Ampersand

/ˈæm.pər.sand/

Meaning & Definition

noun

The symbol '&', used to represent the word 'and'.

In her citation, she used an ampersand to connect the names of the authors.

A character in typography that represents 'and', often used in commercial or informal contexts.

The title of the book featured an ampersand between the two main characters' names.

An informal or commercial notation where 'and' is implied.

The logo of the café included an ampersand to represent the partnership between the two owners.

The term 'ampersand' comes from a phonetic distortion of the phrase 'and per se and', meaning 'and [the symbol] by itself [is] and'.

ampersand sign

The symbol '&' used in writing.

you and me (&)

An informal way to reference a partnership of two.

logogram

A written character that represents a word or phrase.

conjunction

A word used to connect clauses or sentences.

And symbol

You'll often see the ampersand as a shorthand for 'and' in casual texts.

Partnership indicator

Using an ampersand in your name suggests you're in business with someone else.