homophone

[ hom-uh-fohn, hoh-muh- ]
/ ˈhɒm əˌfoʊn, ˈhoʊ mə- /

noun

Phonetics. a word pronounced the same as another but differing in meaning, whether spelled the same way or not, as heir and air.
a written element that represents the same spoken unit as another, as ks, a homophone of x in English.

Origin of homophone

First recorded in 1615–25; back formation from homophonous

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH homophone

homograph homonym homophone (see synonym study at homonym)

British Dictionary definitions for homophone

homophone
/ (ˈhɒməˌfəʊn) /

noun

one of a group of words pronounced in the same way but differing in meaning or spelling or both, as for example bear and bare
a written letter or combination of letters that represents the same speech sound as another ``ph'' is a homophone of ``f'' in English