1
: a unit (such as a letter or digraph) of a writing system
2
: the set of units of a writing system (such as letters and letter combinations) that represent a phoneme
Examples of grapheme in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
People with the most common type, grapheme-color synesthesia, see letters as colors.
—
Shanley Pierce, Discover Magazine, 8 Oct. 2020
Shanley Pierce, Discover Magazine, 8 Oct. 2020
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'grapheme.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
-graph + -eme
First Known Use
1932, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near grapheme
Cite this Entry
“Grapheme.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grapheme. Accessed 24 Sep. 2023.
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