Definition

A word that is derived from another word and has a related meaning, often differing slightly in form or pronunciation.

Example

The words 'affect' and 'effect' are paronyms because they are related in meaning but have different uses.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of the term paronym?

Yeah, it's pretty interesting how words can be related like that.

I find it fascinating that some words can sound so similar yet mean different things, like a paronym.

Exactly! It really shows how rich and complex language can be.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Paronym is formed from "para-" (meaning alongside or beside) and "onym" (from Greek "onoma", meaning name). The word refers to words that are derived from the same root or are similar in form but differ in meaning, thus existing alongside each other in the realm of language.

Memory Tip

Think of words that are 'alongside' ('para-') each other in name ('onym') but have different meanings — that's what paronyms are.

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