homonym
noun
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What are homonyms, homophones, and homographs?
Homonym can be troublesome because it may refer to three distinct classes of words. Homonyms may be words with identical pronunciations but different spellings and meanings, such as to, too, and two. Or they may be words with both identical pronunciations and identical spellings but different meanings, such as quail (the bird) and quail (to cringe). Finally, they may be words that are spelled alike but are different in pronunciation and meaning, such as the bow of a ship and bow that shoots arrows. The first and second types are sometimes called homophones, and the second and third types are sometimes called homographs—which makes naming the second type a bit confusing. Some language scholars prefer to limit homonym to the third type.
Examples of homonym in a Sentence
CBS News, 2 June 2024
On November 26th China’s e-commerce juggernaut sold HK$88bn ($11.2bn) of secondary shares on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under the stock symbol 9988—88 is not only a homonym for baba, but also signifies double luck.
—The Economist, 28 Nov. 2019
Some refashioned Pocari Sweat’s Chinese name (寶礦力) with a homonym, rebranding it as a drink of the resistance (寶抗力), for example.
—Mary Hui, Quartz, 11 July 2024
Pearle is, after all, both her middle name and a homonym of purl, a type of knitting stitch.
—Liana Satenstein, Vogue, 9 July 2024
Since the judges didn't warn her that her word had a homonym and because Reagan didn't ask for the definition - a garment covering the head and neck except for parts of the face - her spelling was deemed correct after further review.
—CBS News, 30 May 2024
In addition to being a homonym for an oil-rich state, the Q8 is expected to showcase Audi's latest technologies.
—Mark Phelan, chicagotribune.com, 1 Mar. 2018
In addition to being a homonym for an oil-rich state, the Q8 is expected to showcase Audi’s latest technologies.
—Mark Phelan, USA TODAY, 26 Feb. 2018
But feminists have worked to counter censors: As the hashtag #MeToo came under fire, women started using homonym hashtags.
—Karen Yuan, The Atlantic, 5 Feb. 2018
Dictionary Entries Near homonym
Cite this Entry
“Homonym.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/homonym. Accessed 6 Feb. 2025.
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homonym
noun
from Latin homonymum "homonym," derived from Greek homonymos (adjective) "having the same name," from hom-, homos "same" and onyma, onoma "name"
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