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.

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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

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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.

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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

Versions with and without the hyphen have been used in the past, but a 1960 Privy Council announcement used the hyphenated version, which will be used from now on.

From BBC

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

Related Words

• elbow
• seam