Asemantic

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. A descriptor for situations or expressions that are devoid of meaning or significance
2. Referring to instances where something conveys no semantic content or interpretable idea
3. Characterizing phenomena or expressions that lack any inherent meaning or understandable significance

Etymology: "Asemantic" is a plain formation: the Greek-derived prefix "a-", meaning "without" or "not", attached to "semantic," the adjective from "semantics," the study of meaning. Put together, it describes something stripped of meaning, such as a string of sounds or marks that looks like language but says nothing. The prefix does most of the work here. "A-" appears in many English words borrowed from Greek, such as "atypical" or "amoral," and it can be attached to a few existing English bases to negate them. "Semantic" itself comes from the Greek "sēmantikos," relating to signs or meaning, which is the root of the older English noun "semantics." The combined word therefore says exactly what it means: it negates the idea of semantic content.

Synonyms: meaningless, nonsensical, unexpressive, insignificant, empty

Antonyms: semantic, meaningful, expressive, significant, indicative