semantics

[ si-man-tiks ]

noun

, (used with a singular verb)

1. Linguistics.
   1. the study of meaning.
   2. the study of linguistic development by classifying and examining changes in meaning and form.
2. Also called significs. the branch of semiotics dealing with the relations between signs and what they denote.
3. the meaning, or an interpretation of the meaning, of a word, sign, sentence, etc.:

   Let's not argue about semantics.

4. general semantics.

semantics

/ sɪˈmæntɪks /

noun

1. the branch of linguistics that deals with the study of meaning, changes in meaning, and the principles that govern the relationship between sentences or words and their meanings
2. the study of the relationships between signs and symbols and what they represent
3. logic
   1. the study of interpretations of a formal theory
   2. the study of the relationship between the structure of a theory and its subject matter
   3. (of a formal theory) the principles that determine the truth or falsehood of sentences within the theory, and the references of its terms

semantics

1. The scientific or philosophical study of the relations of words and their meanings.

Notes

Semantics is commonly used to refer to a trivial point or distinction that revolves around mere words rather than significant issues: “To argue whether the medication killed the patient or contributed to her death is to argue over semantics.”

Derived Forms

• seˈmanticist, noun

Other Words From

• se·man·ti·cist [si-, man, -t, uh, -sist], se·man·ti·cian [see-man-, tish, -, uh, n], noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of semantics¹

First recorded in 1895–1900; semantic, -ics

Example Sentences

How important are the semantics when it comes to talking about Hitler?

From The Daily Beast

To those who see all sex work falling under the same illicit umbrella, this is mere semantics.

From The Daily Beast

Her disassociation with the feminist label and its negative connotations just boils down to semantics.

From The Daily Beast

But the wiser voices in the movement know that, now, they face much graver problems than semantics.

From The Daily Beast

Washington has a serious tendency to exalt semantics over common sense.

From The Daily Beast

"Remember semantics," I murmured to him, as I pulled out Sara's chair for her.

From Project Gutenberg

He could express it in the semantics of spiritism, or he could admit to witchcraft and sorcery.

From Project Gutenberg

There was already the psychology of Freud and his successors, of course, which gave the first real notion of human semantics.

From Project Gutenberg

We were walking over toward the elevator during this conversation and as far as blowing up, this is semantics.

From Project Gutenberg

He prefers to call himself a Marxist, but there you get into the field of semantics.

From Project Gutenberg