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

That narrow and sensational definition is precisely what keeps women from recognizing and/or reporting their symptoms.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026

“That is a…lazy definition of luxury. We just sold a $320,000 watch but you can also buy a $12 pack of tennis socks.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026

It was in part to this fear that George Mason referred when he insisted at the Constitutional Convention that any definition of impeachable conduct must cover “attempts to subvert the Constitution.”

From Slate ● Aug. 17, 2026

“I don’t think drinking or not drinking alcohol should have any impact on the definition of socialization.”

From Salon ● Aug. 15, 2026

I am about to comment that this is because based on the technical definition, robots are not alive.

From "A Rover's Story" by Jasmine Warga

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

From Salon ● Aug. 9, 2026

“State laws offer varying definitions that prosecutors have largely accepted, and courts have increasingly defined the category, usually functionally.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026

“Plaintiffs’ market definitions bear no relationship to the realities of today’s marketplace and cannot withstand scrutiny.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026

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

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 8, 2026

Her own ward had been redesignated as an overflow to acute surgical, but the definitions meant nothing at first.

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan

Related Words

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