Semantics
noun /sɪˈmæn.tɪks/ — The study of meaning in language
Definition
The branch of linguistics and logic concerned with meaning — what words and sentences actually mean, how meaning is created, and how it changes with context.
Beyond the definition
The discipline that takes 'but what do you actually mean?' seriously as an intellectual project.
Origin & history
From Greek 'semantikos' (significant, meaningful) — from 'sema' (sign). The study of signs and what they signify.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The argument had become purely about semantics — neither side disagreed about the facts.
Semantics isn't pedantry. Meaning is what everything else depends on.
The semantic shift in how the word was used over two centuries told the whole social history.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Semantics” when the meaning fits your context: The branch of linguistics and logic concerned with meaning — what words and sentences actually mean, how meaning is created, and how it changes with context.
Synonyms
meaning, signification, sense, denotation
Related words
- syntax
- epistemology
- hermeneutics
- semiotics
Questions about this word
What does "Semantics" mean?
Semantics is noun meaning: The study of meaning in language. The branch of linguistics and logic concerned with meaning — what words and sentences actually mean, how meaning is created, and how it changes with context.
Where does the word "Semantics" come from?
From Greek 'semantikos' (significant, meaningful) — from 'sema' (sign). The study of signs and what they signify.