polysemous
/ˌpɒliːˈsiːməs/ · pol·y·se·mous
adjective
- Having multiple related or unrelated meanings The word 'bank' is polysemous, as it can refer to a financial institution or the side of a river.
- Capable of being interpreted in several ways The polysemous nature of the poem made it open to various interpretations by readers.
Did you know? The word 'polysemous' is itself an example of a polysemous word, as it can be used to describe both words with related meanings and words with unrelated meanings. This self-referential property makes it a fascinating term in the study of language.