What term is used to describe the study of meaning in language?

The term that describes the study of meaning in language is semantics. This branch of linguistics focuses on how meanings are constructed, interpreted, and understood within various contexts. Semantics deals with the relationships between words, phrases, sentences, and their meanings, analyzing how meaning is conveyed through language. It encompasses various aspects, including word meanings (lexical semantics), sentence meanings (compositional semantics), and how context influences interpretation.

While sociolinguistics is concerned with how language varies and functions in social contexts, pragmatics focuses on how context influences the interpretation of meaning in communication. Lexicology, on the other hand, studies the structure, meaning, and behavior of words. Although related to meaning, these fields do not specifically concentrate on the core study of meaning in language as semantics does. Thus, the correct choice highlights the foundational concept central to understanding how language conveys meaning.