Definition

A variant form of a basic unit of meaning in a language, which can change depending on its context. For example, the different sounds used to indicate plurals in English words like 'cats', 'pigs', and 'horses' are all examples of these forms.

Example

In linguistics, the allomorph of the plural morpheme can vary depending on the final sound of the noun.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of the term allomorph?

Yeah, I think it refers to different forms of a morpheme, right?

Exactly! Like how we use different sounds for plurals in English.

That's really interesting; language is full of those little quirks!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Allomorph is formed from "allo-" (from Greek 'allos', meaning other or different) and "morphe" (from Greek, meaning form or shape). The term refers to the different forms that a morpheme can take in different contexts.

Memory Tip

Think of 'allo-' meaning 'other' and 'morphe' meaning 'form' — this helps you remember that an allomorph is a different form of a morpheme.

Visually Confused Words