semantics
nounUK /sɪˈmæntɪks/
US /sɪˈmæntɪks/
The study of what words and sentences mean.
In her linguistics class, she learned about semantics and how the meaning of words can change over time.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. The meaning of a word, phrase, or text, especially when it is being debated or questioned.
The argument was really about the semantics of the contract, not the actual work involved.
3. The branch of logic that deals with the relations between signs and what they refer to.
Formal semantics helps computer scientists define what a programming language's expressions actually mean.
4. The way in which something is understood or interpreted by a particular group or in a particular context.
The semantics of the company's new policy were clear to managers but confusing to new employees.