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

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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)

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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

One theory: There’s no unanimous definition of who belongs to the middle class.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 4, 2026

Among the areas it examined was the definition of domestic abuse and The Act's recognition of children – like Holly - as victims.

From BBC ● Nov. 3, 2026

By definition, those wobblers aren’t aerodynamic, so getting them deep is harder than it appears.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 2, 2026

They’ll think that change by definition must be extreme or won’t be noticed.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026

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

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

Other definitions that made the dictionary's 10-strong shortlist included ghost job, something frustrated jobseekers will be familiar with - when an employer posts a position with no intention of appointing someone.

From BBC ● Nov. 3, 2026

Among the definitions of impeachable conduct provisionally approved early in the Constitutional Convention were “treason, bribery, or corruption” and then “treason or bribery.”

From Slate ● Oct. 30, 2026

As California ushers in its certification label, she said, other states could adopt similar certification programs or develop their own definitions of ultraprocessed foods while a uniform federal definition is still in the works.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 29, 2026

The lack of shared definitions across a fast-moving industry is also stalling AI safety efforts.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 19, 2026

The award-winning poster included ten tips for running a successful lemonade stand, a profit-and-loss statement, business definitions, and a chart that tracked franchise profits.

From "The Lemonade War" by Jacqueline Davies

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