noun
semantics
sih-MAN-tiks/sɪˈmæntɪks/
The meaning expressed by language.
The opposite door actions illustrate the semantics of push and pull.
Etymology
The verb “to signify” connects semantics with what expressions indicate. The ending names a field of study; in this sense, the focus is on the meanings themselves rather than their study.
In context
I find it often annoying whenever someone says you're just doing semantics especially in a conversation where you disagree on the meaning of a word
More examples
- Changing 'must' to 'may' changes the semantics of the rule.
- The two sentences have different wording but the same semantics.
- This is more than semantics; the new policy changes our rights.
Forms
semantic adjective — Relating to the meaning of language.