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''semiotics'' ▫ᴱᴺ｜Definition｜1st｜20260331180822-00-⌔
semiotics - Wiktionary, the free dictionary
English
Noun
semiotics (uncountable)
- The study of signs and symbols, especially as means of language or communication.
- ✤ Holonym: social science
- (dated) The study of medical signs and symptoms; symptomatology.
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”).
Pronunciation
- (UK) IPA: /ˌsɛm.iˈɒt.ɪks/
- Audio (Southern England): 🔊
- (US) IPA: /ˌsɛm.iˈɑt.ɪks/, /ˌsiː.miˈɑt.ɪks/, /ˌsiː.maɪˈɑt.ɪks/
Printed 2026-06-28.
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