journals

IPA/ˈdʒɜː.nəl/
KK[dʒˈɚnəlz]IPA/ˈdʒɝː.nəl/

journals — noun

  • journalssingular
  • journalsesplural

1. a periodical that focuses on a specific area of study or professional work, with

1.nounB2
Definition

a periodical that focuses on a specific area of study or professional work, with articles written by experts in that field and aimed at people who work or study in the same area

Example

Theo reads the New England Journal of Medicine every week for his research.

collocation: Journal of + field name

The librarian showed Emma how to search for articles in science journals.

Common collocations
  • peer-reviewed journal
  • academic journal
  • medical journal
  • journal article
  • journal editor
Synonyms
  • periodical

    a broader term that includes any publication issued at regular intervals

  • publication

    more general; can refer to any printed or digital work made available to the public

  • review

    used in titles of some academic journals, e.g. 'Harvard Business Review'

Grammar Patterns

adjective + journal

journal + of + subject area

Usage Note

A journal in this sense is more specialised than a magazine; authors usually have academic or professional credentials.

Common Mistakes

I read a journal about cooking every month.
I read a magazine about cooking every month.
'journal' suggests academic or professional content, not general-interest topics.

2. a book or a digital file where you regularly write about things you did, ideas o

2.nounA2
Definition

a book or a digital file where you regularly write about things you did, ideas on your mind, and feelings you had, keeping it mostly for yourself to revisit later

Example

Noa writes in her journal every night before going to sleep.

collocation: write in + possessive + journal

Jack kept a travel journal when he visited Japan last summer.

Common collocations
  • personal journal
  • keep a journal
  • write in a journal
  • journal entry
  • private journal
Synonyms
  • diary

    interchangeable in most contexts; 'diary' often focuses more on daily events, while 'journal' may include thoughts and reflections

  • log

    more factual and structured, often used for travel or work records

  • notebook

    a physical book for writing; does not imply regular personal entries

Grammar Patterns

possessive + journal

keep + a/journal

write + in + possessive + journal

Usage Note

Often used with possessive adjectives: my journal, her journal, their journals. A journal in this sense is usually private, unlike a blog which is shared publicly.

Common Mistakes

I wrote a journal about my trip.
I kept a journal about my trip.' or 'I wrote in a journal about my trip.
'write a journal' sounds like you are creating or publishing the book itself, not recording personal entries.

3. a book or computer file in which a company or organisation records money coming

3.nounB2
Definition

a book or computer file in which a company or organisation records money coming in and going out, as each transaction happens

Example

Omar recorded every sale in the company's journal at the end of each day.

collocation: in the company's journal

The accountant checked the journal against the bank statement to find the error.

collocation: check the journal against [document]

Common collocations
  • purchase journal
  • sales journal
  • general journal
  • cash journal
  • journal entry
Synonyms
  • ledger

    a later-stage record where journal entries are grouped by account; more structured than a journal

  • account book

    a general term for any book used to track money

  • daybook

    an older term for a daily record of transactions

Grammar Patterns

financial/general/purchase + journal

journal + of + transactions

in the journal

Usage Note

In accounting, a journal is the first place a transaction is recorded (journal entry) before it is moved to a ledger. 'Journal' in this sense is nearly always used in formal or business contexts.

Common Mistakes

The journal shows how much profit we made this year.
The ledger shows how much profit we made this year.
a journal records raw transactions; a ledger organises them by account.

journals — verb

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

All four words refer to something you write in, but they differ in purpose and audience. A 'diary' is almost identical to a personal journal — both are private, day-by-day records of experiences and feelings, though 'diary' often focuses more on what happened while 'journal' leans toward thoughts and reflections. A 'log' is more factual: a captain logs the ship's position, or a programmer logs bugs found — there is no emotion or personal reflection. A 'notebook' is simply a blank book for any kind of writing: lecture notes, shopping lists, or sketches — it does not imply regular personal entries. A 'memoir' is very different: it is a published book that looks back at a period of the writer's life, written for others to read, not for private reflection. For example, you might say: 'I keep a journal to understand my own feelings, but someday I hope to write a memoir about growing up in Taiwan.'

diary ↗log ↗notebook ↗memoir ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • journal entry
  • journal writing
  • journal article

Phrases

  • keep a journal
  • write in a journal
  • publish in a journal

Prepositions

  • in a journal
  • in one's journal
  • in the journal

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

The word 'journal' entered English from Old French 'jurnal', meaning 'daily', which came from Latin 'diurnalis' (daily). The Latin root 'dies' means 'day'. This daily-connection explains all three meanings: an academic journal is published regularly (by days or months), a personal journal is written in day by day, and a financial journal records each day's transactions.

First known use

15th century

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2b Verb