referent

A referent is a term used in linguistics, semiotics, philosophy, and related fields to denote the actual object, concept, or entity that a word, symbol, or sign points to or represents. It is the real-world thing or idea that a linguistic expression or sign refers to or stands for within a particular context.

In linguistic theory, the referent is the specific individual or object in the real world that a noun, pronoun, or any other referring expression denotes. For example, in the sentence "The Eiffel Tower is in Paris," the referent of "The Eiffel Tower" is the actual monument located in Paris. In semiotics, a sign consists of the "signifier" (the form or symbol) and the "signified" (the concept it represents); the referent is the tangible or intangible object that the sign aims to communicate or symbolize.

The concept of a referent is central to understanding how language functions to connect words and symbols with reality. However, in some contexts, especially in philosophy of language, the relationship between signs and their referents can be complex, influenced by factors like perception, context, and the nature of reference itself.

In summary, the referent is the object or concept that a linguistic or symbolic expression points to in the real world or within a given framework of understanding. Its study helps elucidate how language maps to meaning and reality across various disciplines.