Definition
nounA statement of the exact meaning of a word or term.
How to spell definition
10 letters · 4 syllables
How to pronounce definition
Say the part in capitals loudest.
What does definition mean?
- nounA statement of the exact meaning of a word or term.
- nounThe degree of sharpness or clarity in the outline of an image or sound.
Definition in a sentence
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The dictionary gave a clear definition of the legal term.
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The new camera captures images with remarkable definition.
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She asked for a precise definition before signing the contract.
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The high definition of the screen made the text easy to read.
Where does definition come from?
Language of origin: Latin
The word comes from the Latin definitio, meaning 'a setting of limits' or 'a precise statement', which was built on the verb definire 'to mark out, to limit'. That verb in turn combined de- 'completely' with finis, the Latin noun for a 'boundary' or 'end'; the same finis root sits inside everyday relatives like 'finish', 'final' and 'finite'. The literal idea was to draw a boundary around something so that its exact meaning became clear, and from that came the modern sense of stating precisely what a word or thing is. English took the word in through Old French during the 1300s, and it later picked up the meaning of sharpness or clarity of outline, as in the 'definition' of a photograph. The spelling trap lies in the unstressed middle vowel: the 'fin' is easy, but writers must remember the single 'f', the 'i' in 'def-i-nition' (not 'defenition'), and the '-tion' ending.
How the word is built
- de- (down, completely)
- fin (boundary, limit, from finis: end)
- -ition (noun-forming suffix)
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