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Definition of alliteration

alliteration

/əˌlɪt.əˈreɪ.ʃən/
al · lit · er · a · tion
Adverb:alliteratively
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Plural:alliterations
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Adjective:alliterative
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alliteration Lexical Profile

alliteration Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words, used as a stylistic or prosodic device.

Example

"The poet used alliteration in the phrase "wild and windy west" to evoke the harshness of the storm."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for alliteration

Word Nuance & Usage

Alliteration is determined by the repetition of initial sounds rather than spelling; thus, "phantom photo" is alliterative, whereas "city cat" is not. In literary analysis, it is often distinguished from consonance (repetition of consonant sounds anywhere in nearby words) and assonance (repetition of vowel sounds).

• Rhymes for alliteration

• Nearby Words

alligator lizard
alligator snapping turtle
alliterate
alliteration
alliterative
allium
allocate

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in Neo-Latin as 'alliteratio' by the Italian humanist Giovanni Pontano in the late 15th century, from the Latin prefix 'ad-' (to) and 'littera' (letter).

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Alliteration. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/alliteration
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