A one-way synonym is a parent word or phrase that is considered synonymous with several other words or phrases (child phrases), but only in one direction. When a search is performed for the parent phrase, the search results will be enriched with results matching any of the child phrases. However, searching for any of the child phrases will not include results for the parent phrase (or other child phrases).
A good example of a one-way synonym would be the relationship between "spices" as the parent phrase and "pepper" and "cinnamon" as the child phrases. In this scenario, searching for "spices" would return results that include both "pepper" and "cinnamon." However, searching specifically for "pepper" or "cinnamon" would not include all "spices" in the results.
One way synonyms allow precise control over search result relevancy by ensuring that searches for broader terms (parent phrases) can return results for more specific terms (child phrases) without the reverse happening, which could dilute the relevancy of search results.
One way synonyms can be configured via the API, but also via the customer dashboard.
Platform synonyms
Constructor's algorithms can identify many synonyms using data science for specific e-commerce verticals such as fashion, grocery and others. Reach out to support to learn more and to enable this feature.
Specific to index
Synonyms are set on each index key separately, so a customer can have separate synonym rules for two independent properties, such as their Dutch and French grocery stores.
Case insensitive
Synonyms ignore case, so a synonym rule for fat-free milk would apply to McCormick's Farmstand Fat-Free Milk as well as McCormick's farmstand fat-free milk
Exact phrase matching
Synonyms match the exact word ordering, so a rule for 0% milk would not apply to products McCormick's Farmstand Milk 0% or McCormick's Farmstand 0% fat milk. To match these products, synonyms for milk 0% or 0% fat milk would need to be included in the group.