content word

noun

1. a word, typically a noun, verb, adjective, or adverb, that carries semantic content, bearing reference to the world independently of its use within a particular sentence ( function word ).

content word

/ ˈkɒntɛnt /

noun

1. a word to which an independent meaning can be given by reference to a world outside any sentence in which the word may occur Compare function word lexical meaning

Word History and Origins

Origin of content word¹

First recorded in 1935–40