Meaning & use

phonetic

adjective·Academic

Relating to the sounds of speech, or representing those sounds with a consistent set of symbols.

See it in a sentence

The dictionary includes a phonetic spelling to show how each word is pronounced.

She learned the phonetic alphabet to help spell words clearly over the phone.

A note on using this word

Phonetic refers to actual speech sounds, while phonemic refers to sound units that distinguish meaning in a specific language.

Words with a similar meaning

This term is best learned through its definition and examples.

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

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