univocal

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "univocal" is an acceptable and usable term in written English.
It is an adjective which means "having only a single meaning or interpretation." For example, "The politician's message was univocal: vote for them in the upcoming election."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

At the same time, talk of univocation was superseded by signification, by implication univocal signification unless equivocation was identified.[6] A major shift in focus occurred in the early fourteenth century, probably occasioned by Ockham — certainly, he was the leading figure.

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have argued that in order for there to be a genuine difference between these allegedly distinct metaphysical views, in addition to the suggestive pictures displayed above there must be some univocal statement or proposition concerning temporal ontology that one side asserts and the other side denies.

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If, however, the copula is not univocal in (A1) and (A2), then there is no contradiction involved in accepting both.

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Thus, for instance, since the accounts of 'human' in 'Socrates is human' and 'Plato is human' will be the same, 'human' is univocal or synonymous in these applications.

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This univocal concept is therefore a mistake, or an error, because nothing positive is really common to God and creatures, but only something negative, as the 'right' intellect subsequently acknowledges, when, going beyond the apparent initial indistinctness, it conceives in a distinct, separate way negatively indeterminate being and privatively indeterminate being.

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Spacetime events, individuated invariantly as spacetime coincidences, have as much or more right to be taken as real, precisely because of the univocal manner of their determination.

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It is closer still to the principle discussed above and cited as a precursor of the concept of categoricity namely, the principle of univocalness, which we found doing such important work in Einstein's quest for a general theory of relativity, where it was the premise forcing the adoption of an invariant and thus univocal scheme for the individuation of spacetime manifold points.

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However, if several men were called John because they were born on the Feast of St. John, the name 'John' should be regarded as a univocal term.

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Those reservations aside, however, the natural similarity in function of subject and predicate in picking out varying classes of things while remaining a univocal term, led most authors to extend the notion of supposition to all terms.

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The predicativist will often grant that there is utility in employing axiomatic systems of set theory but will maintain that the issue of truth does not arise at that level since there is no univocal underlying conception of set.

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H.A. Wolfson has presented evidence for Aristotle's recognition of a type of term intermediate between equivocal and univocal terms, some instances of which were characterized by their use according to priority and posteriority.

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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "univocal" in formal writing, especially when discussing philosophy, semantics, or mathematics, to emphasize that a term or concept has one, and only one, possible interpretation. This enhances precision and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "univocal" when you mean "universal". "Univocal" signifies a single, clear meaning, whereas "universal" denotes something that applies to all cases or members of a group. The terms are not interchangeable and using one in place of the other will lead to confusion.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "univocal" primarily functions to describe a term, concept, or expression that has a single, clear, and unambiguous meaning. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in various academic and scientific contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

100%

Less common in

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "univocal" is an adjective that describes something having one, and only one, possible meaning. Ludwig AI confirms the term is grammatically correct and frequently appears in academic and scientific writing. Its primary function is to emphasize clarity and precision, avoiding ambiguity. While less common in informal contexts, its specific nuance makes it valuable in technical discussions. Remember to avoid confusing it with "universal" and to use it when you want to highlight the singular, unambiguous nature of a term or concept.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unambiguous

Focuses on the absence of multiple interpretations, emphasizing clarity.

unequivocal

Stresses the lack of ambiguity or doubt, highlighting a clear and direct meaning.

clear-cut

Emphasizes the distinct and easily understandable nature of something.

monosemous

Specifically refers to a word or term having only one meaning.

explicit

Highlights the openly and fully expressed nature of something, leaving nothing implied.

precise

Focuses on accuracy and exactness in meaning or expression.

definite

Indicates a clear and certain meaning, leaving no room for vagueness.

deterministic

Implies a single, fixed outcome or interpretation.

consistent

Highlights uniformity and lack of contradiction in meaning or application.

single-valued

Indicates that only one value or interpretation is possible.

FAQs

How is "univocal" typically used in a sentence?

The term "univocal" is used to describe something that has only one possible meaning. For example, "The definition of the term must be "unambiguous" and univocal to avoid confusion."

What are some words similar in meaning to "univocal"?

Alternatives to "univocal" include "unambiguous", "unequivocal", and "explicit". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "univocal" in casual conversation?

While grammatically correct, "univocal" is more commonly used in academic, philosophical, or technical contexts. In casual conversation, simpler terms like "clear" or "straightforward" may be more suitable.

What's the difference between "univocal" and "unambiguous"?

"Univocal" emphasizes that a term has only one possible meaning, focusing on semantic uniqueness. "Unambiguous" highlights the absence of multiple interpretations, focusing on clarity. While similar, "univocal" is often used in more technical or philosophical discussions.