Meaning: Definition, Philosophical Context, and Linguistic Usage

Meaning refers to the significance, interpretation, or purpose conveyed by a word, symbol, action, or event. It operates at multiple levels:

Key Dimensions

• Linguistic (semantic): The concept a word or phrase represents (denotation) plus associated nuances (connotation).
• Pragmatic: The speaker’s intent in a specific context (speech-act theory).
• Existential: The purpose or value ascribed to life, actions, or artifacts (philosophy, theology).
• Semiotic: The relationship between signifier (form) and signified (concept) in sign systems.

Examples

• “The meaning of ‘dog’ is a domesticated carnivore.” (lexical)
• “The meaning of her silence was disagreement.” (pragmatic)
• “Viktor Frankl argued that finding meaning is the primary human drive.” (existential)

Related Terms

Sign, symbol, interpretation, sense, significance, intention, reference, semiotics, hermeneutics.