signification

noun sig·ni·fi·ca·tion \ ˌsig-nə-fə-ˈkā-shən \

Definition of signification

1 a : the act or process of signifying by signs or other symbolic means

b : a formal notification

2 : purport; especially : the meaning that a term, symbol, or character regularly conveys or is intended to convey

3 chiefly dialectal : importance, consequence

See signification defined for kids

Examples of signification in a Sentence

we should assume that the author is using the word in its ordinary signification

Recent Examples of signification from the Web

Without getting too far into semiotics here, some of the most used emoji are prolifically traded not for their literal representations but for their cultural significations.

— Vogue, "These Are the Top 9 New Emoji You'll Need for 2018," 8 Feb. 2018
Some of the types of ads the group opposes include ones that automatically play video with sound, animated ads, and ones that expand to cover a signification portion of the screen.

— jonathan vanian, Fortune, "Google Chrome to Start Blocking Annoying Ads in February," 19 Dec. 2017
After all, so many of them, including Egypt, have signification oil reserves.

— dino grandoni, Washington Post, "The Energy 202: Carbon capture could also benefit from Trump outreach to Democrats," 14 Sep. 2017
Other pieces from the Conversions series saw Acconci burn the hair off his body using a candle or mold his chest into breasts, playing at the margins of gender signification.

— kriston capps, The Atlantic, "Vito Acconci and the Shelf Life of Sensational Art," 3 May 2017
Like the onset of holiday shopping, our presidential election season seems to arrive earlier—with more sound and fury and less signification—every cycle.

— scott dadich, WIRED, "These Days, All Politics Is Technological," 26 May 2015

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'signification.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.