ban, bann

The words ban, bann sound the same but have different meanings and spellings. Why do ban, bann sound the same even though they are completely different words?

The answer is simple: ban, bann are homophones of the English language.

ban
  1. :: verb-transitive

    To prohibit, especially by official decree: The city council banned billboards on most streets. See Synonyms at forbid.

  2. :: verb-transitive

    South African Under the former system of apartheid, to deprive (a person suspected of illegal activity) of the right of free movement and association with others.

  3. :: verb-transitive

    Archaic To curse.

  4. :: noun

    An excommunication or condemnation by church officials.

bann
  1. :: verb-transitive

    To prohibit, especially by official decree: The city council banned billboards on most streets. See Synonyms at forbid.

  2. :: verb-transitive

    South African Under the former system of apartheid, to deprive (a person suspected of illegal activity) of the right of free movement and association with others.

  3. :: verb-transitive

    Archaic To curse.

  4. :: noun

    An excommunication or condemnation by church officials.

Definitions from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition and Wordnik.

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About Homophones

Homophones (literally "same sound") are usually defined as words that share the same pronunciation, regardless of how they are spelled.

If they are spelled the same then they are also homographs (and homonyms); if they are spelled differently then they are also heterographs (literally "different writing").