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

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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)

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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

And the definition of “consumer” includes any “subscriber of goods or services” from the provider.

From Slate ● Oct. 17, 2026

The CoC charter defines the membership as “persons and entities interested in collaborative, solution-oriented planning to address homelessness in LA County,” a definition that could easily include thousands of potential voters.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 14, 2026

The benchmark for the definition is the sea-surface temperature anomaly in part of the Pacific Ocean, which is now at record levels.

From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2026

The panel hope that an official definition will pave the way for better diagnosis and treatment.

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026

I wrote this definition in my notes, but I didn’t understand it.

From "Educated" by Tara Westover

That meant LGBTQ+ and single people who historically had been shut out by definitions of infertility as a failure to conceive after six to 12 months of unprotected heterosexual intercourse.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 27, 2026

"We ask that Australia clarify how exactly 'harm' and 'risks' shall be determined... ensuring these definitions do not encroach on protected speech," the US said in its submission.

From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026

The authority of the ICJ was built on the precise legal definitions established by figures like Raphael Lemkin, who coined “genocide,” and Sir Hersch Lauterpacht, who helped shaped the concept of “crimes against humanity.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026

While pacing the frontier sounds compelling in theory, some believe these ambiguous definitions and loopholes make a slowdown functionally impossible.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 19, 2026

It was empowering to help dismantle the definitions of beauty that too often erased women of color and almost never included hijabi women.

From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad

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