context

Definitions

The circumstances that form the setting for an event, statement, or idea, and in terms of which it can be fully understood.

The parts of a written or spoken statement that precede or follow a specific word or passage, usually influencing its meaning.

Examples

It is difficult to understand the quote without knowing the context in which it was said.

The teacher asked the students to use context clues to determine the meaning of the difficult vocabulary words.

Taking his words out of context completely changed the intended meaning of his speech.

Synonyms

background circumstances setting environment framework situation conditions

Antonyms

isolation detachment abstraction irrelevance disconnection separation divorcement