vernacular meaning and definition

VERNACULAR noun

Definition of vernacular (noun)

1. a characteristic language of a particular group (as among thieves)
   • "they don't speak our lingo"
   • synonyms: argot, cant, jargon, lingo, patois, slang
2. the everyday speech of the people (as distinguished from literary language)

VERNACULAR adjective

Definition of vernacular (adjective)

1. being or characteristic of or appropriate to everyday language
   • "common parlance"; "a vernacular term"; "vernacular speakers"; "the vulgar tongue of the masses"; "the technical and vulgar names for an animal species"
   • synonyms: common, vulgar