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Dictionary entry

ligature

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A single character that joins two or three letters into one connected shape, most often to stop them from colliding, as in the combined 'fi' or 'fl'. It smooths awkward overlaps.

Synonyms

None recorded.

Related terms

In plain words

  • when two letters get joined together
  • letters that merge into one shape

Usage example

In a fine serif, the f and i fuse into a single ligature so the dot doesn't clash with the f's hook.

Categories

  • Typography

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Focus term

Directly related

Two hops away

  • Relatedligature related of glyph
  • Relatedligature related of kerning
  • Relatedligature related of typeface
  • Relatedtypeface related of font
  • Relatedkerning related of leading
  • Relatedglyph related of ligature
  • Relatedtypeface related of sans serif
  • Relatedtypeface related of serif
  • Relatedkerning related of tracking
  • Relatedkerning related of typeface
  • Relatedglyph related of typeface
  • Relatedtypeface related of type family
  • Synonymtypeface synonym of type family

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