Meanings
proper nounthe Weinreich witticism
- human sciencesThe humorous observation that "a language is a dialect with an army and navy", implying that sociopolitical influence is a driving factor in language status.
Origin
After the sociolinguist Max Weinreich, who popularized it.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
APA
Weinreich witticism. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Weinreich%20witticism
MLA
“Weinreich witticism.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Weinreich%20witticism. Accessed November 5, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Weinreich witticism,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Weinreich%20witticism.
Source: Weinreich witticism on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.