Alternative words or phrases that have the same or similar meanings, used to broaden search queries and improve recall.
How It Works
Synonyms are used in search systems to expand queries by including alternative terms that have similar meanings. This helps in retrieving more comprehensive results by considering different ways users might express the same concept.
Technical Details
Synonym expansion can be implemented using pre-defined synonym lists or dynamically generated using machine learning models. It involves mapping query terms to their synonyms and expanding the search query accordingly.
Best Practices
Use domain-specific synonym lists
Regularly update synonym mappings
Consider context when expanding queries
Implement efficient query expansion pipelines
Monitor expansion performance
Common Pitfalls
Using generic synonym lists
Ignoring context in expansion
Inefficient expansion pipelines
Lack of regular updates
Poor performance monitoring
Advanced Tips
Use machine learning for dynamic synonym generation