semiotic

American  

[see-mee-ot-ik, sem-ee, see-mahy-] / ˌsi miˈɒt ɪk, ˌsɛm i, ˌsi maɪ- /

adjective

1. of or relating to signs.

2. of or relating to semiotics.

3. Medicine/Medical. of or relating to symptoms; symptomatic.

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noun

1. semiotics.

semiotic British  

/ ˌsiːmɪ-, ˌsɛmɪˈɒtɪk /

adjective

1. relating to signs and symbols, esp spoken or written signs

2. relating to semiotics

3. of, relating to, or resembling the symptoms of disease; symptomatic

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Etymology

Origin of semiotic

First recorded in 1615–20; from Greek sēmeiōtikós “observant of (medical) signs, significant,” equivalent to sēmeiō-, verbal stem of sēmeioûn “to interpret as a sign” (derivative of Greek sēmeîon “sign”) + -tikos adjective suffix; cf. semantic ( def. ), -ic ( def. )

Explanation

Use the adjective semiotic to describe something that has to do with the study of symbols. You're most likely to come across the word semiotic in a college linguistics class. The study of signs, analogies, metaphors, symbolism — and the way they're used in language to aid communication — is called semiotics. Anything having to do with this field is semiotic. The Greek word semeiotikos means "observant of signs," and its root is sema, or "sign."

Example Sentences

It’s not trivializing this summit or missing the point, I would argue, to understand it as first and foremost a semiotic spectacle, conducted through language, symbols and signifiers.

From Salon • May 17, 2026

“I feel like having a direct line to the senses from a marketing standpoint is so important because it’s a nonverbal, it’s a semiotic vehicle,” Loranger said.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 21, 2023

The semiotic landscape of consumer society urges us to pretend that gigs are art forms, when in fact they’re just jobs that sap your creativity.

From New York Times • Mar. 8, 2023

Virtually all works of art are created within a web of context, allusion and semiotic interconnection.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 13, 2021

But essentially only those external manifestations can be considered that refer back to definite psychical conditions, so that our phenomenology may be defined as the semiotic of normal psychology.

From Criminal Psychology; a manual for judges, practitioners, and students by Gross, Hans Gustav Adolf