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Referent vs Signifier - What's the difference?

referent | signifier | Related terms |

Signifier is a related term of referent.



As nouns the difference between referent and signifier

is that referent is the specific entity in the world that a word or phrase identifies or denotes while signifier is the sound of spoken word or string of letters on a page that a person recognizes as a sign.

referent

English

(wikipedia referent)

Noun

(en noun)
  • (semantics) The specific entity in the world that a word or phrase identifies or denotes.
  • That which is referenced.

    • Derived terms

    * absent referent

    Related terms

    * refer * reference

    Anagrams

    * * ----

    signifier

    English

    (Intension)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (linguistics) The sound of spoken word or string of letters on a page that a person recognizes as a sign.

    • Related terms

    * signified * referent ----