1. the distinctive speech pattern, vocabulary, and pronunciation habits of an individual person
Usage: linguistics term; used in sociolinguistics and language study

Examples

• Every person has a unique idiolect shaped by their regional background and life experiences.
• Linguists study idiolects to understand how individuals vary in their use of language.
• Her idiolect includes several regional expressions she picked up growing up in the South.
• The author's idiolect is recognizable in the distinctive word choices throughout her novels.
• Twins may develop similar idiolects due to their shared environment and frequent interaction.
• Understanding a speaker's idiolect helps explain why no two people speak exactly alike.