parenthesis

//pəˈrɛnθəsɪs//
C1Frequency Level 12Neutral
Visual representation of parenthesis

Noun

parenthesisSingular
parenthesesPlural
1

Either of a pair of curved punctuation marks ( ) used to enclose additional or explanatory information within a sentence.

Please put the additional information in parentheses.

2

A word, clause, or sentence inserted as an explanation or afterthought into a passage that is grammatically complete without it, typically marked off by brackets, dashes, or commas.

The author used a parenthesis to add extra information to the sentence.

3

An interlude or interval; a digression or aside.

After a brief parenthesis about his childhood, the speaker returned to the main topic.

parenthesis - Deep Vocabulary