defined
Americanadjective
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determined, fixed, or clearly marked out as to extent, outline, or form.
an itchy red rash with sharply defined edges.
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Mathematics. having an assigned or determinable value under particular conditions.
Etymology
Origin of defined
First recorded in 1720–30; define ( def. ) + -ed 2 ( def. )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Bob Jones’s policies were contemptible, open and notorious, and—in the court’s view—so integral to the school that they defined the institution’s “purpose.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 1, 2026
“Before everything else, Patrick was defined by being born and bred in Yorkshire, the proud county in the north of England which he loved to the end,” McKellen’s statement began.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 30, 2026
From there, his career was largely defined by his 16 years with the Royal Shakespeare Company, where he started in 1966, before joining the Royal National Theatre in 1984.
From Salon ● Oct. 30, 2026
Those that cause strong ionization leave continuous, sharply defined lines, while particles that produce weaker ionization may appear as scattered, disconnected dots.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 28, 2026
The blade Lesedi summons is thinner than mine, but looks sharper and more defined.
From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
