Language · 3
What is the term for a word having multiple meanings that are related through metaphor?
Answer
Polysemy
Polysemy is a linguistic phenomenon where a single word has multiple meanings that are semantically related through metaphorical or metonymical extension. The word 'bank' exemplifies polysemy—'riverbank' (geographical) and 'financial bank' (institutional) share a conceptual connection through containment. Polysemy differs fundamentally from homonymy, where meanings are completely unrelated and exist merely through coincidental spelling.
💡 Did you know?
Polysemy is more common than homonymy; most words with multiple meanings are polysemous, not homonymous.
Other options people guess
- Homonymy
- Synonymy
- Metonymy
Topics
- semantics
- word meaning
- linguistics
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