semantics

Differences in what particular words mean, especially when people agree about the basic idea.

• Our disagreement is mostly about semantics.
• They argued over semantics rather than the actual plan.
• Whether we call it a fee or a charge is a matter of semantics.

Common phrases: argue over semantics, matter of semantics, debate about semantics

The study of how words and sentences express meaning.

• She studies semantics at university.
• Our semantics course examines how sentences express meaning.
• His research connects semantics with the study of the mind.

Common phrases: study semantics, course in semantics, linguistic semantics

The meaning or meanings expressed by a word, sentence, or other part of language.

• The semantics of this word have changed.
• Context helps us understand the semantics of the sentence.
• The two expressions have similar semantics but different grammar.

How to use it: the semantics of something (The semantics of this ancient phrase remain uncertain.)

Similar words: meaning

Common phrases: semantics of something, word semantics, sentence semantics

Small details that someone considers unimportant or not worth arguing about.

• Forget that detail; it's just semantics.
• He dismissed the disagreement as mere semantics.
• To her, the difference was semantics and did not affect the result.

Similar words: trivia, trivialities

Common phrases: just semantics, mere semantics, dismiss as semantics