metathesis

/ˌmɛtəˈθɪsɪs/

Definitions

1. noun

A change of the position or sequence of sounds or letters in a word, especially the interchange of sounds between two adjacent vowels, as in ‘meet’ and ‘meat’.

“The linguist studied the process of metathesis in ancient languages.”

2. noun

A process in which the order of two or more elements is reversed.

“The artist’s use of metathesis in the composition created a unique visual effect.”

Synonyms

  • letter reversal
  • sound shift

Antonyms

  • orthographic consistency
  • phonetic accuracy