Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

phonemark

/ˈfoʊnˌmɑɹk/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 0.00 in modern English

Syllables: phone-mark
IPA: /ˈfoʊnˌmɑɹk/

20

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

2

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A non-legislative designation by a telephone call from a legislator, of specific projects for funding as part of funding for more general programs.

verb

To apply pressure on a government agency to fund a specific project as part of a more general program.

American usage; Transitive verb

Example Sentences

"They were earmarks by another name. The techniques employed included “lettermarks,” members writing to administrators to urge that home-based projects be funded; “phonemarks,” calling executive officials to request money for projects in their states or districts; and "soft marks." simply "suggesting" to agency officials that money should be spent on the lawmaker's project."
"The current system has also allowed political interference we didn't expect. Some officials in the executive branch and others, including members of Congress, have kept the earmark tradition alive with less transparency by pressuring agencies to fund particular projects through phone calls (or "phonemarks"), letters ("lettermarks") and meetings."
"Or worse, without earmarks the members of the spending committees can "phonemark" projects without anyone ever knowing"

Etymology

Blend of phone + earmark.

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈfoʊnˌmɑɹk/
British English: /ˈfəʊn.mɑːk/

Usage

American usage
Transitive verb

Inflected Forms

phonemarks (plural) phonemarks (present, singular) phonemarking (participle, present) phonemarked (participle, past) phonemarked (past)

Frequently Paired Words

earmark lettermark

Questions

How do you pronounce phonemark?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈfoʊnˌmɑɹk/.
What does phonemark mean?: A non-legislative designation by a telephone call from a legislator, of specific projects for funding as part of funding for more general programs.
Where does phonemark come from?: Blend of phone + earmark.

How to pronounce phonemark

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “phonemark”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈfoʊnˌmɑɹk/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “phonemark”.
Repeat and practice — Say “phonemark” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.