vocalism

V4O1C3A1L1I1S1M3

noun

Speaking or singing.

Similar
vowel systemvoicevocalizationvocalisationphonationvox
OriginEnglish vocal ← Middle English vocal ← Latin vōcālis →
Scrabble 15
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Meanings

nounvocalism (plural vocalisms)

plural vocalisms

  1. Speaking or singing.

    The exciting vocalism of Leontyne Price

    1984 December 29, Charles Henry Fuller, “Music For The Holidays”, in Gay Community News, volume 12, number 25
  2. human sciencesThe vowel sounds used in a language.
  3. human sciencesThe vowels, sequence of vowels, or the quality peculiar to the vowels of a given word or group of words.

    All forms contain a base *θirr- or *θurr-. Types 1 and 2 [which contain *θirr] may have been influenced by θirri̯are 'to screech', suggesting that the forms with *θurr- preserve the original vocalism.

    2025, Cid Swanenvleugel, The Pre-Roman Elements of the Sardinian Lexicon, page 256

Synonyms & antonyms

nounthe system of vowels used in a particular language

Similar
vowel system
Broader
phonemic system

nounthe sound made by the vibration of vocal folds modified by the resonance of the vocal tract

Similar
voicevocalizationvocalisationphonationvox
Broader
communication
Also see
phonationvocalizationvoicevox

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Latinvōcālis
  2. Middle Englishvocal
  3. Englishvocal
  4. Englishvocalism

From vocal + -ism.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish vokaalisto
  • vokaalistoThe vowel sounds used in a language
French vocalisme
  • vocalismeThe vowel sounds used in a language
German Vokalismus
  • VokalismusThe vowel sounds used in a language
Italian vocalismo
  • vocalismoThe vowel sounds used in a language
Polish wokalizm
  • wokalizmThe vowel sounds used in a language
Portuguese vocalismo
  • vocalismoThe vowel sounds used in a language
Romanian vocalism
  • vocalismThe vowel sounds used in a language
Russian вокали́зм
  • вокали́зм (vokalízm)The vowel sounds used in a language
Spanish vocalismo
  • vocalismoThe vowel sounds used in a language
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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