Thesaurus results for PATOIS

patois

noun

ˈpa-ˌtwä

Definition of patois

as in dialect

the special terms or expressions of a particular group or field the medical patois that the hospital staffers used among themselves was incomprehensible to me

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of patois That’s for sure when people speak patois, a vernacular version of English that’s based on a culture’s intonation. — Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 4 June 2026 And so there’s West Indian patois and language and music and food. — Vanessa Franko, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2025 There are countless examples like these, in which English scaffolding has adapted to the demands and the cultural heritage of its speakers, from Jamaican patois to Tok Pisin, of New Guinea. — Manvir Singh, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024 Instead, viewers are immersed in Millie’s Kingston, with dialogue spoken almost entirely in Jamaican patois, where opportunities are limited, gang violence persists and whiteness is still put on a pedestal. — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 25 Nov. 2024 See All Example Sentences for patois

Recent Examples of Synonyms for patois

Noun

With so many speakers in different places, Spanish has developed ten different main dialects.

— BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026
Others argued that the characters should be speaking with Greek accents or even in an ancient Greek dialect to honor the source material’s roots in Greek mythology.

— Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of dialect

Noun

When officials disagree, even if legitimate based on terminology, the general public can interpret that disagreement as evidence that officials do not have a solid understanding of the outbreak.

— Omer Awan, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
But there’s an interesting conundrum that arises from the terminology itself.

— Jennifer Donnelly, Scientific American, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of terminology

Noun

Cantonese uses different grammar than Mandarin, as well as different vocabulary, particularly in the city of Hong Kong, where speakers often switch between English and Cantonese words, sometimes in the same sentence.

— Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026
Ruby Hobbs-Leffler felt things with an intensity that even a smart little girl with a big vocabulary couldn’t put into words.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of vocabulary

Noun

From a consideration of apoptosis—the orderly elimination of damaged or unnecessary cells—Solé moves on to failing machines, eroded memories, vanished languages, brittle digital archives, and more.

— The New Yorker, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
High-needs students — defined as those receiving free or reduced price meals, English language learners and students with disabilities — also performed about 10 points below the overall student body in each category.

— Theo Peck-Suzuki, Hartford Courant, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of language

Noun

Young artists like the members of the Chilean boy band Q_ARE are fusing these elements with Latin music styles, Spanish and English lyrics and Chilean slang to pioneer a uniquely Latino pop subgenre.

— Brittney Melton, NPR, 10 Aug. 2026
The latest slang to capture the Gen Z zeitgeist is a way to say poser, try-hard or fraud.

— Rachel Hale, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2026