Definition

A word, phrase, number, or sequence that reads the same forwards and backwards, ignoring spaces, punctuation, and capitalization. The term applies to any level of linguistic or numerical structure.

Example Usage

The phrase 'A man, a plan, a canal: Panama' is a famous palindrome.

Origin

From Greek palin (again, back) + dromos (running, direction), literally 'running back'.

Fun Fact

The longest known English palindromic phrase is 'Able was I ere I saw Elba,' allegedly about Napoleon's exile on the island of Elba.

Source: Definition backfill (hailey)

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