markedness

In linguistics, markedness refers to a principle where one linguistic element is considered more basic, common, or neutral, while another is seen as more complex, less frequent, or specialized. The unmarked element is the default, while the marked element carries additional information or is used in specific contexts.1

For instance, in English, the present tense of a verb is often unmarked, while the past tense, indicated by "-ed," is marked. Similarly, the word "dog" is unmarked and can refer to any dog, whereas "bitch" is marked, specifically referring to a female dog. This concept, originating in Prague school phonology, has been applied across various linguistic levels, including morphology and syntax. The quality of being marked is termed "markedness".12