synonymy

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A certain degree of similarity between the meaning(s) of several (synonymous) words or phrases. (See Usage notes below.)
  2. A list or collection of synonyms, often compared and contrasted.
  3. The use of synonyms to clarify or explain one's meaning.
  4. The study of synonyms.
  5. A system of synonyms.
  6. The state of not being the name to be used, of being a synonym.
  7. A group or list of synonyms.

Pronunciation

/sɪˈnɒnəmi/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-synonymy.wav

Word forms

synonymy synonymies

Etymology

From French synonymie and its etymon Late Latin synōnymia, from Ancient Greek συνωνυμία (sunōnumía), from συνώνυμος (sunṓnumos, “of like name”) + -ία (-ía, abstract noun suffix). By surface analysis, synonym + -y or syn- + -onymy. Doublet of synonymia.

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