glossàries

A glossary is a curated list of terms used within a particular field or text, each paired with a brief definition or explanation. Glossaries aim to clarify specialized vocabulary, improve cross-language translation, promote terminological consistency, and assist readers who are new to a domain.

Glossaries can be monolingual or multilingual, and they vary by domain. Field-specific glossaries cover areas such as medicine, law, information technology, or engineering, as well as product or project glossaries compiled for a specific organization. Entries typically include the term, its definition, and information about scope and usage.

A typical entry also notes parts of speech, acronyms, synonyms or antonyms, and cross-references to related terms. Some glossaries provide usage examples, regional variants, or notes on how a term differs from similar concepts.

Glossaries are produced by subject matter experts and terminologists. The creation process involves term collection, definition drafting, validation, standardization, and ongoing revisions. Digital glossaries may be stored in terminology management systems and be encoded for linked data formats such as SKOS to support interoperability.

Glossaries are distinct from dictionaries in that they focus on domain-specific terminology rather than general language. Challenges include resolving polysemy, defining the scope of coverage, maintaining consistency, and keeping entries up to date as terminology evolves.