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Linguistics & Grammar vocabulary · Semantics and Pragmatics

Synonym

Meaning in linguistics & grammar, with examples

/ˈsɪnənɪm/nounCore term

In linguistics & grammar, synonym means: A word or phrase that means the same or nearly the same as another one in at least some contexts, such as big and large, or start and begin.

In Turkish: eşanlamlı sözcük, anlamdaş

How it is used

Linguists point out that perfect synonyms are very rare: words differ in register, collocation or connotation (begin sounds more formal than start). Teachers use synonyms for paraphrasing in writing tasks and exams.

Example sentences

  1. 'Large' is a synonym of 'big', but we say 'a big mistake', not usually 'a large mistake'.

  2. Use a dictionary of synonyms so you don't repeat 'important' five times in one paragraph.

Common collocations

  • close synonym
  • near synonym
  • synonym for
  • synonymous with
  • antonymA word that means the opposite of another word, such as hot and cold, buy and sell, or alive and dead.
  • connotationThe feelings, attitudes or associations a word carries beyond its basic meaning, such as the positive feel of 'slim' compared with 'skinny'.
  • polysemyThe situation in which one word has several related meanings, such as 'head' meaning a part of the body, the leader of a group or the top of a page.
  • semanticsThe study of meaning in language: what words, phrases and sentences mean, and how their meanings relate to each other and to the world.
  • registerA variety of language used for a particular situation or purpose, from formal to informal, such as academic writing, legal language or chatting with friends.

More terms: Semantics and Pragmatics

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