context

UK: /ˈkɒntɛkst/ US: /ˈkɑntɛkst/ ,(kon′tekst)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

con•text /ˈkɑntɛkst/   n. 

1. the parts of a statement that come before or follow a word or passage and influence its meaning or effect:
   [countable] They tried to guess from the context what the message meant.
   [uncountable] What he said was taken out of context and was completely misunderstood.
2. the facts that surround a particular event, etc.:
   [countable] We need to understand the whole context of the struggle in the Middle East.

con•text•u•al /kənˈtɛkstʃuəl/  adj.: 

contextual circumstances.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

con•text  (kon′tekst), n. 

1. the parts of a written or spoken statement that precede or follow a specific word or passage, usually influencing its meaning or effect:
   You have misinterpreted my remark because you took it out of context.
2. the set of circumstances or facts that surround a particular event, situation, etc.
3. Fungi [Mycol.] the fleshy fibrous body of the pileus in mushrooms.

• Latin contextus a joining together, scheme, structure, equivalent. to contex(ere) to join by weaving (con- con- + texere to plait, weave) + -tus suffix of verb, verbal action; compare text
• late Middle English 1375–1425

con′text•less, adj. 
Synonyms

• 2. background, milieu, climate.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

context / ˈkɒntɛkst/ noun

1. the parts of a piece of writing, speech, etc, that precede and follow a word or passage and contribute to its full meaning: it is unfair to quote out of context
2. the conditions and circumstances that are relevant to an event, fact, etc

Etymology: 15th Century: from Latin contextus a putting together, from contexere to interweave, from com- together + texere to weave, braid