What is Semantic Search?
Searching by meaning rather than exact keywords, using embeddings to rank relevance.
Formal Definition
Semantic search retrieves results based on meaning rather than literal keyword overlap, comparing the embedding of a query against stored document embeddings to rank relevance. It surfaces material a keyword search would miss. For market analysis, it finds news and filings that are topically relevant to a stock even when the phrasing differs from the query.
In Simple Terms
It is search that understands what you mean, not just the words you typed. Ask about a company's supply-chain risk and it finds relevant stories even if they never use that phrase.
Example
A keyword search for factory delays might miss an article about production bottlenecks, but semantic search links them because they mean the same thing.