near-homophone pair
nounUK /nɪə ˈhɒməfəʊn peə/
US /nɪr ˈhɑːməfoʊn per/
Two words that sound almost the same but are not exactly the same.
The words 'ship' and 'sheep' make a near-homophone pair.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A pair of words that differ by only one sound, often confusing for learners.
'Bit' and 'beat' form a near-homophone pair that trips up many students.
3. Two words with very close but not identical pronunciations in a particular accent.
In some accents, 'merry' and 'marry' are a near-homophone pair.
4. A teaching term for words that sound alike enough to be mistaken for each other in speech.
The teacher listed 'thin' and 'thing' as a near-homophone pair to practice.