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ampersand

[ am-per-sand, am-per-sand ]
/ ˈæm pərˌsænd, ˌæm pərˈsænd /
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noun
a character or symbol (& or ) for and: Smith & Jones, Inc.
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Origin of ampersand

1820–30; contraction of and per se and literally, (the symbol) & by itself (stands for) and; see per se
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

How to use ampersand in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for ampersand

ampersand
/ (ˈæmpəˌsænd) /

noun
the character (&), meaning andJohn Brown & Co

Word Origin for ampersand

C19: shortened from and per se and, that is, the symbol & by itself (represents) and
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for ampersand

ampersand
[ (am-puhr-sand) ]

A symbol (see also symbol) for and (), as in Dun Bradstreet.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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