Definition & Meaning of "anaphora"

What is "anaphora"?

Anaphora is a linguistic term that refers to the use of a word or phrase that refers back to a previous word or phrase in a sentence or discourse. This is often seen with pronouns that link to their antecedents, which are the nouns they replace or refer to. For example, in the sentence "Maria lost her keys. She cannot find them," "She" is an anaphoric reference to "Maria," and "them" refers back to "keys." Anaphora helps avoid repetition and makes sentences more fluid by allowing speakers and writers to refer to previously mentioned information without restating it. It is an important feature in both spoken and written language, contributing to coherence and clarity.