A word is a basic element of language that carries an objective or practical meaning, can be used on its own, and is uninterruptible. It is a sound or a combination of sounds, or its representation in writing, that symbolizes and communicates a meaning. Words are made up of at least one morpheme, which is the smallest unit of language that has a meaning, even if it cannot stand on its own. Morphemes can also be joined to create other words in a process of morphological derivation.

The concept of "word" is distinguished from that of a morpheme, and the criteria developed for "word" can only be applicable to languages of broadly European synthetic structure. Therefore, some linguists propose avoiding the term "word" altogether, instead focusing on better-defined terms such as morphemes.

A word can be defined on phonological grounds as a unit larger or equal to a syllable, which can be distinguished based on segmental or prosodic features, or through its interactions with phonological rules.

In summary, a word is a fundamental unit of language that carries meaning and can be used on its own. It is made up of at least one morpheme and can be defined based on phonological grounds.