Semantics is the branch of linguistics that deals with the meanings of words and sentences.
semantics in British English
(sɪˈmæntɪks)
noun(functioning as singular)
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
a.
the study of interpretations of a formal theory
b.
the study of the relationship between the structure of a theory and its subject matter
c.
(of a formal theory) the principles that determine the truth or falsehood of sentences within the theory, and the references of its terms
Derived forms
semanticist (seˈmanticist)
noun
semantics in American English
(səˈmæntɪks)
noun
1.
the branch of linguistics concerned with the nature, the structure, and the development and changes of the meanings of speech forms, or with contextual meaning
2.
a.
semiotics
b.
the branch of semiotics dealing with relationships of signs and symbols to the things to which they refer, or with referential meaning
3.
the relationships between signs and symbols and the concepts, feelings, etc. associated with them in the minds of their interpreters; notional meaning
4. Loosely
deliberate distortion or twisting of meaning, as in some types of advertising, propaganda, etc.
Word origin
< semantic, based on Fr sémantique
Examples of 'semantics' in a sentence
semantics
Was it merely a question of semantics, or did it depend on different traditions, climates, ecologies, religions, politics or what?
Hocke, Martin THE ANCIENT AND SOLITARY REIGN (2001)
And semantics aside, the defendant isn't sorry that he killed Angelo Coluzzi.
Lisa Scottoline THE VENDETTA DEFENCE (2001)
In other languages
semantics
British English: semantics NOUN
Semantics is the branch of linguistics that deals with the meanings of words and sentences.