# Homonym > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Homonym > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Homonym.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homonym > Source revision: 1344655526 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) For homonyms in scientific nomenclature, see [Homonym (biology)](/source/Homonym_(biology)). Words spelled or pronounced the same with different meanings In [linguistics](/source/Linguistics), **homonyms** are words which are either *[homographs](/source/Homograph)*—words that mean different things but have the same spelling (regardless of pronunciation)—or *[homophones](/source/Homophone)*—words that mean different things but have the same pronunciation (regardless of spelling).[1] Using this definition, the words *row* (propel with oars), *row* (a linear arrangement) and *row* (an argument) are homonyms because they are homographs (though only the first two are homo*phones*). So are the words *see* (vision) and *sea* (body of water), because they are homophones (though not homo*graphs*). A more restrictive and technical definition requires that homonyms be simultaneously homographs *and* homophones[1]—that is, they have identical spelling *and* pronunciation but different meanings. Examples include the pair *stalk* (part of a plant) and *stalk* (follow/harass a person) and the pair *left* ([past tense](/source/Past_tense) of *leave*) and *left* (opposite of *right*). A distinction is sometimes made between true homonyms, which are unrelated in origin, such as *skate* (glide on ice) and *skate* (the fish), and [polysemous](/source/Polysemy) homonyms, or *polysemes*, which have a shared origin, such as *mouth* (of a river) and *mouth* (of an animal).[2][3] The relationship between a set of homonyms is called **homonymy**, and the associated adjective is **homonymous**, **homonymic**, or in Latin, **equivocal**. Additionally, the adjective *homonymous* can be used wherever two items share the same name,[4][5] independent of how closely they are related in terms of their meaning or etymology. For example, the word "once" (meaning 'one time') is homonymous with the term for 'eleven' in Spanish, *once*. ## Etymology The word *homonym* comes from the [Greek](/source/Greek_language) ὁμώνυμος (*homonymos*), meaning 'having the same name',[6] compounded from ὁμός (*homos*) 'common, same, similar'[7] and ὄνομα (*onoma*) 'name'.[8] ## Related terms Term Meaning Spelling Pronunciation Homonym Different Same Same Homograph Different Same (No requirement) Homophone word Different (No requirement) Same Homophone phrase Different Different Same to varying degree Heteronym Different Same Different Heterograph Different Different Same Homophene Different (No requirement) Same when lipread Polyseme Different but related Same (No requirement) Capitonym Different when capitalized Same except for capitalization (No requirement) Synonym Same Different Different Antonym Opposite Different Different Contronym Opposite Same (No requirement) Synophone Different Different Similar[9][additional citation(s) needed] [Euler diagram](/source/Euler_diagram) showing the relationships between homonyms (between blue and green) and related linguistic concepts. Several similar linguistic concepts are related to homonymy. These include: - **Homographs** (literally "same writing") are usually defined as words that share the same spelling, regardless of how they are pronounced.[note 1] If they are pronounced the same then they are also homophones (and homonyms) – for example, *bark* (the sound of a dog) and *bark* (the skin of a tree). If they are pronounced differently then they are also [heteronyms](/source/Heteronym_(linguistics)) – for example, *bow* (the front of a ship) and *bow* (a ranged weapon). - **Homophones** (literally "same sound") are usually defined as words that share the same pronunciation, regardless of how they are spelled.[note 2] If they are spelled the same then they are also homographs (and homonyms); if they are spelled differently then they are also **heterographs** (literally "different writing"). Homographic examples include *rose* (flower) and *rose* (past tense of *rise*). Heterographic examples include *to*, *too*, *two*, and *there*, *their*, *they’re*. Due to their similar yet non-identical pronunciation in American English, *ladder* and *latter* do not qualify as homophones, but rather **synophones**[10] or **homoiophones**.[11][12] - **Heteronyms** (literally "different name") are the subset of homographs (words that share the same spelling) that have different pronunciations (and meanings).[note 3] Such words include *desert* (to abandon) and *desert* (arid region); *tear* (to rip) and *tear* (a drop of moisture formed in one eye); *row* (to argue or an argument) and *row* (as in to row a boat or a row of seats – a pair of homophones). Heteronyms are also sometimes called **heterophones** (literally "different sound"). - **Homophenes** (literally same appearance) are words that have different meanings and pronunciations, but look identical on the [lips](/source/Lip), rendering them indistinguishable in [lipreading](/source/Lipreading). - **Polysemes** are words with the same spelling and distinct but *related* meanings. The distinction between polysemy and homonymy is often subtle and subjective, and not all sources consider polysemous words to be homonyms. Words such as *mouth*, meaning either the orifice on one's face, or the opening of a cave or river, are polysemous and may or may not be considered homonyms. - **Capitonyms** are words that share the same spelling but have different meanings when capitalized (and may or may not have different pronunciations). Such words include *polish* (make shiny) and *[Polish](/source/Polish_language)* (from Poland); *march* (walk in step) and *March* (the third month of the Year) and the pair: *[reading](/source/Reading)* (using a book) and [Reading](/source/Reading%2C_Berkshire) (towns in, among other places, England). ## Further examples A homonym that is both a homophone and a homograph is **fluke**, meaning: - A fish, and a [flatworm](/source/Flatworm). - The end parts of an [anchor](/source/Anchor). - The fins on a whale's tail. - A stroke of [luck](/source/Luck). These meanings represent at least three [etymologically](/source/Etymology) separate [lexemes](/source/Lexeme), but share the one form, **fluke**.[13] Fluke is also a capitonym, in that [Fluke Corporation](/source/Fluke_Corporation) (commonly referred to as simply "Fluke") is a manufacturer of industrial testing equipment. Similarly, a river **bank**, a savings **bank**, a **bank** of switches, and a **bank** shot in the game of pool share a common spelling and pronunciation, but differ in meaning. The words **bow** and **bough** are examples where there are two meanings associated with a single pronunciation and spelling (the weapon and the knot); two meanings with two different pronunciations (the knot and the act of bending at the waist), and two distinct meanings sharing the same sound but different spellings (**bow**, the act of bending at the waist, and **bough**, the branch of a tree). In addition, it has several related but distinct meanings – a bent line is sometimes called a '**bowed**' line, reflecting its similarity to the weapon. Even according to the most restrictive definitions, various pairs of sounds and meanings of **bow**, **Bow** and **bough** are [homonyms](/source/Homonyms), [homographs](/source/Homographs), [homophones](/source/Homophones), [heteronyms](/source/Heteronym_(linguistics)), [heterographs](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Heterographs&action=edit&redlink=1), [capitonyms](/source/Capitonyms) and are [polysemous](/source/Polysemous). - **bow** – a long stick with horse hair that is used to play certain [string instruments](/source/String_instrument) such as the violin - **bow** – to bend forward at the waist in respect (e.g. "bow down") - **bow** – the front of the ship (e.g. "bow and stern") - **bow** – a kind of tied ribbon (e.g. bow on a present, a bowtie) - **bow** – to bend outward at the sides (e.g. a "bow-legged" cowboy) - **[Bow](/source/Bow%2C_London)** – a district in London - **bow** – a weapon to shoot projectiles with (e.g. a bow and arrow) A **lime** can refer to a [fruit](/source/Lime_(fruit)) or a [material](/source/Lime_(material)). A **mold** (**mould**) can refer to a [fungus](/source/Mold) or an [industrial cast](/source/Molding_(process)). The words *there*, *their*, and *they're* are examples of three words that are of a singular pronunciation, have different spellings and vastly different meanings. These three words are commonly misused (or, alternatively, misspelled).[14] - **there** – "The bow shot the arrow **there**," he said as he pointed. - **their** – "It was **their** bow and arrow." the Mother said. - **they're** – **They're** not going to get to shoot the bow again after puncturing the tire (tyre) on my car. ([Contraction](/source/Contraction_(grammar)) of [They](/source/They) and [Are](/source/Copula_(linguistics)#English).) The words **metal** and **meddle** are polysemes and homophones, but not homographs. ## Homonyms in historical linguistics Homonymy can lead to communicative conflicts and thus trigger lexical ([onomasiological](/source/Onomasiology)) change.[15] This is known as *homonymic conflict*. This leads to a species of [informal fallacy](/source/Informal_fallacy) of thought and argument called by the latin name [equivocation](/source/Equivocation). ## See also Look up ***[homonym](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Special:Search/homonym)*** in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. - [False friends](/source/False_friend), words from different languages that appear similar but differ in meaning - [Synonyms](/source/Synonym), different words with identical or very similar meanings (conceptual inversion of "homonym") - [Riddle](/source/Riddle) - [Word play](/source/Word_play) - [Cognate](/source/Cognate) ## Notes 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Some sources restrict the term "homograph" to words that have the same spelling but *different* pronunciations. See, for example, [*The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Writing Systems*, p. 215](https://books.google.com/books?id=y3KdxBqjg5cC&pg=PA215) (Wiley-Blackwell, 1999) and *The Encyclopædia Britannica (14th Edition)* (entry for "homograph"). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Some sources restrict the term "homophone" to words that have the same pronunciation but *different* spellings. See, for example, [*The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Writing Systems*, p. 202](https://books.google.com/books?id=y3KdxBqjg5cC&pg=PA202) (Wiley-Blackwell, 1999) and *The Encyclopædia Britannica (14th Edition)* (entry for "homograph"). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Some sources do not require that heteronyms have different pronunciations. See, for example, the archived [*Encarta* dictionary entry](https://web.archive.org/web/20090608155000/http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/dictionary/DictionaryResults.aspx?refid=1861617704) (which states that heteronyms "often" differ in pronunciation) and the ["Fun with Words" website](http://www.fun-with-words.com/nym_words.html) (which states that heteronyms "sometimes" have different pronunciations). ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-RHUD_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-RHUD_1-1) [homonym](http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/homonym), *Random House Unabridged Dictionary* at dictionary.com 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Linguistics 201: Study Sheet for Semantics"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130617090717/http://pandora.cii.wwu.edu/vajda/ling201/test3materials/semanticsHANDOUT.htm). Pandora.cii.wwu.edu. Archived from [the original](http://pandora.cii.wwu.edu/vajda/ling201/test3materials/semanticsHANDOUT.htm) on 2013-06-17. Retrieved 2013-04-23. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [Semantics: a coursebook, p. 123](https://books.google.com/books?id=AefSOW9MW5UC&pg=PA123), James R. Hurford and Brendan Heasley, Cambridge University Press, 1983 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["the definition of homonymous"](http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/homonymous). *Dictionary.com*. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["homonymous — definition, examples, related words and more at Wordnik"](https://www.wordnik.com/words/homonymous). *Wordnik.com*. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [ὁμώνυμος](https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3Do%28mw%2Fnumos), Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, *A Greek-English Lexicon*, on Perseus Digital Library 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** [ὁμός](https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3Do%28mo%2Fs), King George V Liddell, Robert Scott, *A Greek-English Lexicons*, on Perseus Digital Library 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** [ὄνομα](https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3Do%29%2Fnoma), Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, *A Greek-English Lexicon*, on Perseus Digital Library 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Laufer, Batia. ["A Problem in Vocabulary Learning—Synophones"](https://academic.oup.com/eltj/article-pdf/XXXV/3/294/9802147/294.pdf) (PDF). p. 295. I suggest that words similar in sound but different in meaning should be referred to as synophones (cf. synonym = word of similar meaning). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Gnanasundaram, D.; Venkatesh, L. (2006). *Synophones & Homophones.* Sura Books. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9788172543167](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9788172543167). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Homoiophone"](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/homoiophone). 27 April 2023. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Johan Harold Josua Lindahl (1893). *Description of a Skull of Megalonyx Leidyi*, page 56 (American Philosophical Society) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["The Online Etymological Dictionary"](http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=fluke&searchmode=none). Retrieved 2008-01-14. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** [Homonyms in English](https://textgears.com/read/learn-english-grammar-rules/homonyms-in-english) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** On this phenomenon see Williams, Edna R. (1944), *The Conflict of Homonyms in English*, [Yale Studies in English 100], New Haven: Yale University Press, [Grzega, Joachim](/source/Joachim_Grzega) (2004), *Bezeichnungswandel: Wie, Warum, Wozu? Ein Beitrag zur englischen und allgemeinen Onomasiologie*, Heidelberg: Winter, p. 216ff., and Grzega, Joachim (2001d), “Über Homonymenkonflikt als Auslöser von Wortuntergang”, in: Grzega, Joachim (2001c), *Sprachwissenschaft ohne Fachchinesisch: 7 aktuelle Studien für alle Sprachinteressierten*, Aachen: Shaker, p. 81-98. ## Further reading - Christman, Robert (2002). [*Homonyms: Why English Suffers*](https://books.google.com/books?id=I_ZMnw5P1lMC&q=homonyms) (Paperback). Las Cruces, New Mexico: Barbed Wire Publishing. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780971193055](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780971193055). - Hobbs, James B. (November 2014). [*Homophones and Homographs: An American Dictionary*](https://books.google.com/books?id=Wt9ZCOn4814C&q=homonyms) (E-book) (4th ed.). Jefferson, North Carolina: [McFarland & Company](/source/McFarland_%26_Company). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781476603933](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781476603933). - Joshi, Manik (June 25, 2014). [*Homonyms, Homophones and Homographs*](https://books.google.com/books?id=CEqTBAAAQBAJ&q=homonyms) (E-book). Manik Joshi. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781468948554](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781468948554). - Rothwell, David (2007). [*Dictionary of Homonyms*](https://books.google.com/books?id=0crig9rvzpMC&q=homonyms) (Paperback). Ware England: [Wordsworth Reference](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wordsworth_Reference&action=edit&redlink=1). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781840225426](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781840225426). v t e Lexicology Major terms Lexical item Lexicon Lexis Word Elements Chereme Glyphs Grapheme Lemma Lexeme Morpheme Phoneme Seme Sememe Semantic relations Antonymy Hypernymy and hyponymy Meronymy and holonymy Idiom Lexical semantics Semantic network Synonym Troponymy Functions Function word Headword Fields Controlled vocabulary English lexicology and lexicography International scientific vocabulary Lexicographic error Lexicographic information cost Linguistic prescription Morphology Specialized lexicography Linguistics portal Authority control databases International GND FAST National United States France BnF data Japan Czech Republic Latvia Israel Other Yale LUX --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Homonym](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homonym) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homonym?action=history)). 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