polysemy

[ puh-lis-uh-mee, pol-ee-see-mee ]
See synonyms for: polysemypolysemous on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. a condition in which a single word, phrase, or concept has more than one meaning or connotation.

Origin of polysemy

1
First recorded in 1895–1900; from New Latin polysēmia, equivalent to Late Latin polysēm(us) “with many significations” (from Greek polýsēmos, equivalent to poly- “many” + sêm(a) “sign” + -os adjective suffix) + -ia noun suffix; see poly-, -y3

Other words from polysemy

  • pol·y·se·mous, adjective

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British Dictionary definitions for polysemy

polysemy

/ (ˌpɒlɪˈsiːmɪ, pəˈlɪsəmɪ) /


noun
  1. the existence of several meanings in a single word: Compare monosemy

Origin of polysemy

1
C20: from New Latin polysēmia, from Greek polusēmos having many meanings, from poly- + sēma a sign

Derived forms of polysemy

  • polysemous, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012