Given a paradigm P which consists of values V1 ... Vn of a set of morphological categories; Vi and Vj are syncretic, and there is syncretism in P (between Vi and Vj), iff Vi and Vj are expressed by the same morph. Syncretism is also the diachronic process leading to syncretism in this sense, i.e. the merger of two values of a paradigm. Vi and Vj may be homonymous, as are the endings of the nominative and genitive singular in Latin turris ‘tower’; or the morph in question may be polysemous, as is the nominative and accusative singular ending in Latin castrum ‘fort’.