idiolect.

The distinctive language or speech patterns used by one individual at a particular time.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• personal idiolect
• features of an idiolect
• describe an idiolect

On the page

Her repeated metaphors and unusual pauses were recognizable features of her idiolect.

Usage notes

Primary category: academic / formal / analytical. Lexical Type: Word. Forms: Singular idiolect; plural idiolects. Commonness: uncommon (editorial estimate; not a corpus frequency statistic). Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1; numbered fields keep each relevant meaning separate. Research distinction: Individual language pattern and life-period scope verified from the dictionary; useful for character voice and linguistic analysis, not a group dialect. Writing functions: language analysis, conceptual distinction.