What does homophonic mean Meaning and Definition
What does homophonic mean
Pronunciation
/ˈhɒməfəˈnɪk/
Part of Speech
A noun or adjective
Definition
Having words that are pronounced the same but have different meanings, or words that are pronounced the same but have different initial vowel sounds, often confused with one another due to their similar sounds.
Examples
- The words “bare” and “bear” are homophones.
- The words “knight” and “night” are homophones.
Synonyms
- Homologous
- Homogeneous
Etymology
The word “homophonic” comes from the Greek words “homos” meaning “same” and “phone” meaning “sound”. It was first used in the 17th century to describe words that are pronounced the same but have different meanings.
Usage Notes
“Homophonic” is often used to describe words that are pronounced the same but have different meanings. It can also be used to describe words that are pronounced the same but have different initial vowel sounds.
Cultural References
The concept of homophones has been referenced in various forms of media, including literature, music, and film. For example, the word “bare” and “bear” are often used in puns and jokes to illustrate the concept of homophones.
Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases
“Homophonic” is not typically used in idiomatic expressions or phrases, but it can be used in phrases such as “homophonic pair” to describe words that are pronounced the same but have different meanings.
Related Words or Phrases
Homologous, homogeneous, and homophone are related words or phrases that describe different types of linguistic and phonetic similarities.
Collocations
“Homophonic” is often collocated with words such as “sound”, “pronounce”, and “meaning”. For example, “The words ‘tire’ and ‘tier’ are homophonic, but have different meanings.”
Frequency of Use
Despite being a relatively rare word, “homophonic” has been steadily increasing in use over the past few decades. It is often used in academic and literary contexts to describe nuances of language.
Common Misspellings
The most common misspellings of “homophonic” include “homophon”, “homophan”, and “homophonics”.