high context culture

A form of high-context culture — A culture in which communication relies heavily on context, leaving many things implied rather than explicitly put into words.

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Meanings

nounhigh context culture (plural high context cultures)

plural high context cultures

  1. alternativeAlternative form of high-context culture.

    In high context cultures, most of the information is either in the physical context, or internalized in the person.

    2009, Lena Robinson, Psychology for Social Workers, →ISBN
    2 more examples

    Americans (from a low context culture) will complain that Japanese speakers (from a high context culture) never "get to the point." This is due to a failure to recognize that high context cultures must provide a context and setting and let the point evolve.

    2001, James A. Schnell, Qualitative Method Interpretations in Communication Studies, page 15 0739101471

    In high context cultures, however, besides the spoken word, body language, gestures, shaking of the head and hand, each convey some meaning.

    2008, Justin Paul, International Marketing, →ISBN, page 111
Cite this entry
APA

high context culture. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/high%20context%20culture

MLA

“high context culture.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/high%20context%20culture. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “high context culture,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/high%20context%20culture.

Source: high context culture on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.