: the science of speech sounds including especially the history and theory of sound changes in a language or in two or more related languages
2
: the phonetics and phonemics of a language at a particular time
phonological
ˌfō-nə-ˈlä-ji-kəl
also ˌfä-
adjective
or less commonly phonologic
ˌfō-nə-ˈlä-jik
also ˌfä-
phonologically
ˌfō-nə-ˈlä-ji-k(ə-)lē
also ˌfä-
adverb
phonologist
fə-ˈnä-lə-jist
fō-
noun
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the WebBaker-Bell says Black language is a legitimate language with syntax, grammatical features, phonology and semantics.USA Today, 17 June 2021 Lian-Hee Wee, a professor at Hong Kong Baptist University who studies Cantonese phonology, is slightly more optimistic in Hong Kong’s case. Mary Hui, Quartz, 3 July 2020 What — beyond a better understanding of the social and economic consequences of English phonology — does Eliza Doolittle actually get from Henry Higgins? Chris Jones, chicagotribune.com, 30 Apr. 2017
Word History
Etymology
phono- + -logy
First Known Use
1798, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Medical Definition
phonology
noun
pho·nol·o·gy fə-ˈnäl-ə-jē, fō-
plural phonologies
1
: the science of speech sounds including especially the history and theory of sound changes in a language or in two or more related languages
2
: the phonetics and phonemics of a language at a particular time