monosemy
(ˈmɒnəʊsiːmɪ)
[f. mono- + semantic a. + -y3.]
Of a word or phrase, the quality of having only one meaning. Cf. polysemy.
| 1951 S. Ullmann Princ. Semantics ii. 107 Multiple meaning—which includes a number of non-lexical elements—comprises everything running counter to ‘monosemy’ in the language system. 1969 S. Hook Lang. & Philosophy iii. 255 Now on to the comments concerning polysemy and monosemy. 1972 Hartmann & Stork Dict. Lang. & Linguistics 144/1 Monosemy, when a word or phrase has only one semantic meaning, e.g. ball-point pen, as opposed to polysemy or multiple meaning. |