apostrophe
Pronunciation
Noun
B1 Intermediate
Quick answer
A punctuation mark used to show that letters are missing from a word or that something belongs to someone.
Usage notes
In literary criticism, 'apostrophe' also names a device where a speaker addresses someone absent, dead, or imaginary, a very different sense from the punctuation mark.
Test yourself
Which word fits the gap? "She forgot the _____ in 'don't' and wrote 'dont' instead."
Answer: apostrophe
In your own words, what does "apostrophe" mean?
A punctuation mark used to show that letters are missing from a word or that something belongs to someone.
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