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context

con·text | \ ˈkän-ˌtekst

Definition of context

1 : the parts of a discourse that surround a word or passage and can throw light on its meaning

2 : the interrelated conditions in which something exists or occurs : environment, setting the historical context of the war

Other Words from context Synonyms Context, in Context More Example Sentences Learn More about context

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Context, in Context

In its earliest uses (documented in the 15th century), context meant "the weaving together of words in language." This sense, now obsolete, developed logically from the word's source in Latin, contexere "to weave or join together." Context now most commonly refers to the environment or setting in which something (whether words or events) exists. When we say that something is contextualized, we mean that it is placed in an appropriate setting, one in which it may be properly considered.

Examples of context in a Sentence

… it was Dickens who first used the word 'detective' in a literary context … — John Mullan, How Novels Work, 2006 Entrepreneurship and civil freedoms depend on a context of civil order, predictability, and individual security. — Susan L. Woodward, Balkan Tragedy, 1995 … the old building, its original acre, inside its high outer wall, was immune to change, out of context and out of time. — Harriet Doerr, The Tiger in the Grass, 1995 We need to look at the event within the larger context of world history. The book puts these events in their proper historical and social contexts. We need to consider these events in context.

Recent Examples on the Web This is happening within the context of Big Brother failing to address bullying and bias across multiple seasons. — Kyle Fowle, EW.com, "Big Brother recap: An explosive fight acts as a reminder of the issues plaguing Big Brother," 11 Sep. 2020 Thus any of the aplomb and verve Trubisky is currently demonstrating needs to be kept within proper context. — Dan Wiederer, chicagotribune.com, "Column: Mitch Trubisky has the Bears starting QB job and is in a good place mentally. But how much will that mean?," 6 Sep. 2020 In it, Burgis, an investigations correspondent for the Financial Times, places Trump within the context of a widening number of international kleptocrats. — Jennifer Taub, Washington Post, "Trump among the kleptocrats," 3 Sep. 2020 Within the context of the editor’s personal history, bringing Vogue to Scandinavia might be seen as a triumph of feminism—and a defense of the importance and impact of fashion. — Laird Borrelli-persson, Vogue, "Meet Martina Bonnier, Vogue Scandinavia's New Editor-In-Chief," 19 Aug. 2020 Last month’s deadly standoff in the Himalayas, in which Indian and Chinese soldiers are believed to have engaged in hours of hand-to-hand combat using crude weapons such as stones and iron rods, occurred within the context of this longer history. — Yasmeen Serhan, The Atlantic, "A Nationalist’s Guide to Stepping Back From the Brink," 8 July 2020 Within the context of these processes, survivors are afforded more flexibility to decide for themselves what justice looks like. — Isabel Cristo, The New Republic, "Policing Doesn’t Protect Women," 6 July 2020 Musician Nelson Kempf will produce an album of original songs to better understand himself within a wider context of Alaska cultural history while reaching toward decolonization and environmental stewardship. — Danielle Duclos, Anchorage Daily News, "Rasmuson Foundation announces 2020 award winners, gives top honor to Tlingit carver Wayne Price," 2 July 2020 Residents and local leaders say the loss of Save A Lot must be understood within this context. — Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN, "This neighborhood was struggling. Then its only grocery store closed in the pandemic," 1 July 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'context.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.