Glossary

A glossary in translation is a curated list of approved terms and their translations, created and maintained to ensure consistent terminology across all translated content for a specific client, project, or subject domain. Unlike a dictionary, which provides general definitions, a translation glossary prescribes how specific terms should be translated in a given context.

A well-maintained glossary typically includes the source term, the approved translation in each target language, a definition or context note explaining how the term is used, any terms to avoid (incorrect or deprecated translations), and notes on usage context if the term has different translations depending on context.

Glossaries are particularly important for organisations with specialised terminology (medical, legal, technical, financial), brand-specific vocabulary (product names, feature names, marketing terms), regulated industries where consistent terminology has compliance implications, and large-scale translation programmes involving multiple translators who need to use identical terminology.

Glossary management is an ongoing process. New terms are added as content evolves, existing translations are refined based on feedback, and deprecated terms are flagged to prevent reuse. Most Translation Management Systems include glossary functionality that allows translators to access approved terms during the translation process and flags unapproved alternatives.

LEXIGO maintains client-specific glossaries as part of our standard service, building and refining terminology databases that grow more valuable over time and ensure consistency across every project.

Inconsistent terminology is one of the most visible translation quality issues. When the same product feature appears under different names in different documents, or when key technical terms are translated differently by different translators, it creates confusion for readers and undermines confidence in the content.

A glossary prevents these inconsistencies by providing a single source of truth for terminology. The investment in building and maintaining a glossary pays dividends across every subsequent translation project, improving quality while reducing the time translators spend on terminology decisions.