narrowsense

Narrowsense is a coined term used in linguistics, philosophy of language, and related disciplines to denote a restricted interpretation of a term, concept, or rule. It captures the sense in which a term is applied to a narrowly defined set of cases, often with explicit boundaries. The narrowsense of a concept is contrasted with its broad sense or wide interpretation, which includes additional, peripheral, or context-dependent uses.

Origin and use. The word is formed from narrow plus sense and is employed mainly in analytic discussions that aim to separate precise readings from looser ones. It is not widely standardized as a technical term across all fields, but serves as a practical shorthand when authors want to stress a tight, well-defined reading.

Examples. In epistemology, the narrowsense of 'knowledge' might be what is sometimes called justification- or truth-traceable knowledge, excluding pragmatic or social dimensions that some analysts include in a broader sense. In legal analysis, the narrowsense of 'consideration' refers to the formal promise or exchange required to form a binding contract, excluding broader social or moral considerations that might influence real-world agreements.

Relationship to other concepts. Narrowsense is related to discussions of scope, boundaries, and precision in definitions. It is used alongside terms such as broad sense, strict sense, and surface meaning, and is sometimes discussed in relation to intension and extension in semantics.

See also. broad sense; strict sense; semantics; philosophy of language; legal interpretation.