Categorematic (Adjective)
Meaning
Of a term or phrase capable of standing as the subject or (especially) the predicate of a proposition.
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- The term "man" is categorematic because it can be used as both a subject and a predicate in a sentence.
- In logic, categorematic terms are typically contrasted with syncategorematic terms, which cannot stand alone as subjects or predicates.
- The word "runs" is categorematic in the sentence "The dog runs" because it can also be used as a subject, as in "Running is good exercise".
- Categorematic terms are often distinguished from syncategorematic terms, which have meaning only in relation to other terms.
- In traditional logic, common nouns like "animal" and "tree" are considered categorematic because they can be used as both subjects and predicates.