homonym

hom·onym

noun \ˈhä-mə-ˌnim, ˈhō-\

Definition of HOMONYM

1

a : homophone

b : homograph

c : one of two or more words spelled and pronounced alike but different in meaning (as the noun quail and the verb quail)

2

: namesake

3

: a taxonomic designation rejected as invalid because the identical term has been used to designate another group of the same rank — compare synonym

— hom·onym·ic \ˌhä-mə-ˈni-mik, ˌhō-\ adjective

Examples of HOMONYM

1. The noun “bear” and the verb “bear” are homonyms.

Origin of HOMONYM

Latin homonymum, from Greek homōnymon, from neuter of homōnymos

First Known Use: 1697

Other Language Terms

cognate, collocation

Rhymes with HOMONYM

acronym, anonym, antonym, cryptonym, eponym, metonym, paronym, pseudonym, retronym, seraphim, synonym, tautonym, toponym, underbrim