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Definition of en

en

/ɛn/
en
Plural:ens
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en Lexical Profile

en Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A typographic unit of measurement equal to half the width of an em, historically corresponding to the width of the uppercase letter N.

Example

"The typesetter adjusted the spacing between the columns by a single en to improve readability."

2

The fourteenth letter of the modern English alphabet (N, n), or the consonant sound it represents.

Example

"Children learning phonics practice distinguishing the sound of an en from that of an em."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for en

Word Nuance & Usage

In typography, an 'en' is half the width of an 'em'; accordingly, an en dash (–) is used to indicate ranges of numbers or dates, whereas a wider em dash (—) sets off parenthetical clauses.

• Rhymes for en

• Nearby Words

emulsify
emulsion
emutail
en
en dash
enable
enablement

Word Origin & Etymology

From the spelled-out phonetic name of the fourteenth letter of the English alphabet, 'N', inherited from Latin through Old French.

Cite this Entry

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