hyphen
1 of 2noun
hy·phen ˈhī-fən 
: a punctuation mark - used especially to divide or to compound words, word elements, or numbers
hyphenless
ˈhī-fən-ləs
adjective hyphen
2 of 2verb
hyphened; hyphening; hyphens
transitive verb
: hyphenate
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web
Kareem Rashed, Robb Report, 28 July 2022 The plaintiffs say data entry errors or differences as minor as a missing hyphen or apostrophe can trigger a non-match and that naturalized citizens can also be wrongly flagged as noncitizens if records are outdated. CBS News, 11 Apr. 2022 The plaintiffs say data entry errors or differences as minor as a missing hyphen or apostrophe can trigger a non-match and that naturalized citizens can also be wrongly flagged as noncitizens if records are outdated. CBS News, 11 Apr. 2022 The plaintiffs say data entry errors or differences as minor as a missing hyphen or apostrophe can trigger a non-match and that naturalized citizens can also be wrongly flagged as noncitizens if records are outdated. CBS News, 11 Apr. 2022 The plaintiffs say data entry errors or differences as minor as a missing hyphen or apostrophe can trigger a non-match and that naturalized citizens can also be wrongly flagged as noncitizens if records are outdated. CBS News, 11 Apr. 2022 Whereas Mahdavi has chosen to embrace the hyphen, others have rejected it. Mary Norris, The New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2022 As a result, geneticists collectively refer to them as Khoe-San, using a hyphen to acknowledge their cultural distinction. Brenna Henn, The Conversation, 19 Apr. 2022 The plaintiffs say data entry errors or differences as minor as a missing hyphen or apostrophe can trigger a non-match and that naturalized citizens can also be wrongly flagged as noncitizens if records are outdated. CBS News, 11 Apr. 2022 Ace Ratcliff, SELF, 10 July 2018 See More
Noun
Combo shampoo-conditioners, serum-moisturizers, mask-cleansers—all tend to be better at one side of the hyphen than the other. Kareem Rashed, Robb Report, 28 July 2022 The plaintiffs say data entry errors or differences as minor as a missing hyphen or apostrophe can trigger a non-match and that naturalized citizens can also be wrongly flagged as noncitizens if records are outdated. CBS News, 11 Apr. 2022 The plaintiffs say data entry errors or differences as minor as a missing hyphen or apostrophe can trigger a non-match and that naturalized citizens can also be wrongly flagged as noncitizens if records are outdated. CBS News, 11 Apr. 2022 The plaintiffs say data entry errors or differences as minor as a missing hyphen or apostrophe can trigger a non-match and that naturalized citizens can also be wrongly flagged as noncitizens if records are outdated. CBS News, 11 Apr. 2022 The plaintiffs say data entry errors or differences as minor as a missing hyphen or apostrophe can trigger a non-match and that naturalized citizens can also be wrongly flagged as noncitizens if records are outdated. CBS News, 11 Apr. 2022 Whereas Mahdavi has chosen to embrace the hyphen, others have rejected it. Mary Norris, The New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2022 As a result, geneticists collectively refer to them as Khoe-San, using a hyphen to acknowledge their cultural distinction. Brenna Henn, The Conversation, 19 Apr. 2022 The plaintiffs say data entry errors or differences as minor as a missing hyphen or apostrophe can trigger a non-match and that naturalized citizens can also be wrongly flagged as noncitizens if records are outdated. CBS News, 11 Apr. 2022 Verb
Normally, closed caption subtitling bleeps words in a variety of different ways: phrases, such as (bleep), [expletive], or [censored] may be used, though sometimes hyphens or asterisks are substituted instead (f–k, f---, or f*** are all examples. Ace Ratcliff, SELF, 10 July 2018 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
Late Latin & Greek; Late Latin, from Greek, from hyph' hen under one, from hypo under + hen, neuter of heis one — more at up, same
First Known Use
Noun
circa 1620, in the meaning defined above
Verb
1814, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing hyphen
Kids Definition
hyphen 1 of 2
noun
hy·phen ˈhī-fən
: a mark - used to divide or to connect words or word elements
hyphen
2 of 2verb
hyphened; hyphening
: hyphenate
- getting ahead
- getting along
- getting around
- getting around (to)
- getting around to
- getting at
- getting away
- getting back
- getting back (at)
- getting back at
- getting behind
- getting by
- getting cracking
- getting down
- getting down (to)
- getting down to
- getting even
- getting even (for)
- getting even for
- getting going
- getting hold of
- getting in
- getting in touch with
- getting it on
- getting nowhere fast