the branch of linguistics that deals with the study of meaning, changes in meaning, and the principles that govern the relationship between sentences or words and their meanings
the study of the relationships between signs and symbols and what they represent
logic
the study of interpretations of a formal theory
the study of the relationship between the structure of a theory and its subject matter
(of a formal theory) the principles that determine the truth or falsehood of sentences within the theory, and the references of its terms
"science of meaning in language," 1893, from French sémantique (1883); see semantic (also see -ics). Replaced semasiology (1847), from German Semasiologie (1829), from Greek semasia "signification, meaning."
The scientific or philosophical study of the relations of words and their meanings.
Note
Semantics is commonly used to refer to a trivial point or distinction that revolves around mere words rather than significant issues: “To argue whether the medication killed the patient or contributed to her death is to argue over semantics.”
