alphabet Definition
a set of letters or symbols in a fixed order used to represent the basic sounds of a language, especially the set of letters from A to Z.
Using alphabet: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "alphabet" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The English alphabet has 26 letters.
Example
She is learning the Korean alphabet.
Example
The ancient Egyptians used hieroglyphs instead of an alphabet.
Phrases with alphabet
a system of spelling out words letter by letter, using words to represent each letter, used especially by pilots, the military, and others when communicating over radio or telephone
Example
The NATO phonetic alphabet uses words like 'Alpha,' 'Bravo,' and 'Charlie' to represent the letters of the alphabet.
Example
The contract was filled with legal jargon and acronyms, it was like reading alphabet soup.
backwards alphabet
the alphabet recited in reverse order, from Z to A
Example
He impressed his friends by reciting the backwards alphabet perfectly.
Origins of alphabet
from Late Latin 'alphabetum', from Greek 'alphabētos', from the first two letters of the Greek alphabet, alpha and beta
Summary: alphabet in Brief
An 'alphabet' [ˈælfəbɛt] is a set of letters or symbols in a fixed order used to represent the basic sounds of a language. The English alphabet has 26 letters, while other languages may have more or fewer. Phrases like 'phonetic alphabet' and 'alphabet soup' use 'alphabet' to denote specific contexts where letters are used. 'Backwards alphabet' refers to reciting the alphabet in reverse order.
