delineated
adjective
de·lin·eat·ed
di-ˈli-nē-ˌā-təd 
dē-
1
a
: having or forming clear edges or boundaries
Deserts are wildly heterogeneous, composed of numerous, disparate, sharply delineated microenvironments.—
Bil Gilbert
Bil GilbertThese tumors tend to be invasive and extend beyond delineated margins.—Dennis P. O'Brien and Joan R. Coates
Dennis P. O'Brien and Joan R. Coates
b
: marked with drawn or painted lines
delineated bike lanes
the delineated areas of the map
2
: described or portrayed with accuracy or in detail
… the military, with its clearly delineated roles, ranks, chains of command, and reservations of authority.—Eric J. McNulty
Eric J. McNultyExamples of delineated in a Sentence
the finely delineated characters of the novel will seem real to the reader
Recent Examples on the Web
Polygon warnings are a system used by the National Weather Service to issue severe weather alerts for specific, delineated areas.
—Chuck Fieldman, Chicago Tribune, 20 May 2025
There is a kind of publicity that’s bad publicity, and in a case with such clearly delineated sides, making a stand for one party or another could have long-term negative effects.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 29 Apr. 2025
Those are nearly always tests requiring a final numerical answer and not requiring delineated proofs associated with the answer.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
In this case, at least, the danger is small enough and the potential payoff great enough that agencies like the FAA seem ready to allow such small UAVs to fly within carefully delineated spaces.
—IEEE Spectrum, 29 Nov. 2011
But per White’s norm, each is so clearly delineated and well-cast that the largesse never gets confusing or overwhelming as the stories intertwine and coil and slither around each other like a nest of snakes.
—Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 11 Feb. 2025
Marshals in hi-viz jockeyed to keep the drunkest fans out of delineated no-go zones.
—Raphael Orlove, Robb Report, 6 Feb. 2025
Some sections of the trail are still being completed and not well marked, so plan on some skilled route finding or pick a section that’s better delineated.
—Megan Michelson, Outside Online, 27 Jan. 2025
Anticipating frigidity, the organizers of the 2025 iteration (Donald Trump’s, reprise) moved the event indoors, to the Capitol Rotunda, whose limited capacity of six hundred people helpfully delineated who was in and who was on the outs.
—Benjamin Wallace-Wells, The New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Chuck Fieldman, Chicago Tribune, 20 May 2025
There is a kind of publicity that’s bad publicity, and in a case with such clearly delineated sides, making a stand for one party or another could have long-term negative effects.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 29 Apr. 2025
Those are nearly always tests requiring a final numerical answer and not requiring delineated proofs associated with the answer.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
In this case, at least, the danger is small enough and the potential payoff great enough that agencies like the FAA seem ready to allow such small UAVs to fly within carefully delineated spaces.
—IEEE Spectrum, 29 Nov. 2011
But per White’s norm, each is so clearly delineated and well-cast that the largesse never gets confusing or overwhelming as the stories intertwine and coil and slither around each other like a nest of snakes.
—Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 11 Feb. 2025
Marshals in hi-viz jockeyed to keep the drunkest fans out of delineated no-go zones.
—Raphael Orlove, Robb Report, 6 Feb. 2025
Some sections of the trail are still being completed and not well marked, so plan on some skilled route finding or pick a section that’s better delineated.
—Megan Michelson, Outside Online, 27 Jan. 2025
Anticipating frigidity, the organizers of the 2025 iteration (Donald Trump’s, reprise) moved the event indoors, to the Capitol Rotunda, whose limited capacity of six hundred people helpfully delineated who was in and who was on the outs.
—Benjamin Wallace-Wells, The New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Delineated.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/delineated. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share