Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

animacy

noun

/ˈæn.ɪ.mə.si/

Definition

The quality of being alive or having life.

Examples

In some languages, verbs change form depending on the animacy of the subjects and objects involved.
The animacy hierarchy helps in understanding how different cultures represent living and non-living things.
Children learn to differentiate animacy by associating motions and feelings with living beings.

Meaning

Animacy refers to the distinction between entities that are considered alive (such as humans and animals) and those that are inanimate (such as objects or abstract concepts). This concept is important in various languages and fields of study, including linguistics and philosophy.