DictionaryAI

alphabet

SayAL-fuh-bet/ˈæl.fəˌbɛt/UK/ˈæl.fə.bɛt/

Pluralalphabets

7 meanings of alphabet

Practice

  1. 1
    language's lettersnouncountable
    All the letters used to write a language.

    My little brother can already sing the whole alphabet.

    The Russian alphabet looks very different from the English one.

    UsageSay the alphabet for all the letters, and a letter for one.

    Similarscript

  2. 2
    nouncountable
    In language study, a way of writing where each letter stands for one sound, both vowels and consonants.

    Chinese is not written with an alphabet, so children must learn thousands of characters.

    With an alphabet, you can sound out a new word one letter at a time.

    Note
  3. 3
    nouncountable
    In computer science, a set of different symbols used to build longer sequences.

    A binary code uses an alphabet of just two symbols, 0 and 1.

    This puzzle only allows words made from the alphabet {a, b, c}.

    Note
  4. 4
    nounnonstandardHong KongIndiaMalaysiaSingaporeAfricacountable
    One single letter, like A, B or C.

    The first alphabet of my name is S.

    My son can write all the alphabets now, from A to Z.

    UsageFor one symbol, most readers expect letter: the first letter of my name.

    Similarletter

    Note
  5. 5
    basicsnouncountable
    The most basic things you need to know about a subject or skill.

    Scales are the alphabet of music, so every piano student starts with them.

    Before you build websites, learn the alphabet of good design.

    UsageSay the alphabet of music: its basic parts.

    Similarbasics, fundamentals, rudiments, essentials

    Note

Less common meanings

  1. 6
    government agentnounslangcountable
    Someone who works as an agent for the FBI, the CIA, or a similar government group.

    We think the quiet new member is an alphabet spying for the government.

    The forum was full of alphabets pretending to be regular posters.

    Similarfed, spook

    Note
  2. 7
    verbraretransitive
    To label things with letters, or to put them in order from A to Z.

    Similaralphabetize

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of alphabet apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

Alpha and beta are the names of the first two Greek letters. They were put together to make this word, which reached English through Latin.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts