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“Canvas” or “Canvass”

canvas / canvass are similar-sounding terms with different meanings (referred to as homophones). To better understand the differences, see below for definitions, pronunciation guides, and example sentences using each term.

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Definitions

What each term means

Same sound, different spellings and meanings, shown with a pronunciation guide for each term.

canvas k·AE·n·v·ah·s

  • nouna heavy, closely woven fabric (used for clothing or chairs or sails or tents).
  • nounan oil painting on canvas fabric.
  • nounthe setting for a narrative or fictional or dramatic account.
  • nounthe mat that forms the floor of the ring in which boxers or professional wrestlers compete.
  • verbcover with canvas.

canvass k·AE·n·v·ah·s

  • verbsolicit votes from potential voters in an electoral campaign.
  • verbsolicit votes from potential voters in an electoral campaign.
Usage

Examples in context

Real sentences for each spelling. Hover an example to copy it.

“canvas”

  • …what he has put on canvas can teach you about our
  • …Melbourne, L'Estrange erected a large canvas enclosure in The Domain and…
  • …the paint remain on the canvas and look at it and…
  • …and his paintings (acrylic on canvas, paper or twill fabric) are…
  • …technique, executed on a large canvas.
  • Black Canvas Still Life (March 14, 1977)
  • …"throw[ing] paint haphazardly" at the canvas, and then responding to "imagery…
  • …paints primarily with acrylics on canvas, twill fabric, or paper.
  • …Woman is an oil on canvas portrait of an unknown woman,…
  • DeMartine, then president of the Canvas Goods Association, had at that…

“canvass”

  • Canvass White died in 1834, before…
  • Canvass White, an engineer and inventor,…
  • …are afoot to widen the canvass of services to other cities…
  • …registered voters before he would canvass for the nominations from the…
  • …Hugh White, the brother of Canvass (who had assumed construction supervisory…
  • Canvass White turned over operation of…

Examples are Wikipedia snippets under the CC ShareAlike 3.0 license. Definitions are drawn from WordNet.

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