synonymy

American  

[si-non-uh-mee] / sɪˈnɒn ə mi /

noun

synonymies plural

1. the quality of being synonymous; equivalence in meaning.

2. the study of synonyms.

3. a set, list, or system of synonyms.

4. Biology. a list of the scientific names, with explanatory matter and location of type or types, for a particular taxonomic group.

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synonymy British  

/ sɪˈnɒnɪmɪ /

noun

1. the study of synonyms

2. the character of being synonymous; equivalence

3. a list or collection of synonyms, esp one in which their meanings are discriminated

4. biology a collection of the synonyms of a species or group

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Etymology

Origin of synonymy

1600–10; < Late Latin synōnymia < Greek synōnymía. See synonymous, -y ³

Example Sentences

Caimanops amphibolurodes – the Mulga dragon, the only member of its genus – was recently returned to synonymy with by Doughty .

From Scientific American • Feb. 7, 2014

The resurrection of the Cape Verde shearwater from synonymy with Cory’s shearwater means that there are now two Atlantic Calonectris species.

From Scientific American • Feb. 10, 2013

Branca paused from his lunch to let forth a burst of philosemitism — declaiming the health benefits of kashrut and circumcision, the synonymy of Judaism with charity, leadership, patriotism, brains.

From New York Times • Aug. 15, 2011

Boulenger held a lasting influence on taxonomic herpetology, and his generic synonymy of Osteocephalus was unchallenged until only a decade ago.

From A Synopsis of Neotropical Hylid Frogs, Genus Osteocephalus by Duellman, William E.

Their characters are singularly constant, as their limited synonymy and total lack of varietal names attest.

From The Genus Pinus by Shaw, George Russell