homophone: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, academic, technical. Also used in everyday contexts when discussing language, wordplay, or common errors.
Quick answer
What does “homophone” mean?
A word that sounds the same as another word but has a different meaning and often a different spelling.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A word that sounds the same as another word but has a different meaning and often a different spelling.
In linguistics, a type of homonym where two or more words share the same pronunciation but differ in meaning, origin, and often spelling. The concept is fundamental to phonology, orthography, language teaching, and puns.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The core meaning is identical. Some specific word pairs are homophones in one accent but not the other (e.g., 'caught' and 'cot' are homophones in some American accents but distinct in most British accents). The term itself is pronounced with a potential difference in the final vowel (see IPA).
Connotations
None. The term is neutral and technical in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common in academic and educational contexts in both regions. Slightly more frequent in everyday British English due to emphasis on spelling in primary education (e.g., homophone tests).
Grammar
How to Use “homophone” in a Sentence
Homophone of [word]Homophone for [word][Word] and [word] are homophones.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “homophone” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The words 'knight' and 'night' are homophonous.
- He made a homophone error in his essay.
American English
- The words 'knight' and 'night' are homophonous.
- She identified the homophone pair.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in communications training regarding clarity in writing to avoid homophone mistakes (e.g., 'their' vs. 'there' in reports).
Academic
Common in linguistics, phonology, lexicography, and language teaching literature. A key term for discussing spelling, pronunciation, and semantics.
Everyday
Used when explaining spelling mistakes, understanding puns, or in language learning contexts (e.g., 'Which homophone should I use here?').
Technical
Precise term in computational linguistics (for speech-to-text disambiguation) and in the design of spelling and grammar checkers.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “homophone”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “homophone”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “homophone”
- Confusing 'homophone' with 'homograph' or the broader 'homonym'. Misspelling as 'homophonen' or 'homofone'. Using it as a verb (e.g., 'These words homophone').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Homophones sound the same (e.g., 'bare' and 'bear'). Homographs are spelled the same but may sound different and have different meanings (e.g., 'tear' (rip) and 'tear' (from eye)).
Yes, the concept applies analogously. In sign languages, homophones would be signs that are produced with the same handshape, location, and movement but have different meanings.
In most standard dialects of English, yes, they are perfect homophones. In some regional or careful speech, slight differences might be heard, but for most practical purposes, they are identical in sound.
They are a major source of spelling and usage errors. Mastering homophones is crucial for developing accurate writing and comprehension, as context alone must determine the correct word choice.
A word that sounds the same as another word but has a different meaning and often a different spelling.
Homophone is usually formal, academic, technical. also used in everyday contexts when discussing language, wordplay, or common errors. in register.
Homophone: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhɒm.ə.fəʊn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhɑː.mə.foʊn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a telephone: it carries SOUND. A HOMOphone is a word that shares the SAME (homo-) SOUND (-phone) as another.
Conceptual Metaphor
WORDS ARE TWINS (Identical in sound but different in appearance/essence). LANGUAGE IS A PUZZLE (Homophones are pieces that fit the same auditory slot but different meaning slots).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best describes the term 'homophone'?