monosemy: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Academic / Technical
Quick answer
What does “monosemy” mean?
The state of a word or lexeme having only a single meaning.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The state of a word or lexeme having only a single meaning.
In linguistics and semiotics, the property of a symbol, sign, or word being univocal, lacking polysemy (multiple related meanings) and homonymy (unrelated identical forms). It describes lexical items with a one-to-one relationship between form and meaning.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. It is a technical term used identically in both varieties.
Connotations
Neutral, technical term. No difference in connotation.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both varieties, restricted to academic linguistic discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “monosemy” in a Sentence
the monosemy of [NOUN PHRASE][NOUN PHRASE] exhibits monosemyargue for/against the monosemy ofVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “monosemy” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Linguists rarely attempt to monosemise a word.
- The model aims to monosemise the lexeme.
American English
- The framework seeks to monosemize the term.
- You cannot easily monosemize natural language words.
adverb
British English
- The term is used almost monosemously in that field.
- He argued monosemously for a single sense.
American English
- The symbol functions monosemously within the code.
- The data was labeled monosemously for consistency.
adjective
British English
- The monosemous interpretation is often too simplistic.
- A truly monosemous word is rare in practice.
American English
- They proposed a monosemous analysis of the preposition.
- The search was for a monosemous core meaning.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Core usage. Found in linguistics, semantics, philosophy of language, and lexicography papers and discussions.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
The primary context. Used to describe lexical properties in computational linguistics, dictionary writing, and semantic theory.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “monosemy”
- Pronouncing the 's' as /z/ (it's /s/).
- Misspelling as 'monosemey' or 'monosemyy'.
- Using it to refer to sentence-level ambiguity.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Most common words are polysemous (have multiple related meanings). Monosemy is more typical of very recent technical or scientific terms.
Polysemy, which is the state of a word having multiple, related meanings (e.g., 'bank' for a financial institution and a river's edge).
No. Monosemy refers to having one meaning. A monosemous word can still have synonyms (other words sharing that single meaning).
Typically, no. Monosemy implies a lack of lexical ambiguity. However, a monosemous word could be part of a structurally ambiguous sentence.
The state of a word or lexeme having only a single meaning.
Monosemy is usually academic / technical in register.
Monosemy: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmɒnə(ʊ)ˌsiːmi/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmɑːnəˌsiːmi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None. The word is a technical term.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of MONO (one) + SEMY (meaning) = ONE MEANING.
Conceptual Metaphor
CLARITY IS SINGULARITY (A clear word has one meaning).
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'monosemy' MOST likely to be used?