well-defined

adjective

well-de·​fined ˌwel-di-ˈfīnd How to pronounce well-defined (audio)
1
: having clearly distinguishable limits, boundaries, or features
a well-defined scar
2
: clearly stated or described
well-defined policies

Examples of well-defined in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web To be effective, supporters say DEI initiatives must be well-defined and measurable and there must be genuine buy-in from university leadership. Athena Jones, CNN, 23 Feb. 2024 This is already well-defined by Chapter 171 of the Texas Health and Safety Code. Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Feb. 2024 The character arcs are satisfying and well-defined, the autumnal production design is almost swoon-inducing, and the sisters' descent into witchcraft is wittily characterized by the evolving shooting style. Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 20 Oct. 2023 The field begins with a focus on a basic and well-defined underlying mechanism—the activity of a single neuron. Dan Rockmore, The New Yorker, 15 Jan. 2024 Policies that are well-defined, transparent, and have the support of the workforce lead to improved retention rates. Gleb Tsipursky, Fortune, 8 Dec. 2023 The performance metrics the Ford-class carrier program must meet are clear and well-defined. Craig Hooper, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023 Altman’s case exemplifies this at the highest level of the corporate structure and also speaks to the need for success metrics that are well-defined before performance evaluations. Paige McGlauflin, Fortune, 22 Nov. 2023 While coyote packs do maintain some version of an alpha, their hierarchy is not as well-defined as the alpha in wolf packs. Hampton Bourne, Field & Stream, 22 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'well-defined.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1551, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of well-defined was in 1551

Dictionary Entries Near well-defined

Cite this Entry

“Well-defined.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/well-defined. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

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