Signified

Signified is a term in semiotics used to describe the concept or mental representation evoked by a sign. In Ferdinand de Saussure’s theory, a linguistic sign comprises two parts: the signifier, the form of the sign (the sound pattern or written symbol), and the signified, the concept it evokes. The sign, viewed as a unit, arises from the social conventions that connect signifier to signified.

The signified is not the actual referent—the external object or event in the world—but the idea or mental image associated with the signifier by speakers of a language. The relationship between signifier and signified is symbolic and conventional, rather than natural. Because this linkage is learned within a linguistic community, it can vary across languages and cultures. A single signified can be linked to different signifiers in different languages, and a given signifier can evoke different signifieds in different contexts or for different speakers.

In broader discussions, the signified is sometimes discussed in terms of meaning or interpretation, including connotations that accompany a sign. However, in strict semiotics, it remains the specific concept that a signifier triggers in the mind of a user. Critics note that mental concepts are not directly observable and may differ among individuals, which can complicate the idea of a fixed or universal signified.