Word
apostrophe
Phoneticsapos·tro·phe
US/əˈpɑstɹəˌfi/
UK/ɐpˈɒstɹəfi/
Definitions
01punctuation mark
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
n. the mark (') used to show where letters are left out in a word, or to show that something belongs to a person.
n. the typographic character used to indicate the omission of one or more letters or to mark the possessive case.
“You need an apostrophe in the word 'don't' to show the missing 'o'.”
“The editor noted that the author frequently misplaced the apostrophe in plural possessive nouns, leading to significant clarity issues throughout the manuscript.”
Pitfall
The dog wagged it's tail.
The dog wagged its tail.
Do not use an apostrophe for the possessive 'its'; the form 'it's' is only for 'it is' or 'it has'.
02rhetorical address
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Literature Formal · Technical
n. a speech or poem where the speaker talks to someone who is dead, absent, or not human.
n. a rhetorical figure in which the speaker addresses a dead or absent person, an abstraction, or an inanimate object.
“The poet uses apostrophe when he speaks directly to the wind in the first stanza.”
“Milton’s use of apostrophe in his sonnets often serves to elevate the emotional register by addressing personified virtues as if they were present deities.”
Synonyms
03plant cell structure
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Science Technical
n. a specific way that green parts inside a plant cell are arranged.
n. an arrangement of chloroplasts along the side walls of plant cells, perpendicular to the surface, typically occurring under high light intensity.
“The scientist observed the apostrophe of the chlorophyll grains under the microscope.”
“Under intense solar radiation, the chloroplasts moved into a position of apostrophe to protect the cell from photo-oxidative damage.”
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“The collective struggle becomes individualised drama, betraying the positioning of the apostrophe – what happened in 1381 was the Peasants’ Revolt not the Peasant’s Revolt.” “Australian journalist Tiger Webb recently wrote an entire piece advocating the abolition of the apostrophe, in which it was characterised as “the hoity toity squiggle”.” Etymology
From French apostrophe, or Latin apostrophus, from Ancient Greek ἀπόστροφος (apóstrophos, “accent of elision”), a noun use of an adjective from ἀποστρέφω (apostréphō, “I turn away”), from ἀπό (apó, “away from”) + στρέφω (stréphō, “to turn”).
From Latin apostrophe, from Ancient Greek ἀποστροφή (apostrophḗ), from ἀποστρέφω (apostréphō, “I turn away”), from ἀπό (apó) + στρέφω (stréphō, “I turn”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Grammar
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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