WordGarden.iolexically
C2Pronunciation
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Meanings
Adverb
with respect to words, vocabulary, or word-level meaning
Beyond the definition
"Lexically" means "in terms of words or vocabulary." It is used when the focus is on the actual words in a language, sentence, or text, rather than on grammar, tone, or full meaning. A linguist might study a passage lexically by looking at which words appear, how often they appear, and how they relate to each other. A computer program can also process text lexically by splitting it into words or word units. The idea is simple: the attention is on the words themselves.
The word "lexically" comes from "lexicon," a term for the vocabulary of a language, a group, or a person. When something is done lexically, it is considered at the level of words and vocabulary. The focus is not mainly on sentence structure or pronunciation, but on the words themselves: which words are chosen, what they mean, and how they connect to other words.
This adverb is common in linguistics and in language technology. For example, two sentences may be lexically similar if they share many of the same words, even if their full meanings are not exactly the same. A researcher may compare two dialects lexically by studying differences in vocabulary. In computing, a system may handle text lexically by identifying words, symbols, or other small units before deeper analysis begins.
It can also appear in general discussion about writing and language. Someone might say a passage is rich lexically if it uses a wide range of words. Two languages can be compared lexically if they share many similar words, whether because of common history, borrowing, or close contact. In each case, the idea stays the same: the comparison is being made through vocabulary and word choice.
In short, "lexically" means "with attention to words." It points to vocabulary, wording, and word-level patterns in language.
Examples
- 1
Reading difficulty
The article is lexically difficult for beginners, even though the grammar is simple.
- 2
Sentence comparison
The two sentences are grammatically similar, but they differ lexically.
- 3
Idiom translation
You cannot translate this idiom lexically; you have to translate the idea behind it.
- Patterntranslate + text lexically
translate it word by word
See also
Similar
- in lexical terms
- as a matter of vocabulary
- vocabulary-wise
Shades of meaning
- semantically
- terminologically
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- lexically ambiguous
- lexically encoded
- lexically related
Word family
Explore
- lexical meaning
- lexis
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- lexicallyadverb