Dictionary
semiotics
noun se·mi·ot·ics \-ˈä-tiks\
: the study of signs and symbols and how they are used
plural semiotics
Full Definition of SEMIOTICS
: a general philosophical theory of signs and symbols that deals especially with their function in both artificially constructed and natural languages and comprises syntactics, semantics, and pragmatics
— semiotic adjective
— se·mi·o·ti·cian \-ə-ˈti-shən\ noun
— se·mi·ot·i·cist \-ˈä-tə-sist\ noun
See semiotics defined for English-language learners
Variants of SEMIOTICS
se·mi·ot·ics or se·mi·ot·ic \-tik\
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Origin of SEMIOTICS
Greek sēmeiōtikos observant of signs, from sēmeiousthai to interpret signs, from sēmeion sign, from sēma sign
First Known Use: 1880
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