definition

noun def·i·ni·tion \ ˌde-fə-ˈni-shən \

Examples: definition in a Sentence

Definition of definition

1 a : a statement of the meaning of a word or word group or a sign or symbol

dictionary definitions

b : a statement expressing the essential nature of something

c : a product of defining

2 : the action or process of stating the meaning of a word or word group

3 a : the action or the power of describing, explaining, or making definite and clear

the definition of a telescope

her comic genius is beyond definition

b (1) : clarity of visual presentation : distinctness of outline or detail

improve the definition of an image

(2) : clarity especially of musical sound in reproduction

c : sharp demarcation of outlines or limits

a jacket with distinct waist definition

4 : an act of determining; specifically : the formal proclamation of a Roman Catholic dogma

—

definitional

play \-ˈni-shə-nᵊl\ adjective

See definition defined for English-language learners

See definition defined for kids

Examples of definition in a Sentence

For the last eight years or so, I've been watching the evolution of bikes made for women. At the beginning of that time, there were a small number of women's bikes available, most offered with low-end, sometimes no-name, spec, as if by definition all women riders were beginners. —Christine Bucher, Bicycling, March 2008
Not only is Ellen Byrne a chocolatier, but she takes the definition of artisan to a higher level. —Amy Johansson, Chocolatier, February/March 2006
One kind of poverty is that of the imagination—the inability to envision a future truly different from the present. Jasmine had long judged people based on whether or not they gave her food and clothing, but, as she watched Carolyn and Gus and other families, she found herself mulling different gauges of worth. She'd been working lately on a definition of love. —Katherine Boo, New Yorker, 28 Nov. 2005
Ideology thus provides definition of both systemic reality and values: it provides a set of preconceptions of what is and of what ought to be. —Warren J. Samuels, Modern Economic Thought, (1977) 1993
What is the legal definition of a corporation?
A week of fishing is my definition of a vacation.
a monitor with good definition and vibrant colors

Recent Examples of definition from the Web

Kim and the North Koreans have not disclosed their definition of denuclearization either.

— david jackson, USA TODAY, "Donald Trump's Singapore meeting with Kim Jong Un is shrouded in mystery," 6 June 2018
Insurance companies have denied homeowners' claims, saying the problem does not qualify for coverage under their definition of collapse.

— kathleen mcwilliams, courant.com, "Ben Carson Says HUD Is Committed To Finding A Solution For Homeowners With Failing Foundations," 4 June 2018
Linguists note that other terms are euphemistic or diminutive, while the c-word is more straightforward in its definition, as Slate noted in 2013.

— the washington post, NOLA.com, "Let's talk about the c-word -- and why it's so taboo," 2 June 2018
Are the majority of us this retrograde in our definition of what's expected in a relationship?

— the editors of gq, GQ, "What 1,147 Men Think About #MeToo: A Glamour x GQ Survey," 30 May 2018
The preview outlined that employees will spend the day discussing their definitions of biases, their own personal experiences with bias, and how biases exist, whether consciously or subconsciously.

— madison roberts, PEOPLE.com, "Starbucks Will Be Closed This Afternoon for Racial Bias Training—Here's Everything You Need To Know," 29 May 2018
Ballpark effects, or park factors, are, in its simplest definition, a way to easily tell if a stadium favors hitters or pitchers.

— houston mitchell, latimes.com, "Stat corner: Ballpark effects," 26 May 2018
Trump has violated the values of patriotism by even its crudest definition.

— jonathan chait, Daily Intelligencer, "Most Unpatriotic President Ever Says Kneeling NFL Players ‘Shouldn’t Be in the Country’," 24 May 2018
Depending on your definition, some basic hallmarks of intelligence—from decision-making to learning—can even be found in creatures that don't have brains at all.

— michael greshko, National Geographic, "Brainless Creatures Can Do Some Incredibly Smart Things," 21 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'definition.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of definition

Middle English diffinicioun, borrowed from Anglo-French diffiniciun, definiciun, borrowed from Latin dēfīnītiōn-, dēfīnītiō "fixing of a boundary, precise description," from dēfīnīre "to mark the limits of, determine, define" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 4

See Words from the same year

definition Synonyms

Synonyms

delineation, depiction, description, picture, portrait, portraiture, portrayal, rendering, sketch, vignette;

demonstration, exemplification, illustration;

clarification, elucidation, explanation, explication, exposition;

DEFINITION Defined for English Language Learners

definition

noun

Definition of definition for English Language Learners

: an explanation of the meaning of a word, phrase, etc. : a statement that defines a word, phrase, etc.
: a statement that describes what something is
: a clear or perfect example of a person or thing