Semiotics
//ˌsɛm.iˈɑt.ɪks// noun
noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The study of signs and symbols, especially as means of language or communication. uncountable
- 2 (philosophy) a philosophical theory of the functions of signs and symbols wordnet
- 3 The study of medical signs and symptoms; symptomatology. dated, uncountable
Example
More examples"Have you read "Structure and Power - Beyond Semiotics" by Akira Asada?"
Etymology
Coined by John Locke from Ancient Greek σημειωτικός (sēmeiōtikós, “fitted for marking, portending”), from σημειόω (sēmeióō, “to mark, interpret as a portend”), from σημεῖον (sēmeîon, “a mark, sign, token”), from σῆμα (sêma, “mark, sign”).
Related phrases
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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.