polysemic

P3O1L1Y4S1E1M3I1C3
UK/pəˈlɪs.ɪ.mɪk/US/pɒ.lɪˈsiː.mɪk/

adjective

Having a number of senses (meanings) or understandings.

Similar
polysemanticpolysemous
Opposite
monosemanticmonosemicmonosemousunivocal
OriginEnglish polyseme ← Ancient Greek σῆμα (sêma) ← Proto-Hellenic *tsā́mə? →
Scrabble 18
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Meanings

adjectivepolysemic (comparative more polysemic, superlative most polysemic)

comparative more polysemic · superlative most polysemic

  1. human sciencesHaving a number of senses (meanings) or understandings.

    As a series of polysemic and paradoxical sketches, Jackass does not lend itself to one particular theoretical analysis.

    2007, Sean Brayton, “MTV's Jackass: Transgression, Abjection and the Economy of White Masculinity”, in Journal of Gender Studies, volume 16, page 58

    Synonyms: polysemantic, polysemous · Antonyms: monosemantic, monosemic, monosemous, univocal

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveHaving a number of senses (meanings) or understandings.

Similar
polysemanticpolysemous
Opposite
monosemanticmonosemicmonosemousunivocal
Also see
polysemanticpolysemous

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*pleh₁-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*polh₁ús
  3. Ancient Greekπολῠ́ς (polŭ́s)
  4. Englishpoly-
  5. Proto-Indo-European*dʰeyh₂-?
  6. Proto-Indo-European*dʰyeh₂-
  7. Proto-Indo-European*dʰyéh₂mn̥
  8. Proto-Hellenic*tsā́mə?
  9. Ancient Greekσῆμα (sêma)
  10. Englishseme
  11. Englishpolyseme
  12. Englishpolysemic

From polyseme + -ic.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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