shibilant

1 of 2

adjective

shib·​i·​lant
ˈshibələnt
: pronounced or containing the sound \sh\ or \zh\
\ch\ (=t+sh) and \j\ (=d+zh) are shibilant affricates

shibilant

2 of 2

noun

"
plural -s
: a shibilant sound

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

alteration (influenced by the digraph sh, representing the sound \sh\) of sibilant

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Dictionary Entries Near shibilant

Cite this Entry

“Shibilant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shibilant. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!