Overview

A definition is an explanation of the meaning of a word, concept, term, idea, or similar.

The skill called “defining terms” involves creating an excellent definition as measured by:

1. Meaning: You and your audience know exactly what the term means. The term is unambiguous.

2. Simplicity: Your definition gets its job done in the simplest and most direct way. No extra words.

3. Ease: Least effort, time, cost, struggle, and so on for you to create the definition.

4. Standards: Example: If you create a definition in a legal document, this meets the standards of quality for the legal profession.

I classify the skill of defining the meaning of things as a critical thinking skill for two reasons:

1. This skill is often presented in textbooks on CT.

2. This skill is useful to all people in all contexts. It is basically a superpower.

Rationale

The skill of “defining terms” is super useful for learning, critical thinking, persuading, managing, and so on.

How to Create Good Definitions

To create a good (high-quality) definition, use an iterative iterative approach as follows:

While the quality of your definition is improving, take the following actions:

1. Purpose/Audience: Determine why you are creating this definition and who your intended audience is.

2. Type: Select the best type of definition from the set of choices: extensional,

3. Research: Gather high-quality information from reputable sources. Gold mine this. Synthesize the common features.

4. Draft: Create a draft of your definition.

Types of Definitions

There are several types of definitions that are commonly used, including:

1. Lexical or Dictionary Definitions: These definitions provide the standard meanings of words as found in dictionaries. They are often brief and objective, aiming to capture the most common and accepted usage of a word.

2. Ostensive Definitions: In an ostensive definition, you point to or demonstrate the object or concept being defined. This type of definition is often used for objects or concepts that can be physically pointed to or demonstrated, such as “This is a cat.”

3. Stipulative Definitions: Stipulative definitions are created or introduced to establish a specific meaning for a term in a particular context. They are not necessarily based on existing usage but are defined for the purpose of a specific discussion or argument.

4. Precising Definitions: Precising definitions are used to narrow down or clarify the meaning of a term that may be vague or open to interpretation. They add precision to a term by specifying its boundaries or characteristics within a particular context.

5. Enumerative Definitions: Enumerative definitions list all the individual members or elements of a class or category. For example, defining “fruits” as “apples, oranges, bananas, and grapes.”

6. Functional Definitions: Functional definitions describe the purpose or function of an object or concept. They explain what something does or its role within a system or context.

7. Genus and Differentia Definitions: This type of definition places a term within a broader category (genus) and then distinguishes it from other members of that category by specifying its unique characteristics (differentia). For example, defining a “triangle” as a “polygon with three sides” (genus) and “three angles” (differentia).

8. Analytical Definitions: Analytical definitions break down a complex term into its constituent parts to explain its meaning. These definitions are often used in fields like philosophy and science to examine the essence or components of a concept.

9. Operational Definitions: Operational definitions are used in scientific research to define a concept in terms of the specific procedures or operations used to measure or observe it. This ensures clarity and replicability in research.

10. Circular Definitions: Circular definitions define a term using the term itself or a closely related term, which doesn’t provide new information. They are generally considered ineffective and should be avoided in most cases.

11. Persuasive Definitions: Persuasive definitions are designed to influence or persuade the audience by using loaded or biased language. They are often used to sway opinions or emotions rather than provide an objective explanation.

The choice of definition type depends on the context, purpose, and audience of the communication or discussion in which it is used. Different types of definitions serve different communicative and rhetorical functions.