Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
autology
Noun
ɔːˈtɒl.ə.dʒi
Definition
A word that refers to itself.
Examples
- The word ‘noun’ is an example of autology, as it is a noun itself.
- In linguistics, ‘verb’ is another autological word since it defines a category that includes itself.
Meaning
Autology is a term used to describe a word that, in its meaning, refers to itself. It highlights a self-referential quality, often emphasizing the relationship between language and meaning.
Synonyms
- Self-referential term
- Self-descriptive word
