Added 5 October 2026
meaning
/ˈmiː.nɪŋ/ noun
In Latin: significātiō Wiktionary
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about meaning at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- The denotation, referent, or idea connected with a word, expression, or symbol.
- The connotation associated with a word, expression, or symbol.
-
The purpose, value, or significance (of something) beyond the fact of that thing's existence.
the meaning of life
verb
- present participle and gerund of mean
adjective
-
Having a (specified) intention.
Well/ill meaning.
- Expressing some intention or significance; meaningful.
Origin
From Middle English mening, menyng, equivalent to mean + -ing. Cognate with Scots mening (“intent, purpose, sense, meaning”), West Frisian miening (“opinion, mind”), Dutch mening (“view, opinion, judgement”), German Meinung (“opinion, view, mind, idea”), Danish and Swedish mening (“meaning, sense, sentence, opinion”), Icelandic meining (“meaning”).
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)