Standard Lemma guide

basilect

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /ˈbæsɪlɛkt/
  • /ˈbeɪsɪlɛkt/

1

noun

Meaning 1

A variety of a language that differs substantially from the standard form, and is only considered suitable for very informal contexts by speakers.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: human-sciences, linguistics, sciences, social-science, sociolinguistics, sociology

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From basi- (“base, bottom”) + -lect (“speech”).

Across languages

Translations

7 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Dutch: basilect — variety of a language that has diverged greatly from the standard form
  • Finnish: basilekti — variety of a language that has diverged greatly from the standard form
  • French: basilecte — variety of a language that has diverged greatly from the standard form
  • German: Basilekt — variety of a language that has diverged greatly from the standard form
  • Jamaican Creole: bazilek — variety of a language that has diverged greatly from the standard form
  • Portuguese: basileto — variety of a language that has diverged greatly from the standard form
  • Spanish: basilecto — variety of a language that has diverged greatly from the standard form