hyphen

[hahy-fuhn]

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

/ 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

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

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of hyphen¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of hyphen¹

C17: from Late Latin (meaning: the combining of two words), from Greek huphen (adv) together, from _hypo- + heis one

Example Sentences

The lives of this family and millions of others are balanced on that flimsy hyphen.

From Los Angeles Times

So what if some Gen Z influencers see a venti hyphen where you see a proud, versatile dash?

From Salon

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

Or perhaps the story of his panic at seeing a post-it note saying "please re-sign" on some documents, and not noticing the hyphen, wondered what he'd done to justify having to quit.

From BBC

The three or four sets are all separated by a hyphen.

From Encyclopedia.com

Related Words

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