Basilect Definition

băsə-lĕkt
noun
The variety of speech that is most remote from the prestige variety, especially in an area where a creole is spoken. For example, in Jamaica, Jamaican Creole is the basilect whereas Standard Jamaican English is the acrolect or prestige language.
American Heritage

(linguistics) A variety of a language that has diverged greatly from the standard form.

Wiktionary

Other Word Forms of Basilect

Noun

Singular:
basilect
Plural:
basilects

Origin of Basilect

  • basi– (dia)lect

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • basi- +"Ž -lect

    From Wiktionary

Find Similar Words

Find similar words to basilect using the buttons below.

Words Starting With

Words Ending With

Unscrambles

basilect