semiology

noun

se·​mi·​ol·​o·​gy ˌsē-mē-ˈä-lə-jē  ˌse-mē- 

ˌsē-ˌmī-

: the study of signs

especially : semiotics

semiological

(ˌ)sē-ˌmī-ə-ˈlä-ji-kəl  ˌse-mē-ə- 

adjective

semiologically

(ˌ)sē-ˌmī-ə-ˈlä-ji-k(ə-)lē  ˌse-mē-ə- 

adverb

semiologist

ˌsē-mē-ˈä-lə-jist  ˌse-mē- 

ˌsē-ˌmī-

noun

Examples of semiology in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This time, the focus was on a 1955 collection that Christian Dior showed at Gleneagles, as well as on the history of Mary, Queen of Scots, and her passion for embroidery and its semiology. —Vanessa Friedman, New York Times, 7 June 2024

Indeed, one of the most striking aspects of the show is how familiar most of the clothing semiology is. —Vanessa Friedman, New York Times, 13 May 2020

The semiology of the cowboy being about as obvious as that of the Stars and Stripes pin. —Vanessa Friedman, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2016

Word History

Etymology

Greek sēmeîon "marking, sign, token, signal" + -o- + -logy — more at semantic

Note: The word semiology is defined in the Century Dictionary (1889-91) as "the logical theory of signs, of the conditions of their fulfilling their functions, of their chief kinds, etc." But little textual exemplification of this sense is apparent before the use of French sémiologie by Ferdinand de saussure in Cours de linguistique générale (1916).

First Known Use

circa 1890, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

semiology

noun

se·​mi·​ol·​o·​gy

variants or semeiology

ˌsem-ē-ˈäl-ə-jē  ˌsē-mē- 

plural semiologies

: the study of signs: as

a

: symptomatology sense 2

b

: semiotic