: a person who performs more than one function (such as a producer-director in filmmaking)
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In the early 20th century, the noun hyphenate referred to a resident or citizen of the U.S. whose recent foreign national origin caused others to question his or her patriotic loyalties - with or without there being just cause for that questioning. These hyphenates - the Irish-Americans, German-Americans, and others - were objects of suspicion. The hyphenates we're highlighting today are more often objects of admiration. Since around 1974, we've been referring to people with hyphens in their titles - producer-directors, for example, as hyphenates.
Example Sentences
Verb In English, we hyphenate some compounds but not others.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Opting to hyphenate, combine, or invent a new surname like newlyweds Brooklyn and Nicola Peltz Beckham could be framed as a mutually fulfilling means of self-preservation or an empty political gesture. Hanna Lustig, Glamour, 21 July 2022 More women still are going double-barrelled -- opting to hyphenate their last name. Jay Parini, CNN, 7 Aug. 2021 Dear Abby: Is there an existing or evolving tradition regarding what surname to give to the children of parents who already have hyphenated last names? Abigail Van Buren, Houston Chronicle, 25 Jan. 2020 Leonardo da Vinci was a multi-hyphenate visionary known equally for his art and ahead-of-his-time engineering designs. Daisy Hernandez, Popular Mechanics, 19 Sep. 2019 These are rated as second-highest quality and their names are often hyphenated with the nearby town (e.g. Meursault-Charmes). Lettie Teague, WSJ, 7 Dec. 2017 Whether or not to hyphenate is entirely your choice: Jane Riley, Eleanor Rose, Ann-Morgan.Southern Living, 27 Dec. 2016 Whether or not to hyphenate is entirely your choice: Jane Riley, Eleanor Rose, Ann-Morgan.Southern Living, 1 May 2017
Noun
Ahead of the festivities, the talented multi-hyphenate could be found in a nearby dressing room putting the finishing touches on her glittering hair and makeup.Vogue, 9 Sep. 2022 The writer-director hyphenate is the boon and the bug of independent filmmaking. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2022 The 27-year-old multi-hyphenate took to Instagram to announce the creation of her very own fashion brand, Guest in Residence. Jasmine Washington, Seventeen, 5 Aug. 2022 That’s partly because the multi-hyphenate is booked and busy—starring in three feature films and a slew of TV series this year alone. André-naquian Wheeler, Vogue, 20 July 2022 The multi-hyphenate was recently spotted in Los Angeles, marking her first public appearance since her and Ben Affleck's surprise Las Vegas wedding last Saturday night. Chelsey Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 20 July 2022 For her first appearance since welcoming her first child last May, the multi-hyphenate went with a more muted look, which included a Prada puffer jacket with feathers at the wrists and hood, as well as a single, chunky silver necklace. Quinci Legardye, Harper's BAZAAR, 9 July 2022 The multi-hyphenate has lived in Western knee-highs since the beginning of the year, and has worn them with separates from MaisonCléo and Paloma Wool. Alice Cary, Vogue, 29 June 2022 Below, shop a few of the items that the talented multi-hyphenate will be bringing along with her on her summer adventures. Lauren Tappan, Town & Country, 7 June 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Noun
from the hyphens in the titles of such people, as producer-director