pragmatics
Americannoun
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Logic, Philosophy. the branch of semiotics dealing with the causal and other relations between words, expressions, or symbols and their users.
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Linguistics. the analysis of language in terms of the situational context within which utterances are made, including the knowledge and beliefs of the speaker and the relation between speaker and listener.
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practical considerations.
noun
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the study of those aspects of language that cannot be considered in isolation from its use
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the study of the relation between symbols and those who use them
Etymology
Origin of pragmatics
Explanation
Pragmatics is the study of how language is used in everyday interaction. It's part of linguistics, which is the scientific study of language. Pragmatics is the branch of linguistics that analyzes how people really use language. It goes beyond just looking at words — pragmatics is about how words are used in different situations. If you're a linguist studying pragmatics, you're going to need to hear real conversations between people. How people think they use language and how they actually use it aren't quite the same, and pragmatics is about looking at the reality of language use.
Vocabulary lists containing pragmatics
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“I want an architecture that derives from the pragmatics of the structure,” he says.
From Slate • Aug. 21, 2023
So it’s everything from the sociology, the etiquette, or what linguists call the pragmatics of it, to literally how to operate the system and set policies.
From The Verge • May 26, 2020
The voters value executives focused on the pragmatics of delivering the services they want within a budget.
From Seattle Times • Sep. 18, 2018
Sankaram’s doctoral interest in semiotics and pragmatics influences her compositional practices.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 14, 2017
The only meaningful pragmatics derives from practical experiences that acknowledge differences instead of trying to erase them.
From The Civilization of Illiteracy by Nadin, Mihai
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
