The International Rangeland Congress (IRC) has collaborated with the Global Alliance for the International Year of Rangelands & Pastoralists (IYRP) to bring out “Rangelands and pastoralists: people and institutions – a glossary of terms” in order to provide guidance for understanding socio-institutional terms commonly used when referring to rangelands and pastoralists. This Version 1, brought out more than a year before IYRP2026 commences, is meant to stimulate reflection and discussion about the use of these terms and thus generate even better understanding. Readers are invited to comment on the definitions. Version 2 will come out in IYRP Month 1 (Jan 2026), focussed on “What are rangelands? Who are pastoralists?”.