polyseme

P3O1L1Y4S1E1M3E1
UK/ˈpɒ.lɪ.siːm/

noun

One whose multiple meanings are etymologically related.

Similar
homonym
Opposite
monoseme
OriginEnglish seme ← Ancient Greek πολῠ́ς (polŭ́s) ← Proto-Indo-European *polh₁ús →
Scrabble 15
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Meanings

nounpolyseme (plural polysemes)

plural polysemes

  1. A word or phrase that has multiple meanings.
    1. especiallyhuman sciencesOne whose multiple meanings are etymologically related.

      Antonyms: monoseme

    2. sometimeshuman sciencesOne whose multiple meanings either are or aren't etymologically related.

      Synonyms: homonym · Antonyms: monoseme

adjective
  1. human sciencesHaving multiple meanings.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounOne whose multiple meanings are etymologically related.

Opposite
monoseme

nounOne whose multiple meanings either are or aren't etymologically related.

Similar
homonym
Opposite
monoseme
Opposite
monoseme

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*pleh₁-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*polh₁ús
  3. Ancient Greekπολῠ́ς (polŭ́s)
  4. Englishpoly-
  5. Englishseme
  6. Englishpolyseme

From poly- + seme.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

German Polysem
  • Polysemword/phrase with multiple meanings
Japanese 多義語
  • 多義語 (tagigo)word/phrase with multiple meanings
Polish polisem
  • polisemword/phrase with multiple meanings
Portuguese polissema
  • polissemaword/phrase with multiple meanings
Spanish polisemia, polisémico
  • polisemiaword/phrase with multiple meanings
  • polisémicoword/phrase with multiple meanings
Cite this entry
APA

polyseme. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/polyseme

MLA

“polyseme.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/polyseme. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “polyseme,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/polyseme.

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