heteronym

[ het-er-uh-nim ]

/ ˈhɛt ər ə nɪm /

noun

a word spelled the same as another but having a different sound and meaning, as lead (to conduct) and lead (a metal).

Nearby words

heteromorphosis, heteromorphous, heteronomous, heteronomy, heteronormative, heteronym, heteronymous, heteronymous diplopia, heteronymous hemianopsia, heteroousian, heteropathy

Origin of heteronym

From the Late Greek word heterṓnymos, dating back to 1880–85. See hetero-, -onym

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for heteronym

heteronym

/ (ˈhɛtərəʊˌnɪm) /

noun

one of two or more words pronounced differently but spelt alikethe two English words spelt ``bow'' are heteronyms Compare homograph

Derived Forms

heteronymous (ˌhɛtəˈrɒnɪməs), adjectiveheteronymously, adverb

Word Origin for heteronym

C17: from Late Greek heteronumos, from Greek hetero- + onoma name

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