First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
synonym
noun syn·o·nym \ˈsi-nə-ˌnim\
: a word that has the same meaning as another word in the same language
: a word, name, or phrase that very strongly suggests a particular idea, quality, etc.
Full Definition of SYNONYM
1
: one of two or more words or expressions of the same language that have the same or nearly the same meaning in some or all senses
2
3
— syn·o·nym·ic \ˌsi-nə-ˈni-mik\ also syn·o·nym·i·cal \-mi-kəl\ adjective
— syn·o·nym·i·ty \-ˈni-mə-tē\ noun
See synonym defined for English-language learners
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Examples of SYNONYM
- I very much enjoyed the chapter on obscenity, which asks the difficult question of how words deemed taboo differ from their inoffensive synonyms… . It can't obviously be the referent of the term, since that is the same, and it isn't merely that the taboo words are more accurately descriptive … —Colin McGinn, The New York Review of Books, 27 Sept. 2007
- The debris hurtled by so fast that the New York Times editorial page seemed to run out of synonyms for disgust, revulsion and abuse. —Michael Duffy et al., Time, 5 Mar. 2001
- “Hollywood” is not, of course, a place. Nor is it a synonym for the entertainment business. There are upstanding citizens who make their living in that field. —P. J. O'Rourke, Republican Party Reptile , 1987
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Origin of SYNONYM
Middle English sinonyme, from Latin synonymum, from Greek synōnymon, from neuter of synōnymos synonymous, from syn- + onyma name — more at name
Other Grammar and Linguistics Terms
SYNONYM Defined for Kids
synonym
noun syn·o·nym \ˈsi-nə-ˌnim\
Definition of SYNONYM for Kids
: a word having the same or almost the same meaning as another word in the same language
Medical Dictionary
synonym
noun syn·onym \ˈsin-ə-ˌnim\
Medical Definition of SYNONYM
: a taxonomic name rejected as being incorrectly applied or incorrect in form
—syn·onym·i·ty \ˌsin-ə-ˈnim-ət-ē\ noun, plural syn·onym·i·ties
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Next Word in the Dictionary: synonymaticPrevious Word in the Dictionary: synoicousAll Words Near: synonym
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