Etymology
From Middle English sinonyme, from Latin synōnymum, from Ancient Greek συνώνυμον or sunṓnumon, neuter singular form of συνώνυμος or sunṓnumos (synonymous), from σύν or sún (with) + ὄνομα or ónoma (name). By surface analysis, syn- + -onym.
Noun
synonym (plural synonyms)
- (semantics) A word whose meaning is the same as that of another word.
- In American English, "faucet," "spigot," and "tap" are synonyms.
- (semantics) A word or phrase with a meaning that is the same as, or very similar to, another word or phrase.
- "Happy" is a synonym of "glad."
- (zoology) Any of the formal names for a taxon, including the valid name (i.e. the senior synonym).
- (taxonomy, botany) Any name for a taxon, usually a validly published, formally accepted one, but often also an unpublished name.
- (databases) An alternative (often shorter) name defined for an object in a database.
Derived terms
- eterotypic synonym
- junior synonym
- near-synonym
- objective synonym
- parasynonym
- quasi-synonym
- subjective synonym
- synonymic
- synonymist
- synonymize
- synonymous
Related terms
- synonymy
Credits
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