Semantics is the study of meaning in language. It examines how meaning is constructed and interpreted through symbols like words, phrases, and context. Key areas of semantic theory include symbol and referent relationships, conceptions of meaning, ambiguity, metaphor, semantic change over time, and pragmatics. The field is concerned with the meaning of linguistic units from individual morphemes and words up to entire texts, and how context influences interpretation. Studying semantics is essential for understanding language acquisition, variation, and use in social and cultural contexts.