Semantic search
By HubAI editorial team · Source checked: 24 October 2026What does it mean?
Search that aims to match meaning or intent, rather than only exact words. It often uses embeddings, and can be combined with keyword search and filters.
Picture this
“How do I claim train expenses?” finds the travel reimbursement policy. Exact keyword search might instead miss it because the policy uses different wording.
Where you’ll come across it
Finding documents when users do not know the official terminology. Combining meaning-based matching with exact matching can be useful for codes, names and legal references.
What it doesn’t mean
Semantic similarity can overlook a crucial difference, such as “allowed” versus “not allowed”. Inspect results for negation, dates and the exact entity involved.
Test whether the evidence survives
A short exercise · use fictional or non-sensitive material.
- Write a short fictional policy with one rule and one exception. Ask a question that needs both.
- Try a second question whose answer is deliberately missing from the policy.
- Check whether the answer points to the right passage and admits when the policy cannot answer.
Does the cited passage support this exact answer, including its exception?
Did that make it clearer?
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Written and explained by HubAI. The reference below lets you go deeper; it is not an endorsement of a particular product.
Technical reference: developers.google.com ↗