Definify.com
Definition 2025
heterophone
heterophone
English
Noun
heterophone (plural heterophones)
Usage notes
- Since, taken strictly, this term can be applied to the vast majority of word pairs, its use tends to be restricted to closely-related homœographs that are pronounced differently; for example, the six alternative spellings of ailurophile, which are very similarly spelt but have four different pronunciations between them.
Related terms
- heterophonic
- heterophonous
- heterophony
See also
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An Euler diagram showing the relationship between these -nyms.
nym | Sound | Spelling | Category |
---|---|---|---|
homonym | same | same | |
heteronym | different | same | (cat) |
homograph | not specified | same | |
homophone | same | different | (cat) |
heterophone | different | different | |
synonym | different | different |