Cognitive Abilities Test (CAT4) Practice Exam 2025 - Free CAT4 Practice Questions and Study Guide

The practice of listing multiple definitions of a word in order of their commonality demonstrates the concept of meaning dominance. This concept refers to the idea that some meanings of a word are more frequently encountered or used in language than others. In dictionaries, the most commonly used definition typically appears first, reflecting its predominant usage in context. This organization helps users quickly identify the most relevant meaning when they look up a word, facilitating effective communication and comprehension.

In contrast, contextual variability, semantic ambiguity, and linguistic relativity address different aspects of language and meaning. For instance, contextual variability pertains to how the meaning of words can change based on the context in which they are used, while semantic ambiguity refers to the situation where a word can have multiple meanings that might be unclear without further context. Linguistic relativity discusses how the structure of a language can influence speakers' thoughts and perceptions. While these concepts are related to language and meaning, they do not specifically capture the practice of prioritizing definitions based on common usage, which is why meaning dominance is the most accurate choice.