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

It said the current UK guidance of 10 nanograms per litre used by Jersey Water was impractical and there should be a specific and local definition.

From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026

Paramount and others have criticized the states’ case because prosecutors bypassed the increasingly important streaming business as part of their market definition.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026

Actually, nobody on Wall Street has a good definition of risk, which is why they hide behind Greek letters and jargon: Sharp ratios, Sortino ratios, Treynor ratios and so on.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 14, 2026

That definition stood for decades, notably surviving a 1995 Supreme Court case focused on the protection of old-growth forests for spotted owls.

From Barron's ● Jul. 14, 2026

Once again, I think about the definition I found online.

From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy

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

Even more, to make serious decisions about our future, we need to state the moral definitions of what it means to be human and the limits on AI’s influence on the social order.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026

Before we proceed, it is time for a few definitions.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 2, 2026

But in practice, the movement’s definitions of good and how to maximize it are at times controversial.

From Slate ● Jun. 2, 2026

The major argument running through the letters throughout 1813–1814 concerned their different definitions of social equality and the role of elites in leading and governing the American republic.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

Related Words

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