Heterophone

Pronunciation

• RP enPR: hĕʹtÉ™rōfōn, IPA: /ˈhÉ›təɹəʊfəʊn/

Origin

- + phone + -

Full definition of heterophone

Noun

1. A word whose spelling and sound both differ from another’s.

Usage notes

Since, taken strictly, this term can be applied to the vast majority of word pairs, its use tends to be restricted to closely-related homœographs that are pronounced differently; for example, the six alternative spellings of ailurophile, which are very similarly spelt but have four different pronunciations between them.

Related terms

• heterophonic
• heterophonous
• heterophony