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Definition of octothorpe
octothorpe
/ˈɑːk.tə.θɔːrp/
oc · to · thorpe
Plural:octothorpes
octothorpe Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
11
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
octothorpe Game Scores & Validity
Scrabble US
Scrabble UK
WWF
Wordle Guess
• noun
1
The typographical symbol '#', traditionally used to represent the word 'number' or 'pound', and prominent on telephone keypads and in digital tagging.
Example
"The automated voice prompt instructed the caller to enter their account number followed by the octothorpe."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for octothorpeWord Nuance & Usage
While 'octothorpe' is the official term coined for the symbol on telephone keypads, it is almost exclusively referred to as a 'hash', 'pound sign', or 'hashtag' in modern everyday speech.
• Rhymes for octothorpe
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the 1960s by engineers at Bell Laboratories when adding the '#' symbol to Touch-Tone telephone keypads. 'Octo-' refers to the symbol's eight points, and 'thorpe' is commonly believed to be a tribute to American Olympic athlete Jim Thorpe.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Octothorpe. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 12, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/octothorpe