phonemic

[ fuh-nee-mik, foh- ]

adjective

1. of or relating to phonemes:

   a phonemic system.

2. of or relating to phonemics.
3. concerning or involving the discrimination of distinctive speech elements of a language:

   a phonemic contrast.

phonemic

/ fəˈniːmɪk /

adjective

1. of or relating to the phoneme
2. relating to or denoting speech sounds that belong to different phonemes rather than being allophonic variants of the same phoneme Compare phonetic
3. of or relating to phonemics

Derived Forms

• phoˈnemically, adverb

Other Words From

• pho·nemi·cal·ly adverb
• nonpho·nemic adjective
• nonpho·nemi·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of phonemic¹

First recorded in 1930–35; phoneme + -ic

Example Sentences

Examples abound, from the phonemic restoration of a speech obscured by a nearby cough, to the continuity of a song segment marred by static.

From Nautilus

There are no sharp linguistic divisions within this vast region, and phonemic shifts are gradual throughout its extent.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• grammatical