Definition of hyphenate
hyphenated
;hyphenating
transitive verb
: to connect (words) or divide (a word, such as a word at the end of a line of print) with a hyphen
From the M-W Editors
hyphenate was our Word of the Day on 04/08/2012. Hear the podcast!
Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP
Examples of hyphenate in a sentence
In English, we hyphenate some compounds but not others.
Circa 1889
First Known Use of hyphenate
circa 1889
hyphenate
Definition of hyphenate
: a person who performs more than one function (such as a producer-director in filmmaking)
Did You Know?
In the early 20th century, the noun hyphenate referred to a resident or citizen of the U.S. whose recent foreign national origin caused others to question his or her patriotic loyalties - with or without there being just cause for that questioning. These hyphenates - the Irish-Americans, German-Americans, and others - were objects of suspicion. The hyphenates we're highlighting today are more often objects of admiration. Since around 1974, we've been referring to people with hyphens in their titles - producer-directors, for example, as hyphenates.
Origin and Etymology of hyphenate
from the hyphens in the titles of such people, as producer-director
First Known Use: 1974
HYPHENATE Defined for English Language Learners
Definition of hyphenate for English Language Learners
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: to connect (words or parts of words) with a hyphen
HYPHENATE Defined for Kids
hyphenate
playDefinition of hyphenate for Students
hyphenated
;hyphenating
: to connect or mark with a hyphen
Learn More about hyphenate
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See words that rhyme with hyphenate Spanish Central: Translation of hyphenate Nglish: Translation of hyphenate for Spanish speakers
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