semi

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈse-ˌmī 

also

-mē 

plural semis

: semifinal

—often used in plural

semi

2 of 4

noun (2)

ˈse-ˌmī 

also

-mē 

plural semis

: semitrailer

semi

3 of 4

noun (3)

ˈse-mē 

also

-ˌmī 

plural semis

chiefly British

: a semidetached house

semi-

4 of 4

prefix

ˌse-mē,

-ˌmī,

-mi

1

a

: precisely half of:

(1)

: forming a bisection of

semidiameter

(2)

: being a usually vertically bisected form of (a specified architectural feature)

semidome

b

: half in quantity or value : half of or occurring halfway through a specified period of time

semiannual

semimonthly

compare bi-

2

: to some extent : partly : incompletely

semicivilized

semi-independent

semidry

compare demi-, hemi-

3

a

: partial : incomplete

semiconsciousness

semidarkness

b

: having some of the characteristics of

semiporcelain

c

: quasi-

semigovernmental

semimonastic

Examples of semi in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

England, who had struggled to beat Haiti, and nearly lost to Nigeria on penalties, seemed to reserve their most ruthless level for the semi. —Naaman Zhou, The New Yorker, 19 Aug. 2023

In the top semi, the #1 pair of Anna Leigh Waters & Ben Johns (who have never won Nationals, despite dozens of pro titles together) took out the #4 seeds Riley Newman & Parris Todd in three. —Todd Boss, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023

Kimble and Kissinger had SDSU games in the Final Four last spring, Kimble in the national championship game against UConn, Kissinger the semi against Florida Atlantic. —Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Nov. 2023

Preliminary investigation determined that the driver of the bus rear ended a semi in the right lane. —Staff Report, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2023

The semi had been stopped at a red light on Otay Mesa Road at Cactus Road about 6:30 p.m., police said. —Kristina Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Oct. 2023

The semi pulled over and some Good Samaritans stopped to assist to both the driver of the bus and the semi driver, police said. —Staff Report, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2023

Among his gifts upon retiring from The Republic was a toy semi and a lesson to drive one. —Russ Wiles, The Arizona Republic, 21 Aug. 2023

The Spain-Sweden semi peaked at 3.7 million viewers on Spain’s RTVE’s La 1 channel. —Sean Gregory, Time, 18 Aug. 2023

See More

Word History

Etymology

Noun (3)

short for semidetached

Prefix

Middle English, from Latin; akin to Old High German sāmi- half, Greek hēmi-

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1942, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1942, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

1912, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing semi

• semi-autobiography
• semi-erect
• semi-autobiographical
• semi-antique
• semi-skimmed milk
• semi-private
• semi-independent

• semi-autobiography
• semi-erect
• semi-autobiographical
• semi-antique
• semi-skimmed milk
• semi-private
• semi-independent

See More

Kids Definition

semi-

prefix

ˌsem-i,

ˈsem-,

-ˌī

1

: half in amount or value

semitone

2

: occurring halfway through a certain time period

semiannual

3

: to some extent : partly : incompletely

semitropical

4

: partial : incomplete

semidarkness

Etymology

Prefix

Latin semi- "half"