definition

American  

[def-uh-nish-uhn] / ˌdɛf əˈnɪʃ ən /

noun

• definitions
  plural

1. the act of defining, or of making something definite, distinct, or clear.

   We need a better definition of her responsibilities.

2. the formal statement of the meaning or significance of a word, phrase, idiom, etc., as found in dictionaries. An online dictionary resource, such as Dictionary.com, can give users direct, immediate access to the definitions of a term, allowing them to compare definitions from various dictionaries and stay up to date with an ever-expanding vocabulary.

3. the condition of being definite, distinct, or clearly outlined.

   His biceps have great muscle definition.

4. Optics. sharpness of the image formed by an optical system.

5. Radio and Television. the accuracy of sound or picture reproduction.

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definition British  

/ ˌdɛfɪˈnɪʃən /

noun

1. a formal and concise statement of the meaning of a word, phrase, etc

2. the act of defining a word, phrase, etc

3. specification of the essential properties of something, or of the criteria which uniquely identify it

4. the act of making clear or definite

5. the state or condition of being clearly defined or definite

6. a measure of the clarity of an optical, photographic, or television image as characterized by its sharpness and contrast

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• predefinition
  noun
• redefinition
  noun
• self-definition
  noun
• subdefinition
  noun
• definitional
  adjective
• definitionally
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• definitions
  plural

Etymology

Origin of definition

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English diffinicioun, from Old French diffinition, from Latin dēfīnītiōn- (stem of dēfīnītiō ), equivalent to dēfīnīt(us) ( see definite) + -iōn- noun suffix ( see -ion)

Explanation

A good definition explains concisely what something means. Dictionaries include definitions, even for the word definition! A definition precisely explains the fundamental state or meaning of something, often given formally as by lexicographers writing a dictionary or legislators writing laws. It can also refer to a sharply detailed image or concept — like how clear the picture is on a high-definition TV or how cut a Calvin Klein model's abs are.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

definition definitions

According to Altamirano’s team, removing the 12-year limit changed the definition of a “term.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026

The basic definition of a value stock is a company that trades below its intrinsic value, while fundamentals such as price-to-earnings ratios suggest it’s underpriced.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 25, 2026

Natural Resources Wales said the Environment Agency, its predecessor, investigated the acid tar lake in 2006 and 2008 but tests concluded it did not meet the legal definition of contaminated land.

From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026

Ashbery was always cast as a member of the “New York School” of poets, a category whose very definition and constituents have long been debated.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026

But de Vries’s conjecture predated the molecular definition of the gene.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

Conventional definitions of the working class often miss how people understand their own place in society.

From Salon ● Aug. 9, 2026

"Current clauses may refer to 'severe' or 'extreme' weather, but the definitions for these can vary and currently no providers go as far as to specify criteria such as maximum temperatures."

From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026

The states’ case hinges on whether a judge will accept the market definitions outlined in their lawsuit, Garcia and other analysts said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026

They could be considered in a bear market by some definitions.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 8, 2026

Not until 1811 were definitions found that most of the magical community found acceptable.

From "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" by J.K. Rowling

Related Words

• answer
• explanation
• interpretation
• rationale
• solution
• translation