interpretation

[ in-tur-pri-tey-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act of interpreting; elucidation; explication:

   This writer's work demands interpretation.

2. an explanation of the meaning of another's artistic or creative work; an elucidation:

   an interpretation of a poem.

3. a conception of another's behavior:

   a charitable interpretation of his tactlessness.

4. a way of interpreting.
5. the rendering of a dramatic part, music, etc., so as to bring out the meaning, or to indicate one's particular conception of it.
6. oral translation.

interpretation

/ ɪnˌtɜːprɪˈteɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or process of interpreting or explaining; elucidation
2. the result of interpreting; an explanation
3. a particular view of an artistic work, esp as expressed by stylistic individuality in its performance
4. explanation, as of the environment, a historical site, etc, provided by the use of original objects, personal experience, visual display material, etc
5. logic an allocation of significance to the terms of a purely formal system, by specifying ranges for the variables, denotations for the individual constants, etc; a function from the formal language to such elements of a possible world

Derived Forms

• inˌterpreˈtational, adjective

Other Words From

• in·terpre·tation·al adjective
• nonin·terpre·tation·al adjective
• over·in·terpre·tation noun
• prein·terpre·tation noun
• rein·terpre·tation noun
• self-in·terpre·tation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of interpretation¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Latin interpretātiōn-, stem of interpretātiō; equivalent to interpret ( def ) + -ation ( def )

Example Sentences

Public Citizen, a nonprofit consumer advocacy group, offered a far different interpretation.

From Los Angeles Times

“As artists, we are exposed to public opinion, and to the individual interpretations of people who like us and people who differ with what we do,” the “Provenza” singer wrote.

From Los Angeles Times

“I played Hamlet in college, and I will say this is harder because everything is subject to interpretation.”

From Los Angeles Times

Noting that he had placed his interpretation of the law on the record, he wrote that “repeating misrepresentations of facts after previously being put on notice is …. unwise.”

From Los Angeles Times

But an artist’s vision is subject to interpretation, which is to say reinterpretation.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• analysis
• clarification
• explanation
• judgment
• meaning
• perception
• reading
• translation