sememe: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowAcademic / Technical
Quick answer
What does “sememe” mean?
The smallest unit of meaning in language.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The smallest unit of meaning in language; a single meaning element.
In structural linguistics and semantics, a minimal semantic unit that contributes to the meaning of a word or morpheme. In computational linguistics, it can refer to an atomic concept used in semantic networks or knowledge representation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage or spelling. The term is used identically in both varieties within academic linguistics.
Connotations
Purely technical, with no cultural or stylistic connotations.
Frequency
Extremely rare outside of technical linguistics papers, textbooks, and discussions. Frequency is equally negligible in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “sememe” in a Sentence
The sememe [VERB] ...A sememe of [NOUN]The concept of the sememeVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sememe” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The analysis aims to sememise the lexical entries.
American English
- We need to sememize the vocabulary for the parser.
adverb
British English
- The word was analysed sememically.
American English
- They approached the problem sememically.
adjective
British English
- The sememic analysis revealed underlying structures.
American English
- A sememic breakdown of the verb was proposed.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used exclusively in linguistics and semantic theory to discuss the decomposition of word meanings.
Everyday
Never used.
Technical
Core term in certain branches of computational linguistics and semantic analysis.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sememe”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “sememe”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sememe”
- Misspelling as 'semine' or 'semem'.
- Confusing it with 'morpheme' (a form unit) or 'lexeme' (a word unit).
- Using it in non-linguistic contexts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an extremely rare technical term used almost exclusively in academic linguistics.
A morpheme is the smallest grammatical unit of form (e.g., 'un-', 'happy', '-ness'), while a sememe is the smallest unit of meaning.
In the word 'unhappiness', one might analyze 'un-' as carrying the sememe of NEGATION, 'happy' as PLEASURE/JOY, and '-ness' as the STATE/QUALITY OF.
Absolutely not. It is only relevant for advanced students of linguistics or computational semantics.
The smallest unit of meaning in language.
Sememe is usually academic / technical in register.
Sememe: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsiːmiːm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsɛmiːm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'SEMantic EMErgence' – the smallest meaning that emerges.
Conceptual Metaphor
BUILDING BLOCK OF MEANING (A sememe is a fundamental brick in the construction of a word's sense.)
Practice
Quiz
What field primarily uses the term 'sememe'?