-
Kevin
-
April 5, 2023
-
Common Questions
Your writing, at its best
Compose bold, clear, mistake-free, writing with Grammarly's AI-powered writing assistant
Words are extremely powerful.
They have the ability to crush a heart or heal it. They can liberate a soul or shame it. They can shatter a dream or give it life. They can move people to action or cause resistance, and they have the ability to create a moment as well as the strength to destroy it. Simply put, we have to use words wisely— but what does the term “word” even mean? We’ll tell you.
In this article, we’re exploring the term “word” to uncover its definition, origin, and more. So if you’ve ever been curious about “word,” — keep reading. Here’s our complete guide on the term word.
What Is the Definition of Word?
A word, by definition, is a unit of language that native speakers can agree upon, each of which has a distinct and separate unit of meaning. In short, any and all languages are made up entirely of words.
Word is not only defined as a unit of language that native speakers can identify; however, our word of the day can also be used as a noun and even as a verb, with quite the array of definitions.
To give you the word on all things, well —word, we have compiled a brief list with examples below to clear up any confusion you may run into:
- A promise or word of honor (noun) — a written or verbal communication given from one person to another agreeing to not do or perhaps do something in the future
- A secret phrase or word that is known only to a limited number of people (noun) — essentially a password or positive identification
- An exchange of views on any certain topic (noun) — give and take, oral communication, written communication, and/or discussion.
- A verbal command or order for action (noun) — a command given to others by a superior, most commonly used in plural form
- Information about important events, as well as recent events — most commonly seen as; good word
- A string of bits stored in a computer’s memory (noun) — a type of computer memory unit
- An expression or put into words (verb) — as in, give expression to, articulate, or give voice to
What Are the Synonyms and Antonyms of Word?
Now that you’re up to speed on the definition behind the term word, let’s take a look at some synonyms and antonyms, shall we?
In short, a synonym is a word or phrase that has the same or nearly the same meaning as another given word, whereas an antonym is a term of opposite meaning.
Synonyms of word include:
- Term
- Scoop
- Dirt
- Tidings
- Buzz
- Scuttlebutt
- Expression
- Designation
- Name
- The latest
- Heads up
- Chit chat
- Brief conversation
- Head to head
- Pow wow
- Appellation
- Locution
- Epithet
- Tag
- Line
- Nomenclature
- Characterization
- Phrase
- Word on the street
- Title-tattle
- Greenlight
- Codebook
- Euphemism
- Secret writing
- Secret language
- Thumbs up
- Stamp of approval
- High sign
- Password
- Signal
- PIN
- Open sesame
- Solemn oath
- Word of honor
- Stipulation
- Pledge
- Secret word
- Word of identification
- Secret word
- Set phrase
- Choice of words
- Magic word
- Codeword
- Turn of phrase
- Letter
- Warcry
- Tag line
- Rallying call
- Buzz word
- Promise
- Vow
- Guarantee
- Vocable
- Adage
- Catchphrase
- Epigraph
- Idiom
- Announcement
- Prior warning
- Red flag
- Forewarning
- Blow by blow
- Remark
- Tête-à-tête
- Wisecrack
- Exchange of views
- Proverb
- Byword
- Words of wisdom
Antonyms of word include:
- Number
- Integer
- Difference of opinion
- Lack of agreement
- Dissensus
- Picture
- Diagram
- Impression
- Piece
- Sketch
- Simulacrum
- Symbol
- Figure
- Digit
- Carrying through
- Accomplishment
- Action
- Implementation
- Dead air
- Hush-hush
- Peace and quiet
- Muteness
- Silence
- Falsehood
- Fib
- Misleading information
- Lie
- Red herring
- Possessions
- Melody
- Broken promise
- Two-timing
- Double-dealing
- Infidelity
- Hard facts
- Old news
- Yesterday’s news
- Secret
- Tune
- Music
- Harmony
- Fake promise
- Confirmed acts
- Defiance
- Neglect
- Violation
- Breach of trust
How Can You Use Word in a Sentence?
The term word is defined as the smallest sequence of phonemes that can be uttered in isolation with practical or objective meaning. To further your understanding of our word of the day, practice using the term in a sentence. Need some help? Here are some sentence examples for you to review:
“If you’re looking to discover new words, you may want to consider picking up a thesaurus!”
“Unlike other guys I know, Charles is a man of his word.”
“Judy has a really difficult time putting her thoughts into words.”
“Did you know that spoken word is essentially just a “catchall” term that includes any kind of poetry recited aloud, including poetry readings, poetry slams, and jazz poetry?”
“The success of Greg’s business is all thanks to word of mouth marketing!”
“There are a ton of apps that you can download on your phone to learn the meaning of words.”
“If you’re anything like me and love words, then I highly recommend playing Scrabble.”
What Are Translations of Word?
Wondering how to say our word of the day in a different language? Here are some common translations of the term word which have been provided by the Cambridge English Dictionary:
- Japanese — 単語
- Korean — 단어
- British English — word
- Romanian — cuvânt
- Russian — слово
- Spanish — palabra
- Swedish — ord
- Thai — คำ
- Turkish — sözcük
- Ukrainian — слово
- Arabic — كَلِمَة
- Brazilian Portuguese — palavra
- Chinese — 词
- Croatian — riječ
- Czech — slovo
- Danish — ord
- Dutch — woord
- Vietnamese — từ ngôn ngữ
- Norwegian — ord
- Polish — słowo
- American English — word
- European Portuguese — palavra
- European Spanish — palabra
- Finnish — sana
- French — mot
- German — Wort
- Greek — λέξη
- Italian — parola
A Final Word
To sum it up, the meaning of our word of the day — word — is a singular unit of language that can be represented in speech or writing. In the English language, it should be noted that a word will always have a space on either side when it is typed out or written.
That being said, as we have gone over previously, “word” can also be used in various contexts, so always be sure to give your peers proper context when using your newfound knowledge of the noun “word.”
Want to discover more words? Check out our website today!
Sources:
Word definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary
