semi-quote

semi-quote noun: a single quotation mark, ('). This is often used for a quote within a quote, as in "Tom said 'What?'".

Noun

semi-quote (plural semi-quotes)

A single quotation mark, ('). This is often used for a quote within a quote, as in "Tom said 'What?'"
A punctuation mark to indicate that the text is a semi-quote, i.e. a close paraphrase that uses some of the author's original words.
A phrase that is a close paraphrase that uses some of the authors original words. For instance: "A fanatic is someone who will not change his mind or the subject of discussion," according to Winston Churchill.

semi-quote (third-person singular simple present semi-quotes, present participle semi-quoting, simple past and past participle semi-quoted)

To make a close paraphrase of a quotation, using some of its words.
- Instead of magnifying the damnation of those who follow not the truth (as the village understood it), she was content to semi-quote […]2006, Ernest Thompson Seton, Rolf in the Woods
(informal) To modify a quote, adapting it to different circumstances but preserving the intent.
- To semi-quote Shakespeare...

Noun
plural	semi-quotes
alternative form	semiquote
Verb
third-person singular present	semi-quotes
present participle	semi-quoting
past participle	semi-quoted
past	semi-quoted

From semi- + quote.

What does semi-quote mean?: Semi-quote means a single quotation mark, ('). This is often used for a quote within a quote, as in "Tom said 'What?'".
What part of speech is semi-quote?: Semi-quote can be a noun or a verb.
What is the plural of semi-quote?: The plural of semi-quote is semi-quotes.

Adapted from Wiktionary: semi-quote (page history and authors). Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws reformatted the entry and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

Last updated: 2026-09-02

Cite this entry: “semi-quote.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/semi-quote. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.