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View synonyms for proper noun

proper noun

[ prop-er noun ]

noun

  1. Grammar. a noun that is used to denote a particular person, place, or thing, as Lincoln, Sarah, Pittsburgh, and Carnegie Hall. Compare common noun.


proper noun

noun

  1. the name of a person, place, or object, as for example Iceland, Patrick, or Uranus Compare common noun onomastic
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Grammar Note

Proper nouns are not normally preceded by an article or other limiting modifier, as any or some. Nor are they usually pluralized. But the language allows for exceptions. Proper nouns may occasionally have a definite article as part of the name, as in the case of some ships, organizations, and hotels, as The Titanic, The Humane Society, and The Plaza. An indefinite article is appropriate when you use a name as an exemplar: She looks like a young Elizabeth Taylor! And there is sometimes a reason for treating a name as if it were a generic: There are four Devons in my class. Proper nouns, usually capitalized in English, are arbitrary, in that a name can be given to someone or something without regard to any descriptive meaning the word or phrase may otherwise have.
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Word History and Origins

Origin of proper noun1

First recorded in 1490–1500
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Compare Meanings

How does proper noun compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

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Example Sentences

The proper noun when spoken can be confused for the common noun.

“The Great Depression” as a proper noun only came into popular use in the 1950s, long after the event was over.

Thus "John Smith" (particular; proper noun) and "Man" (general; common noun).

An apostrophe is used inconsistently with the proper noun Bruening or Bruenings.

A proper noun is a name applied to a particular object, whether person, place, or thing.

The proper noun comes first in appositive expressions: lfred cyning, Sidroc eorl, Hahmund bisceop.

The "s" in "street" following a proper noun is sometimes with an initial capital and sometimes with lower case.

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proper motionpropertied