APPLYING SYNONYMS TO UNIFY TEXT SEARCH WITH FACETED BROWSING CLASSIFICATION

The invention provides a method and system for returning search results based on text and associated synonyms. The system including an input module configured for receiving a text search term. A search module is configured for searching index documents with the text search term to return matched index documents, and for searching synonym index entries to return classifications for synonym expansion for expanding the search for index documents. An analyzer module is configured for obtaining tokens for the text search term from the synonym index entries for determining matched synonym index entries. The search module is further configured for obtaining assigned synonym matching strength information of the matched synonym index entries in a search results list, and for sorting the search results list based on a confidence score to form a sorted search results list. An output module for presenting the sorted search result list on an interface module.