vəˈkæbjəleri/

(plural vocabularies)

[countable, uncountable] all the words that a person knows or uses
- to have a wide/limited vocabulary
- your active vocabulary (= the words that you use)
- your passive vocabulary (= the words that you understand but don’t use)
- Reading will increase your vocabulary.
Synonyms language
languagevocabulary ▪ terms ▪ wording ▪ terminologyThese are all terms for the words and expressions people use when they speak or write, or for a particular style of speaking or writing.
language a particular style of speaking or writing:
Give your instructions in everyday language.
the language of the legal profession
vocabulary all the words that a person knows or uses, or all the words in a particular language; the words that people use when they are talking about a particular subject:
to have a wide/limited vocabulary
The word has become part of advertising vocabulary.
terms a way of expressing yourself or of saying something:
I’ll try to explain in simple terms.
wording [usually sing.] the words that are used in a piece of writing or speech, especially when they have been carefully chosen:
It was the standard form of wording for a consent letter.
terminology (rather formal) the set of technical words or expressions used in a particular subject:
medical terminology
Scientists are constantly developing new terminologies.
Literary/poetic terminology is used for talking about literature or poetry. Literary/poetic language is used for writing in a literary or poetic style.
Patterns
- formal/informal/everyday language/vocabulary/terms
- business/scientific/technical/specialized language/vocabulary/terminology
- A word enters the language/the vocabulary.
see also defining vocabulary
Extra Examples
- Learners of languages acquire vocabulary through practice.
- This book has been designed to help you expand your vocabulary.
- Try to develop a wide vocabulary.
Topics Languagea1
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- big
- extensive
- large
- …
verb + vocabulary
- have
- acquire
- learn
- …
vocabulary + noun
- item
- word
- list
- …
preposition
- vocabulary for
- vocabulary of
phrases
- not in somebody’s vocabulary
See full entry
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[countable] all the words in a particular language
- When did the word ‘bungalow’ first enter the vocabulary?
Synonyms language
languagevocabulary ▪ terms ▪ wording ▪ terminologyThese are all terms for the words and expressions people use when they speak or write, or for a particular style of speaking or writing.
language a particular style of speaking or writing:
Give your instructions in everyday language.
the language of the legal profession
vocabulary all the words that a person knows or uses, or all the words in a particular language; the words that people use when they are talking about a particular subject:
to have a wide/limited vocabulary
The word has become part of advertising vocabulary.
terms a way of expressing yourself or of saying something:
I’ll try to explain in simple terms.
wording [usually sing.] the words that are used in a piece of writing or speech, especially when they have been carefully chosen:
It was the standard form of wording for a consent letter.
terminology (rather formal) the set of technical words or expressions used in a particular subject:
medical terminology
Scientists are constantly developing new terminologies.
Literary/poetic terminology is used for talking about literature or poetry. Literary/poetic language is used for writing in a literary or poetic style.
Patterns
- formal/informal/everyday language/vocabulary/terms
- business/scientific/technical/specialized language/vocabulary/terminology
- A word enters the language/the vocabulary.
Extra Examples
- The word ‘think tank’ entered the vocabulary in the 1960s.
- English has a rich vocabulary and literature.
Topics Languagea1
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- big
- extensive
- large
- …
verb + vocabulary
- have
- acquire
- learn
- …
vocabulary + noun
- item
- word
- list
- …
preposition
- vocabulary for
- vocabulary of
phrases
- not in somebody’s vocabulary
See full entry
[uncountable, countable] the words that people use when they are talking about a particular subject
- The word has become part of advertising vocabulary.
Synonyms language
languagevocabulary ▪ terms ▪ wording ▪ terminologyThese are all terms for the words and expressions people use when they speak or write, or for a particular style of speaking or writing.
language a particular style of speaking or writing:
Give your instructions in everyday language.
the language of the legal profession
vocabulary all the words that a person knows or uses, or all the words in a particular language; the words that people use when they are talking about a particular subject:
to have a wide/limited vocabulary
The word has become part of advertising vocabulary.
terms a way of expressing yourself or of saying something:
I’ll try to explain in simple terms.
wording [usually sing.] the words that are used in a piece of writing or speech, especially when they have been carefully chosen:
It was the standard form of wording for a consent letter.
terminology (rather formal) the set of technical words or expressions used in a particular subject:
medical terminology
Scientists are constantly developing new terminologies.
Literary/poetic terminology is used for talking about literature or poetry. Literary/poetic language is used for writing in a literary or poetic style.
Patterns
- formal/informal/everyday language/vocabulary/terms
- business/scientific/technical/specialized language/vocabulary/terminology
- A word enters the language/the vocabulary.
Extra Examples
- the vocabulary of science
- the essential vocabulary for tourism
- Specialized vocabulary is used in all the major disciplines.
Topics Languageb1
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- big
- extensive
- large
- …
verb + vocabulary
- have
- acquire
- learn
- …
vocabulary + noun
- item
- word
- list
- …
preposition
- vocabulary for
- vocabulary of
phrases
- not in somebody’s vocabulary
See full entry
(also informal vocab

/ˈvəʊkæb/

/ˈvəʊkæb/
)
[countable] a list of words with their meanings, especially in a book for learning a foreign language
- Write it down in your vocab book.
Topics Languageb1

Word Originmid 16th cent. (denoting a list of words with definitions or translations): from medieval Latin vocabularius, from Latin vocabulum, from vocare ‘call’.

Idioms

not in somebody's vocabulary

not something that somebody understands
- The word ‘failure’ is not in his vocabulary (= for him, failure does not exist).

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noun

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