synonymy
gb/sˈaɪnənəmi/ us/sˈaɪnənəmi/
C2
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
technical
C2
relation
1
same or similar meaning relation
Synonymy is when two words or expressions mean the same thing, or almost the same thing.
Usage pattern:
synonymy between [words/expressions]
Common mistake:
Do not use synonymy for one word itself; that word is a synonym. Synonymy is the relationship between synonyms.
Synonyms
synonymity (A rarer and more formal term for the same relationship.)
|
semantic equivalence (More technical; often suggests a stronger or more exact sameness of meaning.)
|
similarity of meaning (Plainer and less technical; may be weaker than synonymy.)
|
meaning equivalence (Technical and fairly broad; can apply beyond individual words.)
Antonyms
antonymy (The semantic relationship between words with opposite meanings.)
|
semantic contrast (A broader contrast or difference in meaning.)
Collocations
lexical synonymy
|near-synonymy
|partial synonymy
|perfect synonymy
|absolute synonymy
|synonymy between words
|degree of synonymy
|relation of synonymy
|synonymy and antonymy
|cases of synonymy
Themes
linguistics
|semantics
|vocabulary
|language_learning
Examples
- Complete synonymy between two words is rare because context and register often affect their use.
- The paper examines the synonymy between big and large in everyday speech.
- In a thesaurus, entries are linked by synonymy rather than by spelling or sound.
Learner examples
- Synonymy is the relationship between words like small and little.
- The teacher explained synonymy with pairs of similar words.
Noun
technical
C2
abstract
2
study of synonym differences
Synonymy can mean the study of how synonyms are similar and different.
Usage pattern:
synonymy in [a language/field]; the study of synonymy
Common mistake:
In everyday English, it is usually clearer to say studying synonyms.
Synonyms
synonymics (A specialist and uncommon term for the study of synonyms.)
|
lexical semantics (Broader; the study of word meanings in general, not just synonyms.)
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semantic analysis (Broader; analysis of meaning at many levels.)
Collocations
study of synonymy
|English synonymy
|comparative synonymy
|synonymy research
|synonymy in language learning
|synonymy in translation
|lexical synonymy
|synonymy in dictionaries
Themes
linguistics
|semantics
|lexicography
|education
Examples
- The chapter on synonymy explains why ask, request, and inquire are not always interchangeable.
- Students of synonymy learn to notice differences in formality, collocation, and tone.
- Modern synonymy often relies on corpus data rather than intuition alone.
Learner examples
- Synonymy helps students choose the right word.
- A lesson on synonymy can explain small differences between similar words.
Noun
technical
C2
relation
3
equivalent scientific names
In biology, synonymy means that different scientific names refer to the same organism group.
Usage pattern:
synonymy of [a taxon/name]; synonymy between [scientific names]
Common mistake:
Do not confuse this with homonymy in taxonomy, where the same name has been used for different taxa.
Synonyms
taxonomic equivalence (A broader descriptive phrase for names treated as referring to the same taxon.)
|
name equivalence (Plainer but less precise than the technical term.)
|
nomenclatural equivalence (Technical; emphasizes equivalence of scientific names.)
Antonyms
homonymy (In taxonomy, the use of the same name for different taxa.)
|
valid name (Contrasts with a synonym name that is not the accepted scientific name.)
Collocations
taxonomic synonymy
|nomenclatural synonymy
|botanical synonymy
|zoological synonymy
|species synonymy
|genus synonymy
|synonymy of a species
|synonymy list
|synonymy table
Themes
biology
|taxonomy
|science
|nomenclature
Examples
- The database revised the synonymy after researchers found that the two beetle names described the same species.
- Botanical synonymy can make older plant names appear different from the names used today.
- In the checklist, synonymy is recorded under each accepted species name.
Learner examples
- One plant can have several scientific names because of synonymy.
- Taxonomic synonymy is common in older species lists.
Noun
technical
C2
entity
4
list of synonyms
A synonymy can be a list of synonyms, but this use is technical.
Usage pattern:
a synonymy of [words/names]; provide/include a synonymy
Common mistake:
In everyday English, say list of synonyms instead of synonymy.
Synonyms
synonym list (Much more common and understandable in everyday English.)
|
list of synonyms (Plain, nontechnical wording.)
|
synonym inventory (More technical; suggests a systematic collection.)
Collocations
provide a synonymy
|include a synonymy
|full synonymy
|annotated synonymy
|historical synonymy
|dictionary synonymy
|taxonomic synonymy
|synonymy list
Themes
lexicography
|linguistics
|taxonomy
|reference
Examples
- The revised dictionary provides a brief synonymy after some entries.
- The species account includes a synonymy showing names used in earlier publications.
- An annotated synonymy helps readers trace how a term has been labeled over time.
Learner examples
- The book gives a synonymy after each difficult word.
Grammar
Dictionary form
synonymy
IPA
GB/sˈaɪnənəmi/
US/sˈaɪnənəmi/
Syllables & stress
syn - onymy (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (syn)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: synonymy
- Plural: synonymies
Expressions
absolute synonymy
1/ˈæbsəlˌut sˈaɪnənəmi/
fixed phrase
technical
exact same meaning
Absolute synonymy means two expressions can replace each other everywhere with no change in meaning or style.
Examples
- Many linguists argue that absolute synonymy is extremely rare in natural languages.
- The two technical labels were designed to have absolute synonymy within the standard.
- Even begin and start do not show absolute synonymy in every context.
contextual synonymy
1/kˌɑntˈɛkst͡ʃˌuəl sˈaɪnənəmi/
fixed phrase
technical
same meaning in context
Contextual synonymy means two expressions mean the same thing only in a particular context.
Examples
- In 'The meeting will start at noon' and 'The meeting will begin at noon,' start and begin show contextual synonymy.
- Cheap and inexpensive show contextual synonymy in some ads, though cheap can sound negative elsewhere.
- Contextual synonymy is especially important in translation and paraphrasing.
lexical synonymy
1/lˈɛksɪkəl sˈaɪnənəmi/
fixed phrase
technical
word-level synonymy
Lexical synonymy is synonymy between words or word-like expressions.
Examples
- Lexical synonymy is central to thesaurus design.
- The study looks at lexical synonymy in medical communication.
- Teachers often use lexical synonymy to help students expand their vocabulary.
near-synonymy
1/nˈɪɹ sˈaɪnənəmi/
fixed phrase
technical
almost same meaning
Near-synonymy is when words are almost, but not exactly, synonyms.
Examples
- The near-synonymy of slim and skinny breaks down because skinny can sound negative.
- Translators must pay attention to near-synonymy, not just dictionary equivalents.
- The course used corpus examples to compare the near-synonymy between error and mistake.
partial synonymy
1/pˈɑɹʃəl sˈaɪnənəmi/
fixed phrase
technical
overlapping meanings
Partial synonymy means two words are synonyms in some situations but not in all situations.
Examples
- Paper and article show partial synonymy in academic contexts, but not when paper means the material.
- The word bright has partial synonymy with intelligent in one sense and with shiny in another.
- Partial synonymy is one reason thesaurus suggestions can sound unnatural.
synonymy and antonymy
1/sˈaɪnənəmi ˈænd ˈæntənmi/
fixed phrase
technical
sameness and oppositeness
Synonymy and antonymy are the relationships of similar meanings and opposite meanings.
Examples
- The lesson covered synonymy and antonymy using word pairs from the article.
- Synonymy and antonymy help students build word networks.
- In semantics, synonymy and antonymy are basic examples of meaning relations.