PromptScoutWhat is Semantic Search?
Semantic Search is a retrieval approach that focuses on meaning rather than exact keyword matching. Semantic Search uses context and relationships to return results that match the intent behind a query.
Quick definition
Semantic Search finds results based on what the query means, not only on matching the same words.
How Semantic Search works
- Semantic Search often represents queries and documents using embeddings.
- Semantic Search can retrieve results by similarity, not just by keyword overlap.
- Semantic Search uses contextual relevance signals to choose results that fit the query intent.
- Semantic Search benefits from entity-based signals that reduce ambiguity.
Why Semantic Search matters
Semantic Search matters because it changes how content is discovered, especially for conversational search.
Semantic Search affects:
- which pages are retrieved for LLM answers and AI search results
- how long-tail queries are matched to content
- how content clusters and topical authority influence retrieval quality
Example use cases
- Using headings that describe concepts clearly so the intended meaning is unambiguous.
- Improving internal linking so related concepts are connected for context.
- Optimizing a page for multiple phrasings of the same user intent.