Meaning & use
Acceptation
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The generally accepted or understood meaning of a word or phrase.
See it in a sentence
In its common acceptation, 'literally' is often used to mean 'figuratively.'
The term has shifted in acceptation over the past century.
A note on using this word
Not to be confused with 'acceptance'; 'acceptation' specifically concerns the meaning of words, a distinction now largely limited to formal or linguistic writing.
Words with a similar meaning
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