parenthesis
noun
pa·ren·the·sis
pə-ˈren(t)-thə-səs 
plural parentheses
pə-ˈren(t)-thə-ˌsēz
1
a
: an amplifying (see amplify sense 1) or explanatory word, phrase, or sentence inserted in a passage from which it is usually set off by punctuation
explained further in a parenthesis
b
: a remark or passage that departs from the theme of a discourse : digression
The speaker inserted some often amusing parentheses during his speech.
3
: one or both of the curved marks ( ) used in writing and printing to enclose a parenthetical expression or to group a symbolic unit in a logical or mathematical expression
The plant's common name is followed by its Latin name in parentheses.
Examples of parenthesis in a Sentence
there was a parenthesis of silence when the microphone momentarily lost power
Recent Examples on the Web
San Diego Union-Tribune Girls Basketball Rankings First-place votes in parentheses; points awarded on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis:
Team; Record; Points; Last
1.
—
Steve Brand, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2025
Those employees, for example, the CFPB, they were notified with an email that addressed them as parentheses, employee first name dot employee last name, job title, division.
—Katie Drummond, WIRED, 13 Feb. 2025
Top 10 With records through Sunday and previous rankings in parentheses.
—Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2025
Users in Mexico will continue to see Gulf of Mexico, while people in the rest of the world will see both names, with Gulf of Mexico appearing first, followed by Gulf of America in parentheses.
—Yan Zhuang, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for parenthesis
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Steve Brand, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2025
Those employees, for example, the CFPB, they were notified with an email that addressed them as parentheses, employee first name dot employee last name, job title, division.
—Katie Drummond, WIRED, 13 Feb. 2025
Top 10 With records through Sunday and previous rankings in parentheses.
—Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2025
Users in Mexico will continue to see Gulf of Mexico, while people in the rest of the world will see both names, with Gulf of Mexico appearing first, followed by Gulf of America in parentheses.
—Yan Zhuang, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for parenthesis
Cite this Entry
“Parenthesis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/parenthesis. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
parenthesis
noun
pa·ren·the·sis
pə-ˈren(t)-thə-səs
plural parentheses
-thə-ˌsēz
1
: a word, phrase, or sentence inserted in a passage to explain or comment on it
2
: one of a pair of marks ( ) used to enclose a parenthesis or to group units in a mathematical expression
parenthetic
adjective
ˌpar-ən-ˈthet-ik
or parenthetical
-ˈthet-i-kəl
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