hyphen

American  

[hahy-fuhn] / ˈhaɪ fən /

noun

1. a short line (-) used to connect the parts of a compound word or the parts of a word divided for any purpose.

---

verb (used with object)

1. hyphenate.

hyphen British  

/ ˈhaɪfən /

noun

1. the punctuation mark (-), used to separate the parts of some compound words, to link the words of a phrase, and between syllables of a word split between two consecutive lines of writing or printing

---

verb

1. (tr) another word for hyphenate

hyphen Cultural  

1. A punctuation mark (-) used in some compound words, such as self-motivation, seventy-five, and mother-in-law. A hyphen is also used to divide a word at the end of a line of type. Hyphens may appear only between syllables. Thus com-pound is properly hyphenated, but compo-und is not.

---

Other Word Forms

• dehyphen verb (used with object)
• hyphenic adjective
• unhyphened adjective

Etymology

Origin of hyphen

1595–1605; < Late Latin < Greek hyphén (adv.) together, derivative of hyph' hén (prepositional phrase), equivalent to hyp ( ó ) under ( hypo- ) + hén, neuter of heîs one

Compare meaning

How does hyphen compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• hyphen vs. em dash
• hyphen vs. en dash
• hyphen vs. semicolon

Example Sentences

These attacks on the em dash — a ChatGPT hyphen?

From Salon • Jun. 11, 2025

Not all of his ideas made the cut though - X-Ray Drive was rejected by the council due to a hyphen being in it, which forced the change to Radiography Road.

From BBC • Mar. 13, 2025

But with the slash of a hyphen and the snip of a “20,” Mr. Evers changed 2024-25 to the year 2425.

From New York Times • Jul. 6, 2023

For his own part, Fuhrmann was happy to have taken on the hyphen and to have won.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 14, 2022

And if a word starting with re could be confused with one that’s spelled the same but means something else, add a hyphen.

From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner

Related Words

• elbow
• seam