semantic

adjective

se·​man·​tic si-ˈman-tik How to pronounce semantic (audio)
variants or less commonly semantical
si-ˈman-ti-kəl How to pronounce semantic (audio)
1
: of or relating to meaning in language
2
: of or relating to semantics
semantically
si-ˈman-ti-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce semantic (audio)
adverb

Examples of semantic in a Sentence

the process of semantic development
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In studies of semantic cognition, this is where the left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC) comes in. —Big Think, 23 Oct. 2025 Indoor cameras, outdoor cameras, and video doorbells will utilize AI for semantic scene understanding, enabling more descriptive and specific notifications and making recordings easier to locate. —Andrew Gebhart, PC Magazine, 1 Oct. 2025 This isn't just semantic wordplay. —Bernard Marr, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025 The change is not merely semantic. —Tom Debley, Mercury News, 11 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for semantic

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Greek sēmantikós "(of sounds) conveying meaning, significant, (of a circumstance) indicative," from sēmantós, verbal adjective of sēmaínein "to indicate, point out, signify, make a signal, give a sign, (in middle voice) mark, identify" (verbal derivative from the base of sēmat-, sêma "distinguishing mark, sign, token, signal, omen, tomb" and sēmeîon "marking, sign, token, signal") + -ikos -ic entry 1; sēm- in sêma and sēmeîon of uncertain origin

Note: The base sēm-, Doric sām- has been compared with Sanskrit dhyāma "thought" (attested only in lexica) and dhyā́yati "s/he thinks, contemplates." Greek sêma would then be the outcome of Indo-European *dhi̯eh2-mn̥-. The meanings "sign" and "thought" are too far apart, however, to support such an etymology. The derivative sēmeîon is peculiar in that -mat- is a suffix and would not ordinarily be split apart in order to add another suffix. A comparable formation is mnêma "reminder, record, memorial" and the near-synonymous mnēmeîon, though in this case the ulterior etymology is clear.

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of semantic was in 1890

Rhymes for semantic

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Browse Nearby Words

semanteme
semantic
semantic conception
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Cite this Entry

“Semantic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/semantic. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.

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Kids Definition

semantic

adjective
se·​man·​tic si-ˈmant-ik How to pronounce semantic (audio)
1
: of or relating to meaning in language
2
: of or relating to semantics
semantically
-ˈmant-i-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce semantic (audio)
adverb

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