Meaning & use
definition
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Meanings
nouncountable
A statement that explains what a word or phrase means.
Grammar: Has a plural: the dictionary gives two definitions.
Patterns
- the definition of something
- a definition of something
Look up the definition of the word in a dictionary.
The teacher asked us to write our own definition of freedom.
This term has several different definitions in law and in science.
nouncountable
A statement of what something is, which sets out exactly what counts as part of it and what does not.
Grammar: Often used with by: by definition, which means that it is necessarily so.
Patterns
- by definition
- the definition of something
By definition, a bachelor is an unmarried man.
Experts disagree on the exact definition of poverty.
The new law gives a broad definition of public property.
noununcountable
How sharp and clear the edges of an image or sound are.
Grammar: No plural and no article: the picture has good definition.
Patterns
- lack definition
- high definition
The old photograph lacks definition.
High-definition screens show the grass in fine detail.
Exercise gave her arms more muscle definition.
Word forms
| plural | definitions |
|---|
Common combinations
- dictionary definition
- The dictionary definition did not help me much.
- by definition
- A secret is, by definition, not shared.
- broad definition
- The policy uses a broad definition of family.
- precise definition
- A precise definition of the term is hard to find.
- high definition
- We watched the match in high definition.
- give a definition
- Can you give a definition of democracy?
Synonyms and how they differ
- explanation
- An explanation can be long and discuss why or how, while a definition is a short statement of meaning.
- meaning
- Meaning is what a word expresses, while a definition is the words used to state it.
- clarity
- Clarity suits the third sense, since it describes how clear something is, but it does not suggest sharp outlines specifically.
Word family
- define verb
- to state the meaning of something or set its limits
- definite adjective
- clear and certain, not vague
- definitive adjective
- final and authoritative, as in the definitive guide
- definitional adjective
- relating to a definition
- redefine verb
- to give something a new definition
Commonly confused: definition or definite?
definition vs definite
Definite means clear or certain, as in a definite answer. Definition is the noun for a statement of meaning. Note too that the spelling is definition, never defination.
Practice
Which sentence uses definition correctly?
Choose one answer.
Definition is a noun meaning a statement of meaning. Definite and definitive are adjectives and cannot stand alone as nouns here.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “definition”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.