Definition

A symbol used in writing that represents the word 'and'.

Example

In the title of the book, the author's name was written as 'Smith & Co.'

Conversation

Have you ever noticed how often we use the ampersand in writing?

Yeah, it's pretty common, especially in company names.

Right? I think it makes things look a bit more stylish too.

Definitely! Like in 'Johnson & Sons,' it just feels more complete.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Ampersand originates from the phrase 'and per se and', which means 'and by itself'. The term evolved from the Latin word 'et' (meaning 'and') and the symbol '&', which represents this conjunction. Over time, the phrase was slurred together to form 'ampersand'.

Memory Tip

Think of the phrase 'and by itself' — the ampersand symbol '&' represents 'and', helping you remember that ampersand is a way to denote 'and'.

Visually Confused Words