zeugma

Z10E1U1G2M3A1
/ˈzjuːɡ.mə//ˈzuːɡ.mə/

noun

The act of using a word, particularly an adjective or verb, to apply to more than one noun when its sense is appropriate to only one.

OriginAncient Greek ζεῦγμα →
UncommonScrabble 18
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Meanings

nounzeugma (countable and uncountable, plural zeugmata or zeugmas)

plural zeugmata · plural zeugmas · alternative zeugmenon

  1. countablerhetoricuncountableThe act of using a word, particularly an adjective or verb, to apply to more than one noun when its sense is appropriate to only one.
  2. countablerhetoricuncountableSyllepsis.

    The existence of zeugmas suggests the rule of transitivity. Zeugmas appear incorrect because they embody an allegedly univocal use of a term in a way which violated^([sic]) the rule of transitivity.

    July 1963, Fred Sommers, “Types and Ontology”, in The Philosophical Review, volume LXXII, Bobbs-Merrill Reprint Series in Philosophy, page 343
    1 more example

    Thus I would describe 'He took his leave and the wrong umbrella' as zeugma, but not 'He took his hat and umbrella'. Zeugma is an important element in Chaucer's poetic technique, not because he uses it, but because he so regularly turns it down.

    2008, Amanda Holton, The Sources of Chaucer's Poetics, page 104

Synonyms & antonyms

Broader
brachylogy

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekζεῦγμα“yoking; a bond, a band”
  2. Englishzeugma

Borrowed from Ancient Greek ζεῦγμα (zeûgma, “yoking; a bond, a band”), from ζεύγνυμι (zeúgnumi, “to yoke; to join”), from ζεῦγος (zeûgos, “a yoke”).

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Ancient Greek ζεῦγμα
  • ζεῦγμα (zeûgma)using a word to apply to more than one noun
Catalan zeugma
  • zeugmausing a word to apply to more than one noun
Czech zeugma
  • zeugmausing a word to apply to more than one noun
Danish zeugma
  • zeugmausing a word to apply to more than one noun
Esperanto zeŭgmo
  • zeŭgmousing a word to apply to more than one noun
Finnish zeugma, iestys
  • zeugmausing a word to apply to more than one noun
  • iestysusing a word to apply to more than one noun
French zeugma
  • zeugmausing a word to apply to more than one noun
German Zeugma
  • Zeugmausing a word to apply to more than one noun
Greek ζεύγμα
  • ζεύγμα (zévgma)using a word to apply to more than one noun
Indonesian zeugma
  • zeugmausing a word to apply to more than one noun
Irish séagma
  • séagmausing a word to apply to more than one noun
Japanese 軛語法
  • 軛語法 (kubiki gohō)using a word to apply to more than one noun
Polish zeugma
  • zeugmausing a word to apply to more than one noun
Portuguese zeugma
  • zeugmausing a word to apply to more than one noun
Russian зе́вгма
  • зе́вгма (zévgma)using a word to apply to more than one noun
Spanish zeugma
  • zeugmausing a word to apply to more than one noun
Swedish zeugma
  • zeugmausing a word to apply to more than one noun
Cite this entry
APA

zeugma. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/zeugma

MLA

“zeugma.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/zeugma. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “zeugma,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/zeugma.

Source: zeugma on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.