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Definition of hapax

hapax

/ˈheɪ.pæks/
ha · pax
Plural:hapaxes
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hapax Lexical Profile

hapax Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A word or expression that occurs only once within a specific context, text, author's body of work, or the entire recorded corpus of a language.

Example

"The obscure Greek poem contains a hapax that has puzzled classical scholars for centuries because there is no other context to determine its exact meaning."

Word Nuance & Usage

Often encountered in academic contexts, such as biblical exegesis and classical studies, where interpreting a word with no other textual examples presents a significant translational challenge.

• Rhymes for hapax

• Nearby Words

hannover
hanoi
hanover
hapax
haphazard
haphazardly
hapless

Word Origin & Etymology

From Ancient Greek ἅπαξ (hápax, meaning 'once'). It is a shortening of the phrase 'hapax legomenon' (something said only once).

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

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