genetilisation

Genetilisation is a term used in linguistics to describe a process where a word or phrase that originally had a specific, often technical or specialized, meaning comes to be used more broadly to refer to a wider range of similar or related concepts. This expansion of meaning can occur over time as the word is adopted into more general usage. For example, a term initially specific to a scientific field might become commonplace in everyday conversation, referring to a broader, less precise idea. This process is often driven by analogy or metaphor, where the core characteristics of the original meaning are applied to new contexts. While sometimes leading to a loss of precision, genetilisation can also enrich language by allowing for more expressive and nuanced communication. The term itself is derived from "genetic," suggesting a kind of evolutionary or branching development of meaning. Understanding genetilisation helps explain how language evolves and how words acquire new layers of significance. It is distinct from semantic drift, which can involve changes in meaning in any direction, whereas genetilisation specifically refers to an expansion or broadening of a word's semantic scope.