Definition

The state or quality of having the same name or spelling as another word but with a different meaning.

Example

In linguistics, homonymy can lead to confusion in understanding the intended meaning of a word.

Conversation

Have you ever thought about the concept of homonymy in language?

Yeah, it's interesting how words can sound the same but have different meanings.

Exactly! I think homonymy can lead to some funny misunderstandings.

Definitely! It makes conversations more lively and sometimes confusing.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Homonymy → It is formed from "homo-" (from Greek "homos", meaning same) and "onym" (from Greek "onuma", meaning name). The word refers to the phenomenon where two or more words have the same name or sound but different meanings.

Memory Tip

Think of 'same' ('homo-') and 'name' ('onym') to remember that homonymy refers to words that sound alike but have different meanings.

Visually Confused Words