by definition

Idioms and Phrases

According to prior determination, as a given. For example, This antibiotic is by definition the most effective now on the market . [1970s]

Example Sentences

As Galen Jackson, an associate professor of political science at Williams College, put it, “To the extent that Israel plans to hold on to the settlements that it builds in the West Bank, then almost by definition annexation has been proceeding for decades on a gradual basis. The main difference with Trump, in that case, is that he doesn’t even protest Israeli settlement expansion or deem it in violation of international law, whereas all other U.S. administrations have.”

From Slate

Pre-election polls are never good at — nor were they designed to be good at — predicting turnout, and by definition can’t account for late deciders.

From Salon

By definition, that meant there would be no primaries, open to popular Democrats like Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro.

From Los Angeles Times

And TV news is always, by definition, presenting a limited version of whatever we're talking about.

From Salon

Johnson confirmed later that there is a secret “that might help Donald Trump,” but noted that “by definition, a secret is not to be shared—and I don’t intend to share this one.”

From Slate

Related Words

• automatically
• naturally
• no doubt
• undoubtedly
• unquestionably