How to use definition in a sentence

40 example sentences · noun

Definition means a statement of the meaning of a word, word group, sign, or symbol; especially, a dictionary definition. Example: “Your definition of "elephant" needs to be more precise than "a big animal with large ears".”

Examples of definition by meaning

nounA statement of the meaning of a word, word group, sign, or symbol; especially, a dictionary definition.

Your definition of "elephant" needs to be more precise than "a big animal with large ears".
DEFINITIONS mean nothing unless the concept in the mind of the men who makes the definition is the same as that in the mind of the man who hears it.1925, Thomas R. Marshall, Recollections of Thomas R. Marshall, Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC, →OL, page 65

nounA clear instance conforming to the dictionary or textbook definition.

It is the very definition of a niche title.2008 May, Shoeless Wayne Santos, “Baroque” (game review), GameAxis Unwired, Hardware Zone Pte, page 51
It’s silly, it spoofy – it’s the very definition of a hidden gem2016 March 1, Stuart Heritage, “Comedy Bang! Bang! It’s silly, it spoofy - it’s the very definition of a hidden gem”, in The Guardian

nounThe action or power of describing, explaining, or making definite and clear.

Her comic genius is beyond definition.

nounClarity of visual presentation, distinctness of outline or detail.

The definition of a telescope.
Improve the definition of an image.

nounSharp demarcation of outlines or limits.

A jacket with distinct waist definition.

nounThe part of a cryptic clue which defines but does not indicate the solution.

However, some clues include words that do not form part of the wordplay or the definition.2014, Henry Howarth, Learn How to Solve Cryptic Crosswords: A Course for Beginners, Lulu.com, →ISBN, page 59

More sentences with definition

An essential definition of time should entail neither speed nor direction, just change.From the entry time
Your dictionary defines "brave" as "courageous", and "courageous" as "brave". That's a circular definition.From the entry circular
The einstein (symbol E) is an obsolete unit with two conflicting definitions.From the entry einstein
Not knowing of established definitions would be grounds for selecting or devising a working definition.From the entry working definition
Almost by definition, a conversation requires both parties to accept each other's viewpoints to some extent.From the entry by definition
The omnibenevolent God, by definition, was unable to withhold forgiveness from his people.From the entry omnibenevolent
These definitions fit most of the usage.From the entry fit
I have decided to become an oil magnate, after spending quite some time reading the dictionary definition of the word magnate.From the entry magnate
Sorry, I didn't mean to spend fifteen minutes discussing the definition of "decimate". I guess I geeked out for a bit.From the entry geek out
There are numerous definitions of the word 'man'.From the entry numerous
We illustrate our definitions by including quotations or simple examples.From the entry illustrate
The topic is definitions, but is open-ended really.From the entry open-ended
Saying that obscenity is indecent and then saying something is indecent if it's obscene is a circular definition.From the entry circular definition
He chanced upon the definition when leafing through the dictionary.From the entry chanced
A waterproof camera is by definition immersible.From the entry immersible
This property holds for all polygons; and since, by definition, all triangles are polygons, it holds for all triangles.From the entry by definition
The operational definition of a well-behaved student might be set at the threshold of "no more than 2 detentions in each semester".From the entry operational definition
Despite efforts by limnologists and freshwater biologists to create a formal definition of “pond”, there is still no universal distinction between a “pond” and a “lake”.From the entry formal
The definition of algebraic structure establishes a framework through which to compare otherwise very different abstract objects, and to study similarities and patterns made apparent by the definition.From the entry algebraic structure
It is sometimes assumed that the concepts of LUCA and progenote are the same by definition; more correctly, it is hypothesised that LUCA was a progenote.From the entry progenote
The centroid of a triangle is, by definition, the point of intersection of the three medians: moreover, it is a trisection point of each of the medians.From the entry trisection point
In an era of access for all, it has seemed best to let sleeping definitions lie.2026 May 9, Hollis Robbins, “What does the "higher" in higher ed mean? AI is forcing the question”, in Anecdotal Value [Substack newsletter]. From the entry higher education
To move towards danger when others are fleeing is the definition of bravery in my book.2025 November 12, Philip Haigh, “High praise for rail staff's courage and clear thinking”, in RAIL, number 1048, page 50. From the entry flee
I want to highlight two delightful surface readings, where the whole clue acts as an extended definition.2024 December 2, “i Cryptic Crossword 4313 Peter”, in idothei. From the entry extended definition
Clue of the day: A semi &lit: the definition cannot be read in a stand-alone way.2024 June 4, “Clue Of The Day: The Times: 4 June 2020”, in Cracking the Cryptic. From the entry semi-&lit
“Vox is an ultra-nationalist party – I think that’s the best definition,” says González.2023 June 11, Sam Jones, “From ‘cranks’ to contenders: how Spain’s far-right Vox party is rising toward power”, in The Observer, →ISSN. From the entry ultranationalist
A shortage of first-class seats is the definition of a first-world problem.2023 May 15, Chris Bryant, “Good luck finding first-class plane tickets”, in Sun Journal, page A5, column 1. From the entry first-world problem
Its narrow definition of Covid deaths “will very much underestimate the true death toll,” the W.H.O. says.2022 December 23, Keith Bradsher, Amy Chang Chien, Joy Dong, “As Cases Explode, China’s Low Covid Death Toll Convinces No One”, in The New…. From the entry murky
Based on that phylogenetic hypothesis, the taxonomic definitions of many coccinelloid groups were reconsidered.2022 November 24, Emmanuel Arriaga-Varela, Wioletta Tomaszewska, Karol Szawaryn, James Robertson, Matthias Seidel, Adam Ślipiński, Martin…. From the entry coccinelloid
The cutest babe but she's so on job, like, truest definition of a boss woman.2022 November 9, @itsmbeloved, Twitter, archived from the original on 08 Nov 2023. From the entry on job
But his eloquence was the very definition of a gesture both too little and too late.2021 January 7, “Trump Is to Blame for Capitol Attack”, in The New York Times, →ISSN. From the entry sow the wind, reap the whirlwind

Meaning of definition

noun A statement of the meaning of a word, word group, sign, or symbol; especially, a dictionary definition.
noun A clear instance conforming to the dictionary or textbook definition.
noun A statement expressing the essential nature of something; formulation.

Full definition of definition

Questions about definition in a sentence

How do you use definition in a sentence?: Definition is used as a noun. For example: “Your definition of "elephant" needs to be more precise than "a big animal with large ears".”
What is a short sentence with definition?: “The definition of a telescope.”
What does definition mean?: Definition means a statement of the meaning of a word, word group, sign, or symbol; especially, a dictionary definition.

Adapted from Wiktionary: definition (page history and authors) and the entries each sentence comes from. Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws chose the sentences, left out offensive ones and quotations older than 1900, and marked the word in each. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

Last updated: 2026-09-02

Cite this page: “How to use definition in a sentence.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/sentences/definition. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.