Phrase guide

semantic shift

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A change in the meaning of a word over time.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: human-sciences, linguistics, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: semantic drift, semantic change, semantic progression

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From semantic + shift.

Across languages

Translations

17 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 語義變化 /语义变化 — linguistics
  • Czech: sémantický posun — linguistics
  • Danish: semantisk ændring — linguistics
  • Dutch: betekenisverandering — linguistics
  • Dutch: betekenisverschuiving — linguistics
  • Finnish: merkityksenmuutos — linguistics
  • French: glissement sémantique — linguistics
  • German: Bedeutungswandel — linguistics
  • Greek: σημασιολογική μεταβολή (simasiologikí metavolí) — linguistics
  • Italian: slittamento di significato — linguistics
  • Italian: mutamento semantico — linguistics
  • Polish: zmiana znaczenia — linguistics
  • Polish: zmiana znaczeniowa — linguistics
  • Portuguese: mudança semântica — linguistics
  • Russian: изменение значения (izmenenije značenija) — linguistics
  • Spanish: cambio léxico-semántico — linguistics
  • Spanish: traslación de significado — linguistics