1. a word or phrase that is the basic unit of vocabulary in a language and has a single meaning
Usage: linguistics term; often contrasted with 'word form' or 'inflected form'

Examples

• The lexeme 'run' includes the word forms 'run,' 'runs,' 'ran,' and 'running.'
• In linguistics, a lexeme is considered the abstract unit that underlies different grammatical forms.
• The lexeme 'go' has multiple word forms such as 'go,' 'goes,' 'went,' and 'going.'
• Dictionaries typically list lexemes as headwords rather than every inflected form.
• Understanding lexemes helps students recognize how words are related across different grammatical contexts.