delineation

noun

de·​lin·​ea·​tion di-ˌli-nē-ˈā-shən How to pronounce delineation (audio)
dē-
1
: the act of outlining or representing something with lines or words : the act of delineating
the delineation of a scene
… the delineation of the territories allotted to the seven tribes of Israel …Adam Nicholson
2
: something made by delineating
a photographic delineation of low lifeT. S. Eliot
delineative adjective

Examples of delineation in a Sentence

his simple but striking delineations of Dutch landscapes a finely wrought delineation of a young woman's first experience with romantic love
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Originally intended as a Max original, the show shifted to HBO as part of a new content delineation plan. Joe Otterson, Variety, 30 Oct. 2024 Creators of all kinds prioritize personality and charm over journalistic rigor and information; as with the medium itself, the delineation between what matters for what reason has broken down. Aja Romano, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018 The show even made its debut at the Venice Film Festival, further underlining the increasingly amorphous delineation between the small and silver screen. Emma Specter, Vogue, 11 Oct. 2024 The film’s sound design, accordingly, doesn’t make easy delineations between sober and not, wounded or healed; even the sounds of Orkney and London, the film’s two core locations, are blended to help the audience feel what Rona’s experience actually is. Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 8 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for delineation 

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Late Latin dēlīneātiōn-, dēlīneātiō "description," from Latin dēlīneāre "to trace the outline of, delineate" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action

First Known Use

1570, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of delineation was in 1570

Dictionary Entries Near delineation

Cite this Entry

“Delineation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/delineation. Accessed 10 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on delineation

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!