language model

noun

plural language models
: a mathematical model (see model entry 1 sense 3) that analyzes a corpus of text in order to accurately represent the relationships between words
We have tremendous freedom to put words in any order we like. The computer has to have some kind of handle, a language model. It has to figure how likely any particular word is to pop up at any time.Robert Mercer, quoted in Chicago Tribune
also : software that uses a language model to generate text (such as responses to queries or prompts)
For example, given the task of analyzing the sentiment of the sentence 'I missed the bus today,' researchers could continue with the prompt 'I felt so [blank]' and ask a language model to fill in the blank with an emotion. Kyle Wiggers
see also large language model

Examples of language model in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In late December, the small Chinese lab, based in Hangzhou, released V3, a language model with 671 billion parameters, which was reportedly trained in two months for just $5.58 million. Rashi Shrivastava, Forbes, 28 Jan. 2025 Check out the companies making headlines in midday trading: Nvidia — The chipmaker tumbled nearly 17% as the performance of a language model from Chinese startup DeepSeek raised questions about the amount of investment in artificial intelligence. Alex Harring, CNBC, 27 Jan. 2025 In most cases, these are very limited in their abilities and simply use a language model to automate things normally done with regular software. Will Knight, WIRED, 23 Jan. 2025 What to Know Balaji was found dead on November 26, 2024, after voicing concerns about how OpenAI was training artificial intelligence language models. Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 16 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for language model 

Word History

First Known Use

1976, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of language model was in 1976

Dictionary Entries Near language model

Cite this Entry

“Language model.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/language%20model. Accessed 10 Feb. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!