ENGLISH
REFERENCE

semantic

adj.
C1 Advanced US //sɪˈmæntɪk// UK //səmˈæntɪk// se·man·tic Slang

adj. relating to the meaning of words and how we understand them. You use this when talking about the difference between what someone says and what they actually mean.

adj. relating to meaning in language or logic. Often used to distinguish between the literal structure of a sentence and its underlying conceptual significance.


SIMPLE

The two politicians had a semantic argument over the word 'freedom'.

CONTEXTUAL

In computer science, a semantic error occurs when the code is written correctly but produces an unintended result.

COMPLEX

While the syntactic structure of the poem was simple, its semantic depth required multiple readings to fully grasp the author's intent.

Origin

Borrowed from Ancient Greek σημαντικός (sēmantikós). Compare French sémantique.

Usage

Typically used attributively before a noun; frequently pairs with 'meaning', 'difference', or 'argument'.

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