lexicostatistics

noun

A statistical estimation of the degree of linguistic divergence between two languages, based on the proportion of cognates.

OriginEnglish statistics ← Ancient Greek λεξῐκός (lexĭkós) ← Proto-Hellenic *légō →
Scrabble 27
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Meanings

nounlexicostatistics (uncountable)
  1. uncountableA statistical estimation of the degree of linguistic divergence between two languages, based on the proportion of cognates.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*leǵ-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*léǵ-e-ti
  3. Proto-Hellenic*légō
  4. Ancient Greekλέγω (légō)
  5. Ancient Greekλέξῐς (léxĭs)
  6. Ancient Greekλεξῐκός (lexĭkós)
  7. Englishlexico-
  8. Englishstatistics
  9. Englishlexicostatistics

From lexico- + statistics.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Russian лексикостатистика
  • лексикостатистика (leksikostatistika)statistical estimation of the degree of linguistic divergence between two languages
Cite this entry
APA

lexicostatistics. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lexicostatistics

MLA

“lexicostatistics.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lexicostatistics. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “lexicostatistics,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lexicostatistics.

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