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

The Odyssey is "the definition of epic", according to Empire's John Nugent,, external in another five-star review.

From BBC ● Jul. 15, 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

Last year, the SSA added 13 ailments to its compassionate allowance list of conditions that are so severe they automatically meet Social Security’s strict definition of disability.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 14, 2026

The parliament's culture committee also called for an "EU code of conduct" to regulate influencers and a common definition of "influencer marketing".

From Barron's ● Jul. 14, 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

Many people are afraid to pursue a path that runs counter to conventional definitions of success.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 20, 2026

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

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

From Slate ● Jun. 2, 2026

As in postpublication peer review, a Peer Review article may address a paper from any scholarly journal so long as it raises concerns about methods, evidence, logic, definitions or theory.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 27, 2026

It contains active definitions for musical terms; music lessons regarding the meanings of musical notation; and exercises designed to further understanding of musical notes, chords, and many other musical aspects.

From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin

Related Words

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