Semantic Fidelity: Definition, Mechanism, and Role in Meaning Degradation

Semantic Fidelity is defined as the degree to which meaning is preserved as information moves across systems, representations, and transformations.This paper introduces Semantic Fidelity as a constraint on meaning within modern computational and media environments, where compression, optimization, and recursive transformation preserve surface coherence while progressively degrading underlying semantic structure. The result is a failure mode in which language remains fluent and interpretable, yet becomes increasingly detached from intent, nuance, and real-world reference.The concept extends beyond traditional notions of accuracy or correctness by focusing on whether meaning itself survives transformation. It…