Definition & Meaning of "holophrasis"

What is "holophrasis"?

Holophrasis is the expression of a complete idea or sentence using a single word or a simple phrase. This often occurs in early language development, where a child uses a single word to convey a more complex meaning. For example, a child might say "milk" to indicate a desire for milk, or "up" to mean they want to be picked up. Holophrasis highlights how language can be compact and context-dependent, relying on shared understanding to communicate more than what is explicitly stated.