Polysemy - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
Polysemy refers to the phenomenon where a single word has multiple related meanings. For example, 'bank' can mean the side of a river or a financial institution. It is common in language.
Definition:
The coexistence of multiple meanings for a single word or phrase.
Synonyms:
ambiguity, multiplicity of meaning, multivalence
Part of Speech:
noun
Antonyms:
monosemy, univocality
Common Collocations:
lexical polysemy, semantic polysemy, polysemous words
Derivatives:
polysemous, polysemantic
Usage Tips:
Use "polysemy" when discussing words with multiple related meanings in linguistics or semantics.
Common Phrases:
"bank" (river vs. financial), "light" (illumination vs. weight), "head" (body part vs. leader)
Etymology:
From Greek "poly-" (many) + "-sema" (sign), meaning "many signs."
Examples:
- 1. The word "bank" is a classic example of polysemy due to its different meanings.
- 2. Polysemy enriches language by allowing words to convey multiple related ideas.
- 3. Linguists study polysemy to understand how context influences word interpretation.
- 4. "Run" demonstrates polysemy with meanings like moving quickly and managing an operation.