Signification refers to the process by which signs and symbols convey meaning. In linguistics, it involves how words (language) represent ideas or concepts. For example, the word "tree" signifies the physical object with branches and leaves, allowing communication about it without needing to see it. In philosophy, particularly in the works of thinkers like Ferdinand de Saussure, signification explores the relationship between the signifier (the form of a word or expression) and the signified (the concept it represents). This relationship is crucial for understanding how meaning is constructed and interpreted in various contexts, including semiotics and semiology.