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English Lexicon

Homonym

/ˈhɒm.ə.nɪm/
nounCEFR C1 (Advanced)Top #8500 frequency
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Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

1 sense
As noun
  1. 1

    Each of two or more words having the same spelling or pronunciation but different meanings and origins.

    "The words 'lead' (to guide) and 'lead' (the metal) are homonyms."
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Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

Derived from the Greek words homos (meaning 'same') and onyma (meaning 'name'). Entering English in the late 19th century via French and Latin, it historically referred to words having the same spelling or pronunciation, later being categorized more precisely in linguistics into homographs and homophones.

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