colexification

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noun

The linguistic pattern whereby multiple meanings can be expressed by the same word (or a pair of homonymous words).

Opposite
dislexificationdifferentiation
Scrabble 28
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Meanings

nouncolexification (countable and uncountable, plural colexifications)

plural colexifications

  1. countableuncountablehuman sciencesThe linguistic pattern whereby multiple meanings can be expressed by the same word (or a pair of homonymous words).

    Languages may be compared in their patterns of colexification – that is, their ability to encode two distinct senses using the same lexeme.

    2022 June 9, Alexandre François, “Lexical tectonics: Mapping structural change in patterns of lexification”, in Zeitschrift für Sprachwissenschaft, page 95

    Antonyms: dislexification, differentiation

Synonyms & antonyms

nounThe linguistic pattern whereby multiple meanings can be expressed by the same word (or a pair of homonymous words).

Opposite
dislexificationdifferentiation

Origin

By surface analysis, co- + lexi- + -ification.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

colexification. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/colexification

MLA

“colexification.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/colexification. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “colexification,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/colexification.

Source: colexification on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.