'Semantics' definitions:

Definition of 'semantics'

(from WordNet)
noun
The study of language meaning
noun
The meaning of a word, phrase, sentence, or text; "a petty argument about semantics"

Definition of 'Semantics'

From: GCIDE
  • Semantics \Sem*an"tics\, n. sing. or pl. [Gr. shmantikos having meaning, from sh^ma a sign.]
  • 1. the study of the meanings of words and of the sense development of words; -- formerly called semasiology. [PJC]
  • 2. a doctrine and philosophical approach to language and its relationship to thought and behavior, developed by Alfred Korzybski (1879-1950), which holds that the capacity to express ideas and thereby improve one's interaction with others and one's environment is enhanced by training in the more critical use of words and other symbols; -- also called {general semantics}. [PJC]
  • 3. the meanings of words as they are used to achieve an effect; especially, the multiple meanings of words or the multiplicity of words having the same meaning; -- used in referring to the confusion that can be caused (intentionally or unintentionally) by multiple meanings; as, there's no real difference, it's only a matter of semantics. [PJC]

Definition of 'semantics'

From: GCIDE
  • Semasiology \Se*ma`si*ol"o*gy\, n. [Gr. shmasi`a signification + -logy.] (Philol.) The science of meanings or sense development (of words); the explanation of the development and changes of the meanings of words; -- more commonly referred to as semantics. -- {Se*ma`si*o*log"ic*al}, a. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

Definition of 'semantics'

From: GCIDE
  • General semantics \Gen"er*al sem*an"tics\, n. (1933) a doctrine and philosophical approach to language and its relationship to thought and behavior, developed by Alfred Korzybski (1879-1950), which holds that the capacity to express ideas and thereby improve one's interaction with others and one's environment is enhanced by training in the more critical use of words and other symbols; -- sometimes also called semantics.
  • Note: More information can be found on the web site of the [a HREF="http:]/www.general-semantics.org/">Institute of General Semantics. [PJC]
  • General Semantics is the study of the relations between language, "thought", and behavior: between how we talk, therefore how we think, therefore how we act. --George Doris

Synonyms of 'semantics'

From: Moby Thesaurus