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acrolect

US/ˈæk.ɹə.lɛkt/

noun

The variety of speech that is considered most suitable for formal occasions (typically using only standard forms).

Scrabble 12

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Meanings

nounacrolect (plural acrolects)

plural acrolects

human sciencesThe variety of speech that is considered most suitable for formal occasions (typically using only standard forms).
In one dimension change is directed toward the acrolect, the “typical” change in the creole continuum.
1994, Michael Montgomery, The Crucible of Carolina, University of Georgia Press, →ISBN, page 60
1 more example
At the other end of the continuum is the most standard speech, the acrolect. In between is a gradient of forms with many successive levels, the mesolects.
2013, Allan Bell, The Guidebook to Sociolinguistics, John Wiley & Sons, →ISBN, page 83

Origin

From acro- (“tip; peak”) + -lect, coined by William Alexander Stewart in 1965.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan acrolecte

acrolectevariety of speech that is considered the standard form

Dutch acrolect

acrolectvariety of speech that is considered the standard form

Finnish akrolekti

akrolektivariety of speech that is considered the standard form

French acrolecte

acrolectevariety of speech that is considered the standard form

German Akrolekt

Akrolektvariety of speech that is considered the standard form

Indonesian akrolek

akrolekvariety of speech that is considered the standard form

Irish ardchanúint

ardchanúintvariety of speech that is considered the standard form

Italian acroletto

acrolettovariety of speech that is considered the standard form

Malay akrolek

akrolekvariety of speech that is considered the standard form

Portuguese acroleto

acroletovariety of speech that is considered the standard form

Spanish acrolecto

acrolectovariety of speech that is considered the standard form

Cite this entry

APA

acrolect. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/acrolect

MLA

“acrolect.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/acrolect. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “acrolect,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/acrolect.

Source: acrolect on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.