synonym
- 01 B1 Intermediate
n.a word that has the same or a very similar meaning to another word.
n.a word or phrase that is synonymous with another in the same language.
Simple“The word 'shut' is a synonym for 'closed' in most contexts.”
In context“The thesaurus provides several synonyms for 'beautiful', though each carries a slightly different nuance depending on the subject being described.”
PitfallWhat is the synonym of 'happy'? What is a synonym for 'happy'?We usually use the preposition 'for' when identifying a synonym for a specific word.
SynonymsequivalentmetonymAntonymsantonym - 02 C2 Proficiency
n.a different scientific name used for the same group of animals or plants.
n.any of the various names that could in theory be used for a taxon in accordance with the relevant rules of nomenclature.
Simple“The biologist explained that the two species names were actually synonyms for the same bird.”
In context“In botanical nomenclature, a name may be rejected as a junior synonym if a validly published name already exists for that specific taxon.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
n.a shorter or alternative name for a table or object in a computer database.
n.an alternative name defined for an object, such as a table or view, within a database management system.
Simple“The programmer created a synonym to make the long database table name easier to type.”
In context“By defining a public synonym, the administrator allowed users to access the table without prefixing it with the schema owner's name.”
Synonyms - 04 C2 Proficiency
v.to treat two different things or words as if they mean exactly the same thing.
v.to make two terms or concepts synonymous; to treat as having the same meaning.
Simple“People often synonymize success with having a lot of money.”
In context“The critic argued that the author tended to synonymize silence with complicity throughout the novel.”
SynonymsAntonyms
From Middle English sinonyme, from Latin synōnymum, from Ancient Greek συνώνυμον (sunṓnumon), neuter singular form of συνώνυμος (sunṓnumos, “synonymous”), from σύν (sún, “with”) + ὄνομα (ónoma, “name”). By surface analysis, syn- + -onym.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.