definition

noun

ˌde-fə-ˈni-shən How to pronounce definition (audio)
Definition of definitionnext
as in description
a vivid representation in words of someone or something he gave us his definition of the perfect romantic evening on the town

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of definition Suddenly, instead of several distinct definitions, researchers had a single, universal theory of computation. — Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 28 Aug. 2026 Rōz’s Evergreen Style Cream pairs glycerin, sunflower oil, and shea butter to moisturize and soften with carnauba wax and styling polymers for flexible definition that still lets hair move. — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 28 Aug. 2026 Under-eye shadows, bags and lower-lid definition get played up instead of concealed. — Ashley Lynch, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026 According to a recent survey, 88 percent of Jews believe that Israel has the right to exist as a Jewish, Democratic state — the historically accepted definition of Zionism. — Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for definition
Recent Examples of Synonyms for definition
  1. description
  2. portrait
  3. depiction
  4. portrayal
Noun
  • The camera captures a car's license plate numbers, a car's description, and the date, time and location a vehicle passed through, and uploads the data to a searchable database customers can use.
    — Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Soon after its release, Cusk was sued by one of the people mentioned in the book, who recognized himself based on Cusk’s description.
    — René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of description
Noun
  • Giovanna had spent almost forty years researching Fernanda and, in a way, had already created her own portrait of her.
    — Roberto Prieto, Variety, 3 Sep. 2026
  • As Ghostface prepared to leave the Boone, Kansas City artist Deaunte Thomas approached him carrying a portrait depicting Ghostface alongside other members of Wu-Tang Clan.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of portrait
Noun
  • On one wall, the ambassador installed Marc Lipp’s Fight Fight Fight, a depiction of Trump with a bloody ear and raised fist painted by one of the president’s favorite Palm Beach watercolorists.
    — Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 28 Aug. 2026
  • In her depiction of the exhausting vigilance this reality required, through a second-person voice cannily implicating her reader, Rankine created a new language to identify a problem as old as the United States.
    — Charles Finch, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of depiction
Noun
  • The film stars Will Smith in his Oscar-winning portrayal of the Williams sisters’ father, Richard Williams.
    — Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Adventureland and Zombieland brought his wider recognition, followed by his portrayal of Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network.
    — Diana Lodderhose, Deadline, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of portrayal

Browse Nearby Words

definiteness
definition
definitions
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Definition.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/definition. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on definition

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about definition

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of apiary

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All