polyglot

1 of 2

noun

poly·​glot ˈpä-lē-ˌglät How to pronounce polyglot (audio)
1
: one who is polyglot
2
capitalized : a book containing versions of the same text in several languages
especially : the Scriptures in several languages
3
: a mixture or confusion of languages or nomenclatures

polyglot

2 of 2

adjective

1
a
: speaking or writing several languages : multilingual
b
: composed of numerous linguistic groups
a polyglot population
2
: containing matter in several languages
a polyglot sign
3
: composed of elements from different languages
4
: widely diverse (as in ethnic or cultural origins)
a polyglot cuisine

Did you know?

Polyglot comes from Greek polyglōttos, a combination of poly-, meaning "many" or "multi-," and glōtta, "language." Eventually, the word came to describe multilingual diversity.

Examples of polyglot in a Sentence

Adjective a polyglot community made up of many cultures
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Noun
Ava is also a polyglot and able to conduct interviews in English, Spanish, French and German. Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2024 Geneva, the second-largest city in Switzerland, is a multicultural global hub with a polyglot population. Tracey Teo, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2024
Adjective
Watch on Deadline While many aspects of New York life are new to Jacobs, the inherently polyglot nature of the office is not. Dade Hayes, Deadline, 12 Sep. 2024 Although many welcome the opportunity to serve in positions that utilize their particular knowledge of a language or culture—which might be in the increasingly polyglot and cosmopolitan cities of Europe and the Persian Gulf—none want to be pigeonholed. Matthew Connelly, Foreign Affairs, 12 May 2023 See all Example Sentences for polyglot 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

derivative of polyglot entry 2; (sense 2) in part after the Complutensian Polyglot, a multilingual printed edition of the Bible completed in 1517

Adjective

borrowed from Greek (Attic) polýglōssos, (non-Attic) polýglōttos "speaking with many tongues, conveying many messages, in many languages," from poly- poly- + -glōssos, -glōttos, adjective derivative of glôssa, glôtta "tongue, language" — more at gloss entry 3

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1645, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1650, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of polyglot was circa 1645

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Dictionary Entries Near polyglot

Cite this Entry

“Polyglot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/polyglot. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

polyglot

adjective
poly·​glot
ˈpäl-i-ˌglät
1
: speaking or writing several languages
2
: containing or composed of several languages
polyglot noun

More from Merriam-Webster on polyglot

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