Palindrome: meaning, definitions and examples

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palindrome

 

[ ˈpælɪnˌdoʊm ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

word structure

A palindrome is a word, phrase, number, or other sequence of characters that reads the same forward and backward, ignoring spaces, punctuation, and capitalization. Common examples include words like 'madam' and 'racecar'. They are often used in puzzles, word games, and literature for their unique properties.

Synonyms

mirror word, reversible.

Examples of usage

  • The word 'level' is a palindrome.
  • She wrote 'A man, a plan, a canal, Panama!' as a famous palindrome.
  • The sequence '12321' is a numeric palindrome.
  • In the art of poetry, palindromes can add a creative twist.

Translations

Translations of the word "palindrome" in other languages:

🇵🇹 palíndromo

🇮🇳 पैलिंड्रोम

🇩🇪 Palindrom

🇮🇩 palindrom

🇺🇦 паліндром

🇵🇱 palindrom

🇯🇵 回文

🇫🇷 palindrome

🇪🇸 palíndromo

🇹🇷 palindrom

🇰🇷 회문

🇸🇦 كلمة متجانسة

🇨🇿 palindrom

🇸🇰 palindróm

🇨🇳 回文

🇸🇮 palindrom

🇮🇸 palíndrom

🇰🇿 палиндром

🇬🇪 პალინდრომი

🇦🇿 palindrom

🇲🇽 palíndromo

Etymology

The term 'palindrome' is derived from the Greek word 'palindromos', which means 'running back again'. It is a compound of 'palin', meaning 'again', and 'dromos', meaning 'way, direction, or running'. The concept of palindrome dates back to ancient cultures, including the Greeks and Romans, who created various forms of palindromic inscriptions. Through history, palindromes have fascinated writers and linguists alike, appearing in literary works and puzzles throughout the ages. Their playful nature and symmetry make them a unique aspect of language that continues to be appreciated in modern word games and creative writing.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #37,308, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.