synonym

IPA/ˈsɪnənɪm/
KK[sˈɪnənˌɪm]IPA/ˈsɪnənɪm/

synonym — noun

  • synonymsingular
  • synonymsplural

1. a word that shares a very similar meaning with another word from the same langua

1.nounB1
Definition

a word that shares a very similar meaning with another word from the same language — for example, 'happy' and 'glad', or 'large' and 'big'

Example

The teacher asked the class to write a synonym for 'angry' in their notebooks.

synonym for + [word]

Dr. Okafor pointed out that 'tiny' and 'small' are close synonyms but not exact matches.

close synonyms — near but not exact match

Common collocations
  • close synonym
  • near synonym
  • exact synonym
  • perfect synonym
  • find a synonym
  • list synonyms
Synonyms
  • equivalent

    more formal; used in logic or mathematics to mean interchangeable in value

  • near-synonym

    more precise; acknowledges the match is not perfect

Antonyms
  • antonym

    a word with the opposite meaning

Usage Note

Only sense that takes modifiers like 'close', 'near', 'exact', or 'perfect' to show how alike the meanings are.

Common Mistakes

Fast and quick are synonyms, so I can always use either one.
Fast and quick are synonyms, but 'fast' is more common for physical speed (a fast car), while 'quick' often describes short duration (a quick look).
Synonyms are rarely perfect substitutes; they usually differ in the situations where they fit best.

2. a word or name that people connect so strongly with a quality or idea that it br

2.nounB2
Definition

a word or name that people connect so strongly with a quality or idea that it brings that quality to mind — for example, when someone's name becomes a synonym for courage

Example

After thirty years of honest work, Judge Tanaka's name became a synonym for trust.

name became a synonym for + [quality]

That car brand turned into a global synonym for speed and engineering excellence.

brand turned into a synonym for + [quality]

Common collocations
  • become a synonym for
  • a synonym for [quality]
  • turn into a synonym for
Synonyms
  • byword

    more literary; often used for negative qualities (a byword for cruelty)

  • embodiment

    refers to the person or thing itself, not the word for it

  • epitome

    the perfect or most typical example of a quality

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 1 (SAME MEANING): this sense is about what a word or name represents in people's minds, not about shared dictionary definitions.

Word family

  • synonymous
    adjectiveB2
  • synonymy
    nounC2
  • synonymously
    adverbC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Synonym refers to words that share a very similar meaning, like 'big' and 'large'. Its direct opposite is antonym — words with opposite meanings, like 'big' and 'small'. Equivalent is more precise and formal than synonym; it suggests two things are interchangeable in value or function, not just similar in meaning — a maths equation uses 'equivalent', but a writing teacher uses 'synonym'. Homonym refers to words that sound or look the same but mean different things (like 'bank' for money and 'bank' for a river), which is a completely different relationship from synonymy. Learners often mix these up because all four terms describe relationships between words, but each names a distinct type of connection.

antonym ↗equivalent ↗homonym ↗

Common collocations

Prepositions

  • synonym for
  • synonym of

Etymology

GreekLatinFrenchEnglish

Synonym comes from the Greek word synōnymon, built from syn- ('together') and onyma ('name'). It travelled through Latin (synōnymum) and French before entering English in the 15th century. The original idea — words that share the 'same name' or meaning — has stayed at the core of the word, while the extended sense of 'something that stands for a quality' developed later through figurative use.