Definitions

1. adjective

relating to or denoting a sound that has a different pronunciation when it appears in different positions in a word or phrase, or when it is part of a different word.

“The allophonic variation of the vowel sound in ‘bit’ and ‘bitter’ can affect how speakers perceive the distinction between the two words.”

2. noun

a sound or combination of sounds that have a different pronunciation when they appear in different positions in a word or phrase, or when they are part of a different word.

“The allophones of the language are an interesting aspect of its phonology.”

3. noun

a variation of a sound or a group of sounds that occurs when the sound is in a different position in a word or phrase, or when it is part of a different word.

“The allophone of /k/ in this language is /t͡ʃ/ when it appears at the end of a word.”