definition
definition — noun
1. a sentence or short text that tells you what a word or expression means, especia
a sentence or short text that tells you what a word or expression means, especially the one you find in a dictionary
The dictionary's definition of 'courage' was too short to be helpful.
definition + of + [abstract noun]
Cyrus looked up the definition of 'photosynthesis' for his biology homework.
Can you give me a clear definition of what 'sustainable' means in this article?
give a clear definition of [term]
The teacher asked Bao to write his own definition of 'freedom' for the class.
Some common English words have more than one definition listed in the dictionary.
more than one definition
- clear definition
- definition of [word]
- dictionary definition
- give a definition
- provide a definition
- meaning
broader — covers what something conveys, not only dictionary explanations
- explanation
can cover processes and reasons, not restricted to word meanings
- gloss
a brief or explanatory definition, often between the lines of a text
Grammar Patterns
definition + of + [word/phrase]
look up + the definition of + [word]
Common Mistakes
2. a clear description of what something is by stating its most important qualities
a clear description of what something is by stating its most important qualities or its limits — for example, how a law decides who counts as an employee
There is no single agreed definition of what makes an effective leader.
no single agreed definition of [abstract concept]
The legal definition of 'employee' varies from one country to the next.
legal definition of [term]
Lisa struggled to understand the legal definition of 'employee' in her contract.
Scientists continue to debate the definition of intelligence and how to measure it.
debate the definition of [abstract]
Under the government's definition, a small business must have fewer than fifty staff.
under [possessor]'s definition, [condition]
- legal definition
- working definition
- definition of [abstract concept]
- under [someone's] definition
- broad/narrow definition
- accepted definition
- description
more general — may list features without setting firm boundaries
- delineation
formal — emphasizes the act of marking limits precisely
- specification
technical — focuses on exact requirements or criteria
Grammar Patterns
definition + of + [abstract concept]
[possessive] + definition of + [noun]
by + [someone's] + definition
Usage Note
Common with possessives ('the government's definition', 'our definition') or adjectives describing the field ('legal definition', 'medical definition'). Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 explains the meaning of a word; sense 2 describes the boundaries or essential nature of a concept, often in a specific field or context.
Common Mistakes
3. used to say that something is necessarily true because of the very nature of the
used to say that something is necessarily true because of the very nature of the thing itself — if you understand what the thing is, this fact follows automatically
A circle is, by definition, a perfectly round shape with no corners.
by definition [comma] + formal definition of a category
Shirin's nursing job is by definition demanding, but she reads to her daughter each night.
A vegetarian, by definition, does not eat meat or fish.
[noun] + by definition + [verb phrase]
By definition, a community garden is a shared green space where local residents grow vegetables and flowers together.
An orphanage is by definition a home for children without living parents.
- by definition
- is by definition
- necessarily
more general — does not carry the sense of 'by its very nature'
- essentially
overlaps in meaning but is less formal and less precise
- inherently
formal — suggests a quality built into something's character
Grammar Patterns
by definition, + [clause stating inherent property]
[noun] + is + by definition + [adjective/noun phrase]
Usage Note
Only used in the fixed phrase 'by definition'. The phrase is usually set off by commas or placed at the start of the sentence, followed by a characteristic that cannot be separated from the thing being described.
Common Mistakes
4. the degree of sharpness and detail in a picture, video, or sound recording — how
the degree of sharpness and detail in a picture, video, or sound recording — how clearly you can see edges, shapes, or hear individual sounds
This television has excellent picture definition even in a bright room.
picture definition + [adjective]
The definition on the old video was too poor to make out people's faces.
Modern cameras offer much better definition than models from ten years ago.
Gabriel adjusted the definition setting on his camera to capture sharper images.
definition setting / adjust the definition
The sound definition on these headphones is surprisingly clear for the price.
- high definition
- low definition
- picture definition
- image definition
- sound definition
- definition setting
- clarity
broader — can describe text, thoughts, or explanations
- sharpness
narrower — mainly visual, emphasizes edge contrast
- resolution
technical — refers to pixel count or detail capacity, not perceived sharpness
- blurriness
lack of visual sharpness
- fuzziness
unclear outlines, lack of crisp detail
Grammar Patterns
[adjective] + definition
picture / image / sound + definition
Usage Note
Frequently modified by adjectives of quality: 'high', 'low', 'poor', 'excellent', 'superb'. Used for both visual clarity (pictures, video) and audio clarity (sound reproduction). Think of it as a technical quality measure, not an opinion ('good' vs 'bad' are less common here than 'high' vs 'low').
Common Mistakes
5. the quality of having muscles that stand out clearly under the skin, usually fro
the quality of having muscles that stand out clearly under the skin, usually from regular exercise and low body fat
Hugo works out every day to improve the definition in his arms.
improve definition in [body part]
The bodybuilder's muscle definition was clearly visible under the bright stage lights.
Yumi does weight training to get better definition in her shoulders and legs.
Good muscle definition requires both low body fat and regular strength training.
definition requires [condition A and condition B]
Femi had impressive shoulder and back definition after years of competitive swimming.
- muscle definition
- good definition
- improve definition
- definition in [body part]
- shoulder/arm/back/leg definition
- muscle tone
broader — includes firmness and tension, not just visual separation
- delineation
formal — the visible separation between muscle groups
- muscle cut
informal slang — common in bodybuilding communities
- flabbiness
lack of muscle firmness
- softness
absence of visible muscle separation
Grammar Patterns
[body part] + definition
definition + in + [body part]
definition + of + [body part]
Usage Note
Common in fitness, bodybuilding, and sports contexts. Uncountable — you cannot say 'a definition' or 'definitions' for this sense. Colloquial alternatives include 'muscle tone' (less sharp visual separation) and 'muscle cut' (very informal, bodybuilding slang).
Common Mistakes
6. the process or act of explaining exactly what a word, idea, or concept means — n
the process or act of explaining exactly what a word, idea, or concept means — not the result itself, but the work of doing it
The definition of key terms is the first step in writing a research paper.
definition of [terms] as a process
A clear definition of the problem helps the team find a better solution.
Paloma spent a whole afternoon on the definition of each term in her essay.
spent [time] on the definition of [terms]
Definition of the project goals came before any actual planning began.
Part of the consultant's job involved the definition of each team member's role.
involved the definition of [roles]
- definition of [term]
- definition of the problem
- definition of roles
- involve the definition of
- require definition
- process of definition
- clarification
broader — can mean making anything clearer, not just by defining
- delineation
formal — emphasizes marking boundaries, not just explaining meaning
- determination
more about deciding than explaining
Grammar Patterns
the definition of + [word/concept]
[possessive] + definition of + [term]
Usage Note
Often followed by 'of' + the thing being defined. Commonly used in academic, business, and professional contexts to describe the initial phase of establishing scope. Frequently occurs paired with verbs like 'involve', 'require', 'begin with'. Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 is the product (the dictionary entry); sense 6 is the process.
Common Mistakes
7. an individual or object whose qualities make it a perfect illustration of its ki
an individual or object whose qualities make it a perfect illustration of its kind — the best possible model of what that type is
Sade's kindness to strangers was the very definition of compassion.
the very definition of [abstract quality]
That old house with a leaking roof is the definition of a fixer-upper.
To many people around the world, Paris is the definition of romance.
The nervous job applicant was the very definition of confidence on the outside.
the very definition of [trait] + during [event]
To Anna, the cottage by the lake was the definition of peace and quiet.
- the definition of
- the very definition of
- the definition of [abstract quality]
- the definition of [a type of thing]
- epitome
formal — 'the epitome of' means the perfect example of a quality
- embodiment
suggests living representation, not just an example
- personification
only for people — suggests someone who perfectly represents an abstract idea
- quintessence
formal — the purest or most perfect form of something
Grammar Patterns
the very definition of + [noun]
the definition of + [noun]
Usage Note
Almost always appears in the fixed pattern 'the (very) definition of [noun]'. Adding 'very' before 'definition' adds emphasis and is extremely common in this sense. The noun following 'of' can be abstract ('courage', 'elegance') or concrete ('a fixer-upper', 'a disaster'). Singular only — do not use plural ('definitions') for this sense.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- defineverbA2
- definiteadjectiveB1
- definitelyadverbB1
- definitiveadjectiveC1
- indefiniteadjectiveB2
- indefinitelyadverbB2
- redefineverbC1
- redefinitionnounC1
- definableadjectiveC1
- undefinedadjectiveB2
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
All three words relate to understanding, but they differ in scope and purpose. A 'definition' is a precise, formal statement of what a word or concept means — the kind you check in a dictionary. A 'meaning' is much broader: it covers the idea, message, or significance that something conveys, whether through words, symbols, actions, or even art ('the meaning of her smile'). An 'explanation' clarifies how something works or why something happened ('she gave an explanation for her absence'), which a definition typically does not do. An 'interpretation' is subjective — one person's reading of a text, event, or situation, which may differ from another person's ('my interpretation of the poem is different from yours'). Example: 'The dictionary definition of justice is straightforward, but different cultures have very different interpretations of what justice means in practice.'
Common collocations
Etymology
The word 'definition' comes from Latin 'definitio', meaning 'a bounding, a limiting, a setting of boundaries'. This was formed from 'definire', meaning 'to set bounds to, to limit', which in turn combined 'de-' (down, away) and 'finire' (to limit, end), from 'finis' (boundary, limit). English adopted the word through Old French 'definicion' in the 14th century. The sense of 'a perfect example' (sense 7) emerged much later, around the 18th century, through the logical idea that the defining features of something are the features that best represent it.