What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Polysemy vs Synonymous - What's the difference?

polysemy | synonymous |

As a noun polysemy

is (semantics) the ability of words, signs and symbols to have multiple meanings.

As an adjective synonymous is

having a similar meaning.

polysemy

English

(wikipedia polysemy)

Noun

(-)
  • (semantics) The ability of words, signs and symbols to have multiple meanings.
    • [...] polysemy , which is the greedy habit some words have of taking more than one meaning for themselves. , speech at TED.

    Antonyms

    * monosemy

    Related terms

    * polysemic * polysemous

    See also

    * homonymy

    synonymous

    English

    Adjective

    (-)
  • having a similar meaning
  • of, or being a synonym
  • (genetics, of a SNP) Such that both its forms yield the same sequenced protein.

    • Antonyms

    * antonymous * nonsynonymous * (genetics) nonsynonymous

    Derived terms

    * synonym * synonymity