noscitur a sociis

/nɒskiˈtuˑɹ ˌɑˑ ˌsɔkiːʔiˑs/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 0.00 in modern English

Scrabble Score

Letters

Syllables

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A canon of construction under which the questionable meaning of a doubtful word can be derived from its association with other words.

"Foster v Diphwys Casson (1887) 18 QBD 428, involved a statute which stated that explosives taken into a mine must be in a "case or canister". Here the defendant used a cloth bag. The courts had to consider whether a cloth bag was within the definition. Under noscitur a sociis, it was held that the bag could not have been within the statutory definition, because parliament's intention was referring to a case or container of the same strength as a canister."

Latin, meaning "it is known from its associates."

ejusdem generis expressio unius est exclusio alterius

Questions

How do you pronounce noscitur a sociis?

The recorded pronunciation is /nɒskiˈtuˑɹ ˌɑˑ ˌsɔkiːʔiˑs/.

What does noscitur a sociis mean?

A canon of construction under which the questionable meaning of a doubtful word can be derived from its association with other words.

Where does noscitur a sociis come from?

Latin, meaning "it is known from its associates."

How to pronounce noscitur a sociis

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “noscitur a sociis”.

Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/nɒskiˈtuˑɹ ˌɑˑ ˌsɔkiːʔiˑs/) so you know which sounds to aim for.

Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “noscitur a sociis”.

Repeat and practice — Say “noscitur a sociis” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.