elision

noun

eli·​sion i-ˈli-zhən 

1

a

: the use of a speech form that lacks a final or initial sound which a variant speech form has (such as 's instead of is in there's)

b

: the omission of an unstressed vowel or syllable in a verse to achieve a uniform metrical pattern

2

: the act or an instance of omitting something : omission

Synonyms of elision

• deletion
• omission

Examples of elision in a Sentence

unfortunately, when the book was condensed, some of the elisions rendered major plot developments incomprehensible

Recent Examples on the Web

And Henry’s brilliant at that—using the right hundred-dollar word there, and being slightly charming here, and a slight elision there. —Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2025

Her lyrics, riddled with em-dashes and elisions, seem to map her spontaneous neural firing. —Pitchfork, 2 Dec. 2025

A certain equilibrium is achieved in her tactical juxtaposition of refinement and rebellion, in the contrast between the acceptable and the taboo, in the elision of erotically graphic drawings and the delicate lines and watercolors with which they are elaborated. —Elizabeth Mangini, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2025

Overweening expressions of ‘good’ taste often give rise to myopic elisions between public and private identities. —Matthew Carey Salyer, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin elision-, elisio, from Latin elidere

First Known Use

circa 1586, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for elision

• abscission
• collision
• decision
• derision
• division
• envision
• excision
• incision
• misprision
• precision
• prevision
• provision