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homonym definition

homo·nym (häm′ə nim′)

noun

  1. a word with the same pronunciation as another but with a different meaning, origin, and, usually, spelling (Ex.: bore and boar); homophone
  2. loosely a homograph
  3. either of two people with the same name; namesake
  4. Biol. a name for a genus, species, etc. unsuitable because already used for another taxonomic classification

Etymology: Fr homonyme < L homonymus < Gr homōnymos, having the same name < homos, same + onyma, name

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

homonym Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • have: The homonym problem is this: English already has way too many homonyms for its own good.
homonym usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

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"homonym." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/homonym>

APA Style

homonym. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/homonym

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