semantic

adjective

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

Examples of semantic in a Sentence

the process of semantic development
Recent Examples on the Web The research, published recently in the journal Nutrients, found a link between egg consumption and better semantic memory and executive functioning in women. Christina Manian, Health, 11 Sep. 2024 In this case, although the answers all used different vocabulary, their meanings were roughly similar—earning them a low semantic entropy score, which indicates the model’s response is likely to be reliable. Bypakinam Amer, science.org, 19 June 2024 Open-source deepfake detection solutions utilize various methods, such as analyzing texture and semantic features against extensive image datasets, focusing on anomalies in different regions of an image, employing multi-modal approaches to examine image layers, and recognizing fraud patterns. Andrew Sever, Forbes, 11 Sep. 2024 This is a term that refers to a word’s actual form—its appearance on page or screen, its sound to the ear, its feel on the tongue—as opposed to its semantic meaning. Matthew Kirschenbaum, The Atlantic, 16 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for semantic 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'semantic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near semantic

Cite this Entry

“Semantic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/semantic. Accessed 13 Oct. 2024.

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 adverb

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