Meaning of the word polysemy in English

What does polysemy mean in English? Explore the meaning, pronunciation, and specific usage of this word with Lingoland.

polysemy

US /ˈpɑː.lɪ.siː.mi/
UK /pəˈlɪs.ɪ.mi/
"polysemy" picture

Noun

the coexistence of many possible meanings for a word or phrase

Example:
The word 'bank' is a classic example of polysemy, referring to a financial institution or the side of a river.
Linguists study polysemy to understand how words acquire multiple related meanings over time.