Phrase guide

cleft sentence

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A complex sentence expressible by a simple one, having a dependent clause in front of the main clause and, typically, stressing a particular constituent.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: human-sciences, linguistics, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

A single clause is split into two separate clauses.

Across languages

Translations

8 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • French: phrase clivée — complex sentence stressing a particular constituent
  • German: Spaltsatz — complex sentence stressing a particular constituent
  • Hebrew: משפט מבוקע (mišpát mevuká) — complex sentence stressing a particular constituent
  • Hebrew: קלפט (kleft) — complex sentence stressing a particular constituent
  • Irish: abairt scoilte — complex sentence stressing a particular constituent
  • Italian: frase scissa — complex sentence stressing a particular constituent
  • Japanese: 分裂文 (bunretsu-bun) — complex sentence stressing a particular constituent
  • Korean: 분열문 (bunyeolmun) — complex sentence stressing a particular constituent