delineated
Americanadjective
-
precisely traced or outlined.
The crisply delineated form of the arch stands out against the soft clouds of steam that rise from the courtyard.
-
precisely defined or explained.
The Shire ends at clearly delineated boundaries.
Checklists are used to promote the recording and verification of delineated steps in tasks that, if improperly completed, could result in dangerous or damaging outcomes.
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of delineated
Explanation
Delineated describes something that has been clearly portrayed or accurately represented. Read a love letter in which your admirer’s feelings are delineated, and you don’t have any doubt how the author feels about you. The word delineated can describe something — like a diagram or map — that was literally drawn clearly. More often, you will hear the word in relation to something less tangible — like how a character in a novel is delineated, or depicted, by an author, or a politician who gave a speech in which her position was delineated, or defined. You might try to remember the word delineated by thinking of it as something with clearly defined lines.
Vocabulary lists containing delineated
The Other Wes Moore
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"Face Facts: The Science of Facial Expressions" and "Silent Language"
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"The Overcoat" by Nikolai Gogol
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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.
The Pentagon chief said the move was also aimed at ensuring US "access, basing and overflight are clearly delineated and assured" after some European imposed restrictions on US forces during the Iran war.
From Barron's ● Jun. 18, 2026
In the opening statement of an international conference held at the bank’s headquarters in Tokyo, Ueda delineated the nuances of how higher energy costs can feed through to inflation.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 27, 2026
The front of the coin will feature Trump in profile, with his trademark 1967 Las Vegas lounge act hairstyle delineated in fine detail.
From Salon ● Oct. 7, 2025
The wildfire–urban fire distinction matters because it determines both who is vulnerable to such disasters—a much broader section of neighborhoods than is delineated by fire-risk maps—and how to address the problem.
From Slate ● Jan. 14, 2025
The bomb line was a scarlet band of narrow satin ribbon that delineated the forwardmost position of the Allied ground forces in every sector of the Italian mainland.
From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller
Definitions 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.
