Hyphen Meaning
/ˈhaɪ.fən/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounThe symbol "‐", typically used to join two or more words to form a compound term, or to indicate that a word has been split at the end of a line.
nounSomething which links two things of greater significance than itself.
Sentence Examples
It would be great if I could use a hyphen in my username.
You can spell it with or without a hyphen.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The compound word 'well-being' correctly requires a ____ between the two parts.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
You should use a ____ to connect the two words in a compound adjective like well-known.
Word Origin & History
From Late Latin, from Ancient Greek ὑφέν (huphén, “together”), contracted from ὑφ’ ἕν (huph’ hén, “under one”), from ὑπό (hupó, “under”) + ἕν (hén, “one”), neuter of εἷς (heîs, “one”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"As the proud owner of my very own hyphen in a lovingly crafted surname, I have an especial soft spot for this most confusing of punctuation marks."
— 2021, Claire Cock-Starkey, Hyphens & Hashtags, Bodleian Library, page 56:
"Cunliffe and Karunanayake (2013) developed Fine's notion to introduce potential hyphen spaces that are deeply implicated and reciprocally influential in relationships between researchers and the researched."
— 2019 June 20, Noof Aldaheri, Gustavo Guzman, and Heather Stewart, “Tales of the Unknown and Entanglement”, in Prof. Anthony Stacey, editor, ECRM 2019 18th European Conference on Research Methods in Business and Management, Academic Conferences and publishing limited, →ISBN, page 26:
"The hyphens were added, joining the structures into one building, which now measures just over two hundred feet long."
— 1997, Peter Beney, The Majesty of Colonial Williamsburg, page 156:
"Construction details for the hyphens, or "connecting wings" as they were called by the contractors, were included in the contractors' specifications, as follows:"
— 2010, Mary L. Kwas, A Pictorial History of Arkansas's Old State House:
"Those were the “hyphens,” the passageways that connected the wings of the mansion to its center."
— 2012, James M Cain, The Cocktail Waitress:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The compound word 'well-being' correctly requires a ____ between the two parts.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
You should use a ____ to connect the two words in a compound adjective like well-known.