Meaning of the word hyphen in English

What does hyphen mean in English? Explore the meaning, pronunciation, and specific usage of this word with Lingoland.

hyphen

US /ˈhaɪ.fən/

UK /ˈhaɪ.fən/

Noun

the sign (-) used to join words to indicate that they have a combined meaning or that they are grammatically linked in some way, or to divide a word into parts

Example:

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Use a hyphen to connect 'well' and 'known' in 'well-known author'.

•

The word 'co-operate' uses a hyphen.

Synonym:

dash minus sign

Verb

to join with a hyphen

Example:

•

You should hyphen 'long' and 'term' when describing a 'long-term plan'.

•

Some style guides recommend not to hyphen certain prefixes.

Synonym:

join connect link

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Related Word:

hyphenate