semicolon

[ sem-i-koh-luhn ]

noun

1. the punctuation mark (;) used to indicate a major division in a sentence where a more distinct separation is felt between clauses or items on a list than is indicated by a comma, as between the two clauses of a compound sentence.

semicolon

/ ˌsɛmɪˈkəʊlən /

noun

1. the punctuation mark ( ; ) used to indicate a pause intermediate in value or length between that of a comma and that of a full stop

semicolon

1. A punctuation mark (;) used to join two independent clauses in a sentence. The semicolon shows that the ideas in the two clauses are related: “Jack really didn't mind being left without a car; he had the house to himself.”

Word History and Origins

Origin of semicolon¹

First recorded in 1635–45; semi- + colon ¹

Example Sentences

He was the first to print editions of Aristotle, Thucydides, Herodotus and Sophocles; the first to use italic type; and the first to use the semicolon in its modern sense.

From New York Times

"Someone wise once said that the correct punctuation for a scientific advance is not an exclamation mark, but a semicolon," said Meyer.

From Science Daily

Throughout, Murray employs linguistic choices to distinguish the perspectives, most notably in Imelda’s section, where Murray eschews punctuation: no periods, no commas, no dashes, no semicolons — only the occasional question mark.

From Los Angeles Times

In my review of the film, I wrote: “Civil wars over semicolons and heated debate over the word ‘looms’ would not, on the face of it, seem like the stuff of a gripping big-screen movie.

From Seattle Times

The women had warned their House colleagues not to make changes to the bill: “Don’t move a semicolon,” Senator Sandy Senn, a Republican, said.

From New York Times