polysemy
puh-LISS-uh-mee
/pəˈlɪsɪmi/
The coexistence of many possible meanings for a word or phrase.
A technical term in linguistics. It differs from 'homonymy' because the multiple meanings are usually related (e.g., 'crane' as a bird and 'crane' as a machine).
The story behind the word. From Greek 'poly-' and 'sema' (sign). The root 'sem' is also found in 'semantics' (the study of meaning).
Word relationships
- ambiguity: Ambiguity is often accidental or confusing; polysemy is a natural feature of how words evolve multiple related meanings.
- monosemy: The state of a word having only one meaning.
Commonly confused with
- homonymy: In homonymy, the words sound the same but have unrelated origins (like 'bat' the animal and 'bat' the sports equipment). In polysemy, the meanings are related.
Word family
- polysemous (adjective): Having multiple meanings.
Collocations
- lexical polysemy
- inherent polysemy
- rich polysemy
Example sentences
- "The word 'bank' is a classic example of polysemy, as it can refer to a financial institution or the side of a river." Linguistics textbook.
- "Poetry often relies on polysemy to create layers of meaning within a single line." Literary analysis.
Memory hook
Poly (many) + Semantics (meanings). Many meanings.
When not to use
Too technical for casual conversation; use 'multiple meanings' instead.
Fun facts
- The word 'set' is one of the most polysemous words in English, with over 400 distinct meanings listed in the OED.
Related words
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