A semantic dispute is a disagreement that arises if This term requires disembiguation. ...

• (1) the parties to the disagreement disagree about whether a particular claim is true,
• (2) they agree on all material facts, but
• (3) they disagree on the definitions of a word (or several words) essential to formulating the claim at issue.

The differences in definition of the word or term puts the parties in a state of semantic discord. Consequently, their disagreeing on these definitions explains why there is a dispute at all; briefly, (2) and (3) together explain (1). Look up Definition in Wiktionary, the free dictionary For alternative meanings see definition (disambiguation) A definition may be a statement of the essential properties of a certain thing, or a statement of equivalence between a term and that terms meaning. ... Semantic discord is the situation where two parties disagree on the definition of a word or several words essential to communicating or formulating any concept at issue. ...

It is sometimes held that semantic disputes are not genuine disputes at all. But very often they are regarded as perfectly genuine, e.g., in philosophy. One might well wonder, of course, exactly what makes a genuine dispute. The term philosophy derives from a combination of the Greek words philos meaning love and sophia meaning wisdom. ...

It is also sometimes held that when a semantic dispute arises, the focus of the debate should switch from the original thesis to the meaning of the terms of which there are different definitions (understandings, concepts, etc.).

One example is the differing set of interpretations of UN Security Council Resolution 242, which calls on Israel to withdraw "from territories occupied" in the 1967 Six Day War. The government of Israel holds that this phrase does not mean that Israel should withdraw from all such territories, else the Security Council would have said "from the territories occupied". United Nations Security Council Resolution 242 (S/RES/242) was adopted unanimously by the UN Security Council on November 22, 1967 in the aftermath of the Six Day War. ... The 1967 Arab-Israeli War, also known as the Six-Day War or June War, was fought between Israel and its Arab neighbors Egypt, Jordan, and Syria. ...

Other common traps for semantic disputes includes, but are not limited to, the usage of words such as liberal, democrat, conservative, republican, progressive, free, welfare or socialist whose meaning in English, or in the United States, often is quite different from how the similar words are understood in other languages. Note: This entry discusses liberalism as a world wide ideology, not its manifestations in any specific country. ... In political science, a democrat is an advocate, follower, or proponent of democracy. ... Conservatism or political conservatism is any of several historically related political philosophies or political ideologies. ... Republicanism is the view that a republic is the best form of government. ... Progressivism or political progressivism is any of several historically related political philosophies or political ideologies. ... Personal Liberty is one of the meanings of freedom. Statue of Liberty - Societal Liberty is one of the meanings of freedom. For proper-noun uses of Freedom, see Freedom (disambiguation). ... Social welfare can be taken to mean the welfare or well-being of a society. ... The color red and particularly the red flag are traditional symbols of Socialism. ...