hyphen

[ hahy-fuhn ]

noun

1. a short line (-) used to connect the parts of a compound word or the parts of a word divided for any purpose.

verb (used with object)

1. hyphenate.

hyphen

/ ˈhaɪfən /

noun

1. the punctuation mark (-), used to separate the parts of some compound words, to link the words of a phrase, and between syllables of a word split between two consecutive lines of writing or printing

verb

1. tr another word for hyphenate

hyphen

1. A punctuation mark (-) used in some compound words, such as self-motivation , seventy-five , and mother-in-law . A hyphen is also used to divide a word at the end of a line of type. Hyphens may appear only between syllables . Thus com-pound is properly hyphenated, but compo-und is not.

Other Words From

• hy·phen·ic [hahy-, fen, -ik], adjective
• de·hyphen verb (used with object)
• un·hyphened adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of hyphen¹

1595–1605; < Late Latin < Greek hyphén (adv.) together, derivative of hyph' hén (prepositional phrase), equivalent to hyp ( ó ) under ( hypo- ) + hén, neuter of heîs one

Word History and Origins

Origin of hyphen¹

C17: from Late Latin (meaning: the combining of two words), from Greek huphen (adv) together, from hypo- + heis one

Example Sentences

Or perhaps the story of his panic at seeing a post-it note saying "please re-sign" on some documents, and not noticing the hyphen, wondered what he'd done to justify having to quit.

From BBC

The three or four sets are all separated by a hyphen.

From Encyclopedia.com

But with the slash of a hyphen and the snip of a “20,” Mr. Evers changed 2024-25 to the year 2425.

From New York Times

Evers, a former state education secretary and public school teacher and administrator before that, vetoed the “20” and the hyphen to make the end date 2425.

From Seattle Times

Missing hyphens or incorrect capitalization, ambiguities about singular and plural nouns or transitive and intransitive verbs — no question is too insignificant.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• elbow
• seam