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“Peer” or “Pier”

peer / pier 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.

peer p·IH·r

  • nouna person who is of equal standing with another in a group.
  • nouna nobleman (duke or marquis or earl or viscount or baron) who is a member of the British peerage.
  • verblook searchingly.

pier p·IH·r

  • nouna platform built out from the shore into the water and supported by piles; provides access to ships and boats.
  • noun(architecture) a vertical supporting structure (as a portion of wall between two doors or windows).
  • nouna support for two adjacent bridge spans.
Usage

Examples in context

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

“peer”

  • …of Lords as a life peer for over 30 years from…
  • …was introduced by Liberal Democrat peer Tim Clement-Jones and was passed…
  • …Earl of Northampton (1664–1727), British peer
  • …Heseltine, Haymarket chairman and Conservative peer;
  • Samir Desai – Peer to Peer and Financial Inclusion
  • …1997, and then a life peer in the House of Lords.
  • …by an in-house team, although peer review by external expert referees…
  • …editorial policy and via the peer review process.
  • …– 1744) was an English peer who held office in the…
  • …Earl of Northampton (1692–1758), British peer and Member of Parliament

“pier”

  • …groups of friends on the pier, who sent him off with…
  • Pak Meng Beach also has pier, where visitors can rent boats…
  • …only thing left was the pier.
  • …land was an attempt of Pier Carlo Masini and Cervetto to…
  • …Cornwallis area, nearby the Kedah Pier Muneeswarar Temple in the Esplanade.
  • Pier Ausonio Bianco – Francesco Cheratzu,…
  • …beach near the Tybee Island pier.
  • …that was attached to the pier at one end and was…
  • …ship terminal on B Street Pier.
  • …oversaw the re-painting of the pier and the construction of the…

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

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