What does homophone mean?
A homophone is a word that sounds exactly like another word but may be spelled differently and have a different meaning. Familiar examples include “pair” and “pare,” “to” and “too,” and “flour” and “flower.” The word is especially useful in education, linguistics, poetry, and word games because it draws attention to the difference between speech and writing: listeners may not know which word a speaker intends, while readers can distinguish them by spelling and context. Homophones also make memorable vocabulary exercises, since mastering them requires learning not only what a word means but also how its sound differs from superficially similar alternatives. In formal discussion, “homophone” is related to but not identical with “homonym” and “homograph”; those terms focus primarily on shared spelling or multiple meanings rather than identical pronunciation.
nounA homophone is a word that sounds the same as another word but is spelled differently and may have a different meaning, such as “pair” and “pare.” The term can also refer to words pronounced alike but belonging to different lexical categories or entries.
- A word pronounced the same as another word, especially when the two words are spelled differently and have different meanings.
"The editor noticed that “flour” and “flower” are homophones, even though they refer to very different things."
"“To,” “too,” and “two” are familiar homophones that beginners must learn to distinguish in writing."
"The poet uses the homophones “right” and “rite” to create a subtle contrast between correctness and ceremony."
The plural is used when referring to multiple words that sound alike.
"The lesson focuses on common homophones such as “to” and “too.”"
Homophones turn spelling into a masquerade: “night” and “knight” arrive in different costumes but make exactly the same sound.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does homophone come from?
“Homophone” was formed in the 19th century from Greek homo-, meaning “same,” and phōnē, meaning “sound” or “voice.” The combining element “homo-” also underlies related terms such as “homonym” and “homograph,” while “phonetic” and “telephone” belong to the same Greek sound-word family. The compound reflects the central idea of words sharing a pronunciation while differing in spelling or meaning.
Related word forms
How homophone is actually used
The term is used in general education, linguistics, writing instruction, and word games. It usually describes words with the same pronunciation, although dictionaries may classify words with identical spellings and pronunciations as homophones in a broader sense.
Easily confused with homophone
A homonym is a word with the same spelling as another word, or a word with two unrelated meanings; a homophone is defined primarily by identical pronunciation.
A homograph has the same spelling as another word but need not sound the same; a homophone sounds the same but need not have the same spelling.