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
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Within the public domain, there is further delineation between market participants, depending on the liquidity of their stock and the accompanying derivatives market. Alexander S. Blume, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025 But Stranger is more than a bravura display to recall Chantal Akerman or Béla Tarr—its command of space and movement set the stage for an actor’s showcase and master class in narrative delineation that confirms Yang as one of China’s most exciting up-and-coming cinematic talents. Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 5 Mar. 2025 However, the framework creates a clear delineation of when to consider partnership, delivering greater customer value and creating stickiness for the SaaS product, and improving the lifetime value of the customer. Anshul Kumar, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025 Indeed, the conditions that produced Cruise — a global monoculture, a healthier Hollywood ecosystem, a stronger delineation between TV and cinema — are unlikely to recur in the streaming era. Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 24 May 2025 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

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Cite this Entry

“Delineation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/delineation. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.

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