po·ly·se·my
ˈpälēˌsēmē 
-lə̇ˌ-;
pəˈlisəm-
plural -es
: multiplicity of meaning
English is less exposed to polysemy than French—
Stephen Ullmann
Stephen UllmannExamples of polysemous in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Tiare-Leiana Solis-Ridgell, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Mar. 2026
The wheel is now an omnipresent and polysemous symbol of not only New Age interpretations of Native religions but also pan-Indian ideology.
—Sierra Crane Murdoch, Harper's Magazine, 3 May 2023
Rounding out the top 10 most polysemous words — each but a single syllable — are, alphabetically, cast, cut, draw, point, serve, strike, and through.
—Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 June 2022
In one of the more extreme polysemous developments, a word can take on an opposite meaning, as dust (v.) can mean to clean up small particles (dust the furniture) or to apply small particles (dust the Bundt cake with powdered sugar).
—John E. McIntyre, baltimoresun.com, 3 July 2017
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Adjective
Like many words in the Hawaiian language, its meaning is polysemous.
—Tiare-Leiana Solis-Ridgell, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Mar. 2026
The wheel is now an omnipresent and polysemous symbol of not only New Age interpretations of Native religions but also pan-Indian ideology.
—Sierra Crane Murdoch, Harper's Magazine, 3 May 2023
Rounding out the top 10 most polysemous words — each but a single syllable — are, alphabetically, cast, cut, draw, point, serve, strike, and through.
—Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 June 2022
In one of the more extreme polysemous developments, a word can take on an opposite meaning, as dust (v.) can mean to clean up small particles (dust the furniture) or to apply small particles (dust the Bundt cake with powdered sugar).
—John E. McIntyre, baltimoresun.com, 3 July 2017
Cite this Entry
“Polysemous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/polysemous. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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