How does semantics differ from pragmatics in the study of language?

In the study of language, semantics and pragmatics are distinguished by their focus on different aspects of meaning.

Semantics

Semantics is the scientific and philosophical study of the rule systems that determine the literal or conventional meanings of words and sentences within a language. It focuses on the stable, dictionary-defined significance of linguistic expressions.12

Pragmatics

Pragmatics examines how utterances are used in communication to convey intentions, attitudes, and propositions that extend beyond literal meaning. While semantics deals with conventional rules, pragmatics analyzes how meaning is shaped by the interpersonal, social, or physical context in which an utterance occurs.1

The distinction often centers on the "dividing line" between literal content and implied meaning. For example, while semantics defines the literal words in a sentence, pragmatics explains how a listener infers additional information—such as temporal order or quantity—based on general principles of rational cooperation and conversational context.1