signifier
UK: ˈsɪɡnɪfaɪə | US: ˈsɪɡnɪfaɪər
n. (Linguistics/Semiotics) An element that conveys meaning, such as a word, symbol, or sound, in contrast to the concept it represents ("signified").
n. (General) Something that serves as an indicator or representation of a broader idea or condition.
Derived from Latin signum (mark, token), the morpheme sign entered English via Old French signifier (to denote). The suffix -ify (from Latin -ificare) denotes action ("to make"), while -er indicates an agent. The term evolved in 20th-century semiotics (via Ferdinand de Saussure) to describe the perceptible form of a sign (e.g., a word's sound or written shape) as distinct from its abstract meaning.
In linguistics, the word "tree" is the signifier for the concept of a tree.
The ringing bell acted as a signifier of the class's end.
Dark clouds are often a signifier of approaching rain.
The artist used color as a primary signifier of emotion in the painting.
In semiotics, a red traffic light is a signifier for "stop."