What does zeugma mean?
Zeugma is a rhetorical device in which a word or phrase links two or more expressions whose grammatical or semantic relationships do not fully match. One word is effectively made to govern two different constructions, and the resulting ambiguity may be deliberate, economical, or humorous. A familiar example is “She ate her peas and carrots with a spoon and fingers,” where the final phrases are brought together in a way that playfully disrupts normal syntax. In its more specific sense, zeugma can involve ellipsis: a word is omitted because its meaning is understood from the surrounding context. The term is useful in literary analysis because it identifies the moment when ordinary grammar is bent to create emphasis, compression, ambiguity, or wit. Although related to ellipsis and sometimes discussed alongside syllepsis, zeugma more specifically emphasizes the mismatch or interaction between joined elements. It is a technical term rather than common everyday vocabulary, but it offers a precise way to describe a familiar kind of verbal wit.
nounA rhetorical figure in which a word or phrase is made to govern two or more words or phrases that are not grammatically parallel, creating ambiguity or compression. In a more specific sense, it refers to ellipsis in which an omitted word is understood from context.
- A rhetorical device in which a word or phrase governs two or more words or phrases that are not grammatically parallel, producing ambiguity, compression, or a striking double meaning.
- Ellipsis in which a shared or repeated word is omitted and must be understood from context, especially after a coordinated construction.
"The government has the right to decide what is right and the responsibility to do it."
"She ate her peas and carrots with a spoon and fingers."
"The guide identifies several zeugmas in the passage, including the deliberately awkward use of a single verb to govern unrelated constructions."
The plural is standard when referring to multiple examples of the rhetorical device, though the singular is more common in general discussion.
"The lecture analyzes several zeugmas in the poem."
Zeugma literally means “yoking”: it lets one set of words pull two different grammatical loads at once.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does zeugma come from?
The word comes from Greek zeugma, meaning “a yoking” or “joining,” and is related to Greek zygos, “yoke.” The metaphor reflects the rhetorical practice of placing two expressions under the grammatical control of one word or phrase, much as a yoke joins two animals. English borrowed the term as a specialized vocabulary word in discussions of rhetoric and literary style, and it is related etymologically to words such as zygote and zygomatic.
How zeugma is actually used
Zeugma is chiefly a term used in literary and rhetorical criticism, particularly when analyzing poetry, prose, and other forms of wordplay. It is not normally used in everyday conversation.
Easily confused with zeugma
A syllepsis shares one word between two syntactically independent constructions, whereas a zeugma typically involves a mismatch in the grammatical or semantic relationship between the joined elements.