lingua franca
noun
Gore Vidal
Did you know?
In the Middle Ages, the Arabs of the eastern Mediterranean referred to all Europeans as Franks (the name of the tribe that once occupied the land we call France). Since there was plenty of Arab-European trade, the traders in the Mediterranean ports eventually developed a trading language combining Italian, Arabic, and other languages, which almost everyone could more or less understand, and it became known as the "Frankish language", or lingua franca. Some languages actually succeed in becoming lingua francas without changing much. So, when the Roman empire became vast and mighty, Latin became the important lingua franca; and at a meeting between Japanese and Vietnamese businesspeople today, English may well be the only language spoken.
Examples of lingua franca in a Sentence
The New Yorker, New Yorker, 5 May 2025
That discourse feels quaint a decade or so later; despite what American protectionist impulses may linger, rap is now the lingua franca of youth.
—Meaghan Garvey, Pitchfork, 25 Feb. 2025
Their catch-phrases have entered the UK’s lingua franca.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 17 Mar. 2025
This approach would aim to: • Bring Clarity To Reporting: Establish a lingua franca for cyber risk that bridges the communication gap between technical and financial stakeholders.
—Bob Ackerman, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lingua franca
Cite this Entry
“Lingua franca.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lingua%20franca. Accessed 31 May. 2025.
Copy Citation
Share