Synonyms
Add and manage search synonyms so shoppers find products regardless of the exact words they use.
Synonyms
Synonyms ensure that shoppers find the right products even when they use different words than your product data. For example, if a shopper searches for "hoodie" but your products are tagged as "sweatshirt," synonyms bridge that gap.
How Synonyms Work
When you define a synonym pair like "hoodie" and "sweatshirt," the search engine treats these words as equivalent during search. A query for "hoodie" will also return results matching "sweatshirt," and vice versa.
Synonyms are applied at the search engine level, so they affect all search queries instantly after saving.
Types of Synonyms
Two-Way Synonyms
Both words are treated as equivalent in either direction.
Example: "hoodie" ↔ "sweatshirt"
- Searching "hoodie" returns results for both "hoodie" and "sweatshirt"
- Searching "sweatshirt" returns results for both "sweatshirt" and "hoodie"
One-Way Synonyms
Only works in one direction. Useful when one term is broader than another.
Example: "sneakers" → "trainers"
- Searching "sneakers" also returns "trainers"
- Searching "trainers" does NOT return "sneakers"
Managing Synonyms
Adding Synonyms Manually
- Go to Search > Synonyms in the app dashboard
- Click Add Synonym
- Enter the synonym words (comma-separated for groups)
- Choose two-way or one-way
- Click Save
Synonym Packs
FilterIQ includes pre-built synonym packs for common industries. These are curated sets of synonyms relevant to specific store types.
To apply a synonym pack:
- Go to Search > Synonyms > Packs
- Browse available packs (fashion, electronics, home goods, etc.)
- Click Apply Pack to add all synonyms in the pack
- Review and remove any that do not apply to your catalog
Auto-Scan from Store Data
The synonym scanner analyzes your product catalog and suggests synonyms based on:
- Spelling equivalences -- UK/US spelling differences (colour/color, grey/gray)
- Common abbreviations -- Informal terms (tee/t-shirt, pjs/pyjamas, sunnies/sunglasses)
- Gender variants -- Demographic terms (men's/mens/men/man/male)
- Product equivalences -- Category-specific terms detected from your product data
- Common misspellings -- Known e-commerce typos (accesories/accessories, jewlery/jewelry)
To run the scanner:
- Go to Search > Synonyms
- Click Scan Store (or look for the auto-generated suggestions banner)
- Review the suggested synonyms
- Accept or reject each suggestion
- Click Save to apply accepted synonyms
Zero-Result Suggestions
The system automatically analyzes search queries that return zero results and suggests synonyms that could resolve them. These appear in Search > Synonyms > Zero-Result Suggestions.
Synonym Audit Log
Every synonym change is logged with a timestamp and action type. View the history in Search > Synonyms > Audit Log to track who changed what and when.
Example Synonym Sets by Industry
Here are common synonym pairs organized by store type. Use these as a starting point, then customize based on your specific product catalog.
Fashion & Apparel
| Term A | Term B | Type |
|---|---|---|
| hoodie | sweatshirt | Two-way |
| sneakers | trainers | Two-way |
| trousers | pants | Two-way |
| jumper | sweater | Two-way |
| tee | t-shirt | Two-way |
| puffer | down jacket | Two-way |
| beanie | knit cap | Two-way |
| leggings | tights | Two-way |
Electronics & Tech
| Term A | Term B | Type |
|---|---|---|
| laptop | notebook | Two-way |
| phone | mobile | Two-way |
| earbuds | earphones | Two-way |
| charger | power adapter | Two-way |
| TV | television | Two-way |
| mic | microphone | Two-way |
| SSD | solid state drive | Two-way |
| BT | bluetooth | One-way |
Home & Garden
| Term A | Term B | Type |
|---|---|---|
| sofa | couch | Two-way |
| drapes | curtains | Two-way |
| rug | carpet | Two-way |
| wardrobe | closet | Two-way |
| duvet | comforter | Two-way |
| cushion | throw pillow | Two-way |
| bin | trash can | Two-way |
| tap | faucet | Two-way |
Beauty & Cosmetics
| Term A | Term B | Type |
|---|---|---|
| lipstick | lip color | Two-way |
| moisturizer | moisturiser | Two-way |
| SPF | sunscreen | One-way |
| foundation | base makeup | Two-way |
| perfume | fragrance | Two-way |
| nail polish | nail lacquer | Two-way |
Instead of adding these manually, apply a pre-built synonym pack for your industry in Search > Synonyms > Packs. The packs include these common pairs plus many more.
Best Practices
- Start with synonym packs -- Apply the pack closest to your industry, then customize
- Review zero-result queries weekly -- These are direct signals from shoppers about gaps in your synonym coverage
- Be careful with one-way synonyms -- Use them only when terms have genuinely different specificity
- Test after adding synonyms -- Search for each synonym term on your storefront to verify results make sense
- Avoid circular groups -- The system automatically flattens circular synonym chains, but keeping groups clean makes them easier to manage
Limits
| Limit | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum synonym groups | 500 per store |
| Maximum words per group | 10 |
| Sync time after save | Under 2 seconds |