What term describes the study of meaning in language?

The study of meaning in language is referred to as semantics. Semantics encompasses the interpretation of words, phrases, and sentences, focusing on how meaning is constructed and understood in both spoken and written language. This branch of linguistics explores various aspects of meaning, including how context influences our understanding and how meanings can change over time or based on different cultural perspectives.

Grammar refers to the set of rules that govern the structure of sentences, syntax addresses the arrangement of words within those sentences, and language theory is a broader field that can include various approaches to understanding language but does not specifically focus on meaning alone. Therefore, semantics is the most precise term for the study of meaning within the realm of language.