Palindrome
Noun
- A word, phrase, or sequence that reads the same backward as forward, e.g., “madam” or “nurses run”.
Example Sentences
“The palindrome ‘RACECAR’ was on the sports car’s license plate.”
“My brother has the palindrome ‘Madam, I’m Adam’ on a sign above his door.”
“Learning about palindromes is always a silly day in English class.”
Word Origin
Greek, early 17th century
Why this word?
The word “palindrome” comes from the Greek word “palindromos,” meaning “running back again.” While learning that “racecar” is spelled the same way front to back is fun for small children, there are many practical applications for palindromes in technical fields, such as computer science and genetic engineering.