calendar, calender

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

The answer is simple: calendar, calender are homophones of the English language.

calendar
  1. :: noun

    Any of various systems of reckoning time in which the beginning, length, and divisions of a year are defined.

  2. :: noun

    A table showing the months, weeks, and days in at least one specific year.

  3. :: noun

    A schedule of events.

  4. :: noun

    An ordered list of matters to be considered: a calendar of court cases; the bills on a legislative calendar.

calender
  1. :: noun

    A machine in which paper or cloth is made smooth and glossy by being pressed through rollers.

  2. :: verb-transitive

    To press (paper or cloth) in the rollers of such a machine.

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").