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synonym

Pronunciation: /ˈsɪnənɪm/

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Definition of synonym

noun

  • a word or phrase that means exactly or nearly the same as another word or phrase in the same language, for example shut is a synonym of close: ‘the East’ was a synonym for the Soviet empire ‘shut’ is a synonym of ‘close’
  • a person or thing so closely associated with a particular quality or idea that the mention of their name calls it to mind:the Victorian age is a synonym for sexual puritanism
  • Biology a taxonomic name which has the same application as another, especially one which has been superseded and is no longer valid.

Derivatives

synonymic

Pronunciation: /-ˈnɪmɪk/

adjective

synonymity

Pronunciation: /-ˈnɪmɪti/

noun

Origin:

late Middle English: via Latin from Greek sunōnumon, neuter (used as a noun) of the adjective sunōnumos, from sun- 'with' + onoma 'name'

Grammar

A word that has the same or similar meaning to another. The following pairs of words are synonyms:

stillmotionless
melodytune
birth controlcontraception
sluggishlethargic
loudnoisy
See also antonym.

Spelling help

Remember that synonym ends with -nym.

synonym in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of synonym in the US English dictionary