Pronunciation: /ˈhɛtərəˌnɪm/

Definitions of heteronym

noun a word that is spelled the same as another word but has a different pronunciation and meaning, such as 'bow' (to bend) and 'bow' (a type of weapon)

Example Sentences

A1 A heteronym is a word that is spelled the same as another word but has a different pronunciation and meaning.

A2 Learning about heteronyms can help improve your vocabulary and understanding of the English language.

B1 It can be confusing to differentiate between heteronyms, especially for non-native English speakers.

B2 Some examples of heteronyms include 'tear' (to rip) and 'tear' (a drop of water from the eye).

C1 Linguists study the phenomenon of heteronyms to better understand the complexities of language and communication.

C2 Authors often use heteronyms creatively in their writing to play with the multiple meanings of words.

adjective describing a word that has different pronunciations and meanings depending on context or usage

Example Sentences

A1 I learned about heteronym words in my beginner English class.

A2 She struggled with understanding the concept of heteronym words.

B1 The teacher explained the difference between heteronym and homonym words.

B2 He used examples of heteronym words to demonstrate pronunciation variations.

C1 The linguist conducted a study on the use of heteronym words in different languages.

C2 The author wrote a book exploring the complexities of heteronym words in linguistics.

Examples of heteronym in a Sentence

formal The English language is full of heteronyms, words that are spelled the same but have different meanings and pronunciations.

informal It's so confusing when you come across heteronyms in English, like 'bow' meaning both to bend and a type of weapon.

slang I hate when I see heteronyms on a spelling test, it always trips me up.

figurative Heteronyms are like linguistic puzzles, where you have to figure out the pronunciation based on the context of the sentence.

Grammatical Forms of heteronym

past tense

heteronymed

plural

heteronyms

comparative

more heteronymous

superlative

most heteronymous

present tense

heteronyms

future tense

will heteronym

perfect tense

have heteronymed

continuous tense

is heteronyming

singular

heteronym

positive degree

heteronym

infinitive

to heteronym

gerund

heteronyming

participle

heteronymed

Origin and Evolution of heteronym

First Known Use: 1874 year
Language of Origin: Greek
Story behind the word: The word 'heteronym' originates from the Greek words 'hetero-' meaning 'different' and '-nym' meaning 'name'.
Evolution of the word: The term 'heteronym' was first used in linguistics to refer to words that are spelled the same but have different meanings and pronunciations. Over time, the term has become widely used in the field of linguistics to describe this specific phenomenon.