Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

semanticize

transitive verb
se·​man·​ti·​cize | \-ˌsīz\
-ed/-ing/-s

Definition of semanticize 

1 : to give a meaning to

2 : to subject to semantic analysis semanticize this difference between knowledge by poetry and knowledge by abstraction out of existence— Archibald MacLeish

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

First Known Use of semanticize

1921, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for semanticize

semantic entry 1 + -ize

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about semanticize

Share semanticize

Statistics for semanticize

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for semanticize

The first known use of semanticize was in 1921

See more words from the same year

Comments on semanticize

What made you want to look up semanticize? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

vitiate

to make faulty or ineffective

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Find the Cousins

  • a-large-tree-with-many-branches
  • Which pair shares a common word ancestor?
Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games