grapheme

[ graf-eem ]
/ ˈgræf im /

noun Linguistics.

a minimal unit of a writing system.
a unit of a writing system consisting of all the written symbols or sequences of written symbols that are used to represent a single phoneme.

Origin of grapheme

First recorded in 1935–40; graph- + -eme

OTHER WORDS FROM grapheme

gra·phe·mi·cal·ly, adverb

British Dictionary definitions for grapheme

grapheme
/ (ˈɡræfiːm) /

noun

linguistics one of a set of orthographic symbols (letters or combinations of letters) in a given language that serve to distinguish one word from another and usually correspond to or represent phonemes, e.g. the f in fun, the ph in phantom, and the gh in laugh

Derived forms of grapheme

graphemically, adverb

Word Origin for grapheme

C20: from Greek graphēma a letter