vocalic

1 of 2

adjective

vo·​cal·​ic vō-ˈka-lik How to pronounce vocalic (audio)
və-
1
: marked by or consisting of vowels
2
a
: being or functioning as a vowel
b
: of, relating to, or associated with a vowel
vocalically adverb

vocalic

2 of 2

noun

: a vowel sound or sequence in its function as the most sonorous part of a syllable

Examples of vocalic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Such sounds are technically known as paralanguage (or vocalics), a field pioneered back in the 1950s by George L. Trager, a linguist who worked in the State Department's Foreign Service Institute. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 6 Dec. 2019

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin vocalis vowel, from vocalis vocal

First Known Use

Adjective

1782, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1902, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of vocalic was in 1782

Dictionary Entries Near vocalic

Cite this Entry

“Vocalic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vocalic. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

vocalic

adjective
vo·​cal·​ic
vō-ˈkal-ik
1
: marked by or consisting of vowels
2
: of, relating to, or functioning as a vowel
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!