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
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
Kyle Wiggers Examples of language model in a Sentence
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The good news is that agentic workflows powered by the right large and small language models (LLMs and SLMs) can track, reconcile, report and remedy these challenges.
—Monish Darda, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
The model uses a small language model (SLM), so this assistant isn’t supposed to be a broad, conversational AI, Nvidia said in a press release.
—Ece Yildirim, Quartz, 25 Mar. 2025
The rollout will incorporate more advanced AI capable of language models, emotional comprehension and personalized customer reactions, according to Yum! Brands.
—Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2025
New Frontier: Vision-Language Models The emergence of vision language models (VLMs) offers a promising new approach.
—Xingjian "xj" Zhang, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
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Monish Darda, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
The model uses a small language model (SLM), so this assistant isn’t supposed to be a broad, conversational AI, Nvidia said in a press release.
—Ece Yildirim, Quartz, 25 Mar. 2025
The rollout will incorporate more advanced AI capable of language models, emotional comprehension and personalized customer reactions, according to Yum! Brands.
—Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2025
New Frontier: Vision-Language Models The emergence of vision language models (VLMs) offers a promising new approach.
—Xingjian "xj" Zhang, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for language model
Cite this Entry
“Language model.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/language%20model. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
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