Synonym

A synonym is a word, or phrase that means exactly or almost the same as another word, morpheme, or phrase in a given language. For example, in a English language, the words begin, start, commence, as well as initiate are any synonyms of one another: they are synonymous. The specifications test for synonymy is substitution: one construct can be replaced by another in a sentence without changing its meaning. Words are considered synonymous in only one specific sense: for example, long and extended in the context long time or extended time are synonymous, but long cannot be used in the phrase extended family. Synonyms with precisely the same meaning share a seme or denotational sememe, whereas those with inexactly similar meanings share a broader denotational or connotational sememe and thus overlap within a semantic field. The former are sometimes called cognitive synonyms and the latter, near-synonyms, plesionyms or poecilonyms.

Uses of synonyms

Synonyms often express a nuance of meaning or are used in different registers of speech or writing.

Different technical fields may appropriate synonyms for particular technical meanings.

Some writers avoid repeating the same word inproximity, and prefer to use synonyms: this is called elegant variation. numerous contemporary style guides criticize this.