Cognitive Abilities Test (CAT4) Practice Exam

The term that refers to the prioritization of more common meanings of a word in dictionaries is meaning dominance. This linguistic concept reflects how some meanings of a word are more prevalent or widely accepted in use than others. In dictionary definitions, this prioritization helps users find the most relevant definition quickly.

Meaning dominance is particularly useful in languages like English, where many words have multiple meanings depending on the context. Dictionaries will often list the most commonly used meanings first, allowing readers to access the most relevant interpretation based on typical usage patterns in speech or writing.

The other terms relate to different aspects of language and meaning; for example, contextual relevance involves how the context influences the interpretation of a word, while lexical semantics is the study of how words convey meaning within the language framework. Semantic hierarchy pertains to the organization of meanings in a ranked structure, which isn't specifically about prioritizing common meanings in dictionary definitions. Thus, meaning dominance is the most accurate term for this practice in dictionaries.