Standard Lemma guide

isolect

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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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A language or dialect; coined as a neutral term between ‘language’ and ‘dialect.’

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: human-sciences, linguistics, sciences

Examples

  • 2008, Keith Brown, Sarah Ogilvie, Malay, entry in Concise Encyclopedia of Languages of the World, page 677, While Middle Malay, Minangkabau, and Kerinci have inland and west coast variants as their origin, Malay itself developed from isolects spoken on the east coast.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: variety, lect

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Coined by Alfred Hudson in his published work on the languages of Borneo: iso- + -lect.

Across languages

Translations

3 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Indonesian: isolek — a language or dialect
  • Spanish: isolecto — a language or dialect
  • Turkish: eşlehçe — a language or dialect