apostrophe

uh-POS-truh-fee

Apostrophe (noun) means the punctuation mark ( ' ) used to show possession or mark missing letters in a contraction. Example: “Remember the apostrophe in "don't" — it stands for the missing "o.”

noun

The punctuation mark ( ' ) used to show possession or mark missing letters in a contraction.

"Remember the apostrophe in "don't" — it stands for the missing "o.""

"She corrected the sign's misplaced apostrophe in "CD's for sale.""

A literary device in which a speaker addresses someone or something absent, dead, or non-human.

"The poem uses apostrophe, speaking directly to the moon as if it could hear."

How to use apostrophe

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishUsually the punctuation mark used in contractions and possessives; less commonly, a literary technique of addressing something that can't respond.

Common mistake

The classic error is the "greengrocer's apostrophe" — wrongly adding one to plain plurals, like "banana's for sale."

Common pairings

possessive apostrophe misplaced apostrophe

Word forms

apostrophes plural, apostrophes plural

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Remember the _____ in "don't" — it stands for the missing "o."

Etymology

From Greek apostrophos, "turning away," from apostrephein, "to turn away" — the punctuation sense comes from the mark showing where a letter has been "turned away," or omitted.

Origin: Greek

Rhymes for apostrophe

catastrophe

See all rhymes for apostrophe →

Frequently asked questions

What does “apostrophe” mean?

The word “apostrophe” means the punctuation mark ( ' ) used to show possession or mark missing letters in a contraction. In plain terms, usually the punctuation mark used in contractions and possessives; less commonly, a literary technique of addressing something that can't respond.

How do you pronounce “apostrophe”?

“Apostrophe” is pronounced uh-POS-truh-fee (/əˈpɑs.tɹə.fi/ in IPA).

How do you use “apostrophe” in a sentence?

Here is “apostrophe” used in a sentence: “Remember the apostrophe in "don't" — it stands for the missing "o.".”

What part of speech is “apostrophe”?

“Apostrophe” is a noun.

Where does the word “apostrophe” come from?

The word “apostrophe” comes from Greek. From Greek apostrophos, "turning away," from apostrephein, "to turn away" — the punctuation sense comes from the mark showing where a letter has been "turned away," or omitted.

How many meanings does “apostrophe” have?

“Apostrophe” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the punctuation mark ( ' ) used to show possession or mark missing letters in a contraction.

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Vocabulary lists that include apostrophe:

Words with Greek origins B2 vocabulary words