homograph

[hom-uh-graf, -grahf, hoh-muh-]

noun

a word of the same written form as another but of different meaning and usually origin, whether pronounced the same way or not, as bear1 “to carry; support” and bear2 “animal” or lead1 “to conduct” and lead2 “metal.”

Origin of homograph

First recorded in 1800–10; homo- + -graph

Related formshom·o·graph·ic

[hom-uh-graf-ik, hoh-muh-] /ˌhɒm əˈgræf ɪk, ˌhoʊ mə-/, adjective

Can be confusedhomograph homonym homophone (see synonym study at homonym)

Synonyms for homograph

See homonym.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

British Dictionary definitions for homographs

homograph

noun

one of a group of words spelt in the same way but having different meaningsCompare heteronym

Derived Formshomographic, adjective

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

Word Origin and History for homographs

homograph

1810, a method of signaling, from homo- (1) "same" + -graph "something written." Meaning "a word of identical spelling with another, but of different origin and meaning, is from 1873. Related: Homographic; homography.