Thesaurus results for PATOIS

patois

noun

ˈpa-ˌtwä

Definition of patois

as in dialect

the special terms or expressions of a particular group or field the medical patois that the hospital staffers used among themselves was incomprehensible to me

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of patois In truth, plenty of New Yorkers are both privileged and come from elsewhere, but still fall into the rhythm and the patois that has long defined the city. — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 3 July 2026 That’s for sure when people speak patois, a vernacular version of English that’s based on a culture’s intonation. — Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 4 June 2026 There are countless examples like these, in which English scaffolding has adapted to the demands and the cultural heritage of its speakers, from Jamaican patois to Tok Pisin, of New Guinea. — Manvir Singh, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024 Instead, viewers are immersed in Millie’s Kingston, with dialogue spoken almost entirely in Jamaican patois, where opportunities are limited, gang violence persists and whiteness is still put on a pedestal. — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 25 Nov. 2024 See All Example Sentences for patois

Recent Examples of Synonyms for patois

Noun

Unlike the brighter, more melodic style often associated with Austria and the Tyrol region, Swiss yodeling is slower and more melancholic — an emotionally nuanced tradition rooted in distinct regional dialects.

— Jez Fielder, Fortune, 30 June 2026
Unlike the brighter, more melodic style often associated with Austria and the Tyrol region, Swiss yodeling is slower and more melancholic — an emotionally nuanced tradition rooted in distinct regional dialects.

— ABC News, ABC News, 29 June 2026

Definition of dialect

Noun

The goal is to develop proficiency in cybersecurity terminology and the technical skills essential for identifying common cyberattack methods.

— Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Using basic academic terminology would place grants at risk of rejection or termination on political grounds.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 2 July 2026

Definition of terminology

Noun

Understanding The Exposure Gap Many young marketers arrive with ambition, vocabulary and a solid grasp of brand theory.

— Michael Wright, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Meanwhile, the very vocabulary of humanitarianism and antiracism has become so selectively applied or debased as to be meaningless.

— Simon Sebag Montefiore, The Atlantic, 28 June 2026

Definition of vocabulary

Noun

Their influence stretched beyond music into fashion, dance trends and slang, and as member Pimpin' noted, fans are still doing the group's signature dance more than two decades later, something a SeaWorld whale recently proved.

— Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 23 June 2026
Benoit delights in language as much as her heroine, weaving Regency-era slang throughout and appending a chapter-by-chapter glossary of vulgarities.

— Angelina Mazza, Vulture, 19 June 2026