ligature: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Technical
Quick answer
What does “ligature” mean?
A thing used for tying or binding something tightly, or a character consisting of two or more joined letters (like æ or fi).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A thing used for tying or binding something tightly, or a character consisting of two or more joined letters (like æ or fi).
In medicine, a thread or wire used to tie a blood vessel or other duct; in music, a slur or phrase mark connecting notes; more broadly, anything that serves to bind or connect.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in meaning. In typography, the term is universal. In surgery, both use the term, though specific procedures may vary.
Connotations
Neutral/technical in both varieties. Slightly more common in UK medical contexts ("ligature points" in health & safety).
Frequency
Low frequency in general use, higher in specialised fields (typography, medicine, music). Slightly higher frequency in British English due to its use in official health/safety terminology.
Grammar
How to Use “ligature” in a Sentence
apply a ligature to [object]the ligature of [blood vessel][letter] and [letter] form a ligatureVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “ligature” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The surgeon will ligate the vessel, not ligature it.
American English
- The procedure involves ligating the artery.
adverb
British English
- No standard adverbial form.
American English
- No standard adverbial form.
adjective
British English
- The ligature technique is crucial in this operation.
American English
- Ligature marks were found on the recovered item.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in specific contexts like branding/typography (e.g., 'The logo uses a stylised ligature').
Academic
Common in linguistics, typography, musicology, and medical papers (e.g., 'Medieval manuscripts featured numerous scribal ligatures').
Everyday
Very rare. Might be encountered in discussions about fonts or calligraphy.
Technical
Standard term in typography (font design), surgery, and music notation.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “ligature”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “ligature”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “ligature”
- Misspelling as 'legature'.
- Using it as a verb (to ligature) is very rare and non-standard; the verb is 'ligate'.
- Pronouncing the 'g' as in 'big' instead of as in 'figure'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency word used primarily in specialised technical and academic contexts such as medicine, typography, and music.
No, the standard verb is 'ligate'. Using 'ligature' as a verb is considered non-standard or jargonistic.
A ligature is a visual/typographical joining of two letters into a single glyph (e.g., æ). A diphthong is a phonetic phenomenon where two vowel sounds glide together within a single syllable (e.g., the sound in 'coin'). They are unrelated concepts.
Yes, primarily in typography and graphic design for aesthetic reasons. Common examples include 'fi', 'fl', and 'ff' ligatures in many professional fonts, though they are often automatic and subtle.
A thing used for tying or binding something tightly, or a character consisting of two or more joined letters (like æ or fi).
Ligature is usually formal, technical in register.
Ligature: in British English it is pronounced /ˈlɪɡətʃə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈlɪɡətʃʊr/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'LIGA-ture' – it LIGA-tes (binds) things together, like letters or blood vessels.
Conceptual Metaphor
BINDING IS CONNECTING (A ligature binds elements into a single unit).
Practice
Quiz
In which of these fields is the term 'ligature' LEAST likely to be used?