Conjunction

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /kənˈd͡ʒʌŋk.ʃn̩/

Definitions

1. A grammatical term that unites words, clauses, or phrases in a sentence structure for better communication and clarity
2. A linguistic component utilized to link together words, clauses, or phrases enhancing coherence in expressions and sentences
3. A word used to join individual words or groups in a sentence ; a term connecting larger sentence parts or entire sentences for flow

Etymology: The grammatical sense of "conjunction" is a fairly recent piece of the word's life. Its core meaning is simply "joining," and that is exactly what it was in Latin: "coniūnctiō" came from "coniungere," meaning "to join," built from "com-" (together) and "iungere" (to yoke or join). Medieval French then took it as "conjonction," and English borrowed the word from there. In the sense of a union or a coming-together, it appears in English long before grammarians applied it to words. The shift to grammar happened because the sense of "joining" was naturally extended to things that connect parts of a sentence. A conjunction in this sense is a word that yokes clauses or phrases together, so the linguistic meaning grew directly out of the physical and social idea of a joining. The same word also kept its older uses, which is why "conjunction" can still refer to a close association of events or circumstances, as in "a conjunction of planets," where bodies are said to come together in the sky.

Synonyms: connector, link