Understanding Semantics: Extension and Intension of Words

This article discusses the extension and intension of words like dog, car, skipping, music, stipulate, benzene, and feminist. It explains how the extension of a word refers to the class or range of application, while the intension refers to the internal value or theme of the word. The article provides examples of the extension and intension of each word.

Running head: SEMANTICS
SEMANTICS
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

2SEMANTICS
The Extension and the intension of the following words will be discussed as follows:
The extension and intension of words are the references of the terms that indicate the true value
of a word and the internal content that the word relates to respectively. A word has a meaning
that is derived out of its virtue or character that it denotes. This denotation of the class or range
of application is the extension of a word. On the other hand, intension of a word is the internal
value of the word that is attached with the theme that the word denotes. This article will discuss
the extension and the intension of the following words.
1. Dog
Extension: Refers to the class of dogs. It refers to the canine family having the features of a dog
and denotes to all dogs in the world. For Instance: Dogs like Bones; here the extension of the
‘dog’ is referred to and relates to the fact that all dogs like bones.
Intension: Refers to the internal character or theme of the word. The word dog is generally
attributed with faithful, loyal, and a friendly being. For instance, ‘Every dog has its day’, the
intension of the word dog is being used. It refers that all being will have their good times and has
been attributed to the intension of the word dog.
2. Car
Extension: Extension of the word Car refers to the class of the cars. All vehicles are included
within the extension of the word car. For instance, ‘Cars have wheels’ denote to an attribute that
all cars have wheels and refer to various cars that are used.
Intension: Refers to the meaning or attribute that qualify the word car. Actually car refers to
vehicles that run on motor, powered by some source of energy and are capable of carrying

3SEMANTICS
humans or goods. The intension of the word car refers to the attributes of the car and is used to
denote the theme of the word car. For instance ‘a car gave me a lift’. Here the extension of lift
and car defy the true notion but uses the intension of these words
3. Skipping
Extension: Extension refers to the all forms of jumping or bouncing or springing. For instance
‘she skipped happily’.
Intension: Intension of skipping is the activity that and relates to any form of jumping or
prancing. ‘Skipping of breakfast is detrimental for health’.
4. Music :
Extension: Refers to all forms of music that might range from country and folk to classical and
rock music. For instance “Folk music is one of the oldest expressions of humans”.
Intension: Refers to the order how music is created through arrangement of notes in harmony.
For instance ‘Nature has its own Music’.
5. Stipulate
Extension of the word stipulate refers to all forms of conditions or norms that are agreed to. The
formulation or construction of regulatory measures is the extension of stipulation. For Instance
‘good governance is based on stipulated norms’.
Intension: refers to the act of laying down or setting a guideline or set of rules for any activity,
deal or agreement. For instance, ‘the case will stipulated on justification’.

4SEMANTICS
6. Benzene
Extension: Refers to all forms of Benzene, a chemical compound that comprises of carbon and
hydrogen. For instance “Petroleum Oil is derived from Benzene”.
Intension: Refers to the fact that includes the aspect of the chemical compound or has similarities
with its compound. For Instance ‘he has a Benzene potential’ refers to the potential of a person
compared to the potentiality of Benzene.
7. Feminist
Extension: Refers to the all individuals believing in the concept of feminism or has feminist
beliefs. It also refers to symbolization of all objects that have been attributed to the concept of
feminism. For instance ‘Feminist ideas do not only belong to women.’
Intension: Refers to all forms of ideas and faiths and belief that construct the value of feminism
For instance ‘feminism represent equality.’