referentialism

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noun

The theory that the meaning of a word or expression lies in what it points out in the world.

Scrabble 19
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Meanings

nounreferentialism (uncountable)
  1. uncountableThe theory that the meaning of a word or expression lies in what it points out in the world.

Origin

referential + -ism

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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