Definition of "semantics" [sem•an•tics]

• Linguistics The study or science of meaning in language. (noun)
• Linguistics The study of relationships between signs and symbols and what they represent. Also called semasiology. (noun)
• The meaning or the interpretation of a word, sentence, or other language form: We're basically agreed; let's not quibble over semantics. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Seperating the syntax and the semantics is a good first step to solving that problem."
• "The term is often used in semantics and discourse analysis."
• "Now, formal semantics is closely related to mathematical logic, and you might argue that we're embracing formalization only because of the cultural influence of the foundationas of math crowd."