diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 9243292..5751792 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -20,9 +20,9 @@ The core components of cryptic-net, currently, are:
   the network are on a private LAN (e.g. their home WiFi network) or have a
   dynamic IP, they can still communicate directly with each other.
 
-* An S3-compatible network filesystem. Each participant can provide as much
-  storage as they care to, if any. Stored data is sharded and replicated across
-  all hosts that choose to provide storage.
+* An S3-compatible network filesystem. Each users can provide as much storage as
+  they care to, if any. Stored data is sharded and replicated across all hosts
+  that choose to provide storage.
 
 * A DNS server which provides automatic host and service (coming soon) discovery
   within the network.
@@ -44,9 +44,9 @@ decide which documents they need to care about.
 
 ### User Docs
 
-Users are participants who use cryptic-net resources, but do not provide any
-network or storage resources themselves. Users may be accessing the network from
-a laptop, and so are not expected to be online at any particular moment.
+Users are participants who use network resources, but do not provide any network
+or storage resources themselves. Users may be accessing the network from a
+laptop, and so are not expected to be online at any particular moment.
 
 Documentation for users:
 
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ Documentation for users:
 
 ### Operator Docs
 
-Operators are participants who own a dedicated host which they can expect to be
+Operators are users who own a dedicated host which they can expect to be
 always-online (to the extent that's possible in a residential environment).
 Operator hosts will need at least one of the following to be useful:
 
@@ -78,8 +78,8 @@ Documentation for operators:
 
 ### Admin Docs
 
-Admins are participants who control membership within the network. They are
-likely operators as well.
+Admins are users who control membership within the network. They are likely
+operators as well.
 
 Documentation for admins:
 
@@ -89,15 +89,15 @@ Documentation for admins:
 
 ### Dev Docs
 
-Devs may or may not be participants in any particular cryptic-net. They instead
-are those who work on the actual code for cryptic-net.
+Devs may or may not be users in any particular cryptic network. They instead are
+those who work on the actual code for cryptic-net.
 
 Documentation for devs:
 
 * [Design Principles](docs/dev/design-principles.md)
 * [`cryptic-net daemon` process tree](docs/dev/daemon-process-tree.svg): Diagram
-  describing the [pmux](https://code.betamike.com/cryptic-io/pmux) process tree created
-  by `cryptic-net daemon` at runtime.
+  describing the [pmux](https://code.betamike.com/cryptic-io/pmux) process tree
+  created by `cryptic-net daemon` at runtime.
 * [Rebuilding Documentation](docs/dev/rebuilding-documentation.md)
 
 ## Misc
@@ -105,5 +105,6 @@ Documentation for devs:
 Besides documentation, there are a few other pages which might be useful:
 
 * [Roadmap][roadmap]
+* [Glossary](docs/glossary.md)
 
 [roadmap]: docs/roadmap.md
diff --git a/docs/glossary.md b/docs/glossary.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2282fdf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/glossary.md
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+# Glossary
+
+The purpose of this document is define the specific terms which should be used
+for various concepts, with the goal of establishing consistency throughout
+documentation and source code.
+
+- "user" - a person who takes part in the usage, operation, or administration of
+  a cryptic network.
+
+- "host" - A computer or device used by a user to connect to a cryptic network.
+
+- "cryptic network", "network" - A collection of hosts which communicate and
+  share resources with each other via the mechanisms provided by the cryptic-net
+  project.
+
+- "cryptic-net" - The name of the binary or program which is used to interact
+  with a cryptic network.