Definition

A definition is a statement that gives the meaning of a term.

Derived from the Latin word definire which means to enclose within limits or to make
boundaries or limits
The boundary of a field is defined by indicating the limits within which a field is confined and
bounded which it is marked off from other fields; similarly, a term is defined by indicating the limits
within which it is used and by which it is marked off from other terms.
Definition is not a proposition or sentence but a term, generally a complex term.

Parts of a Definition
1. Definiendum – the word that is defined
2. Definiens – the phrase that explains the definiendum

Kinds of Definition
.Lexical Definition
.stipulative Definition
.Precising Definition
.Theoretical Definition
Persuasive Definition
A. Lexical Definition
A lexical definition (Latin, lexis which means “word”) is the definition of a word according to the
meaning customarily assigned to it by the community of users. It simply reports the meaning
which a word already has among the users of the language in which the word occurs. A dictionary
or lexicon comprises this kind of definition.
E.g.: Lexicon - dictionary: a reference book that alphabetically lists words and their meanings, e.g. of an ancient
language

River - large natural channel of water: a natural stream of water that flows through land and
empties into a body of water such as an ocean or lake

B. Stipulative Definition
A stipulative definition is a kind of definition in which a new word or term is coined in order to
signify a meaning or object for which no word in the language has previously been given.
For example, the word selfie has been invented in order to signify a person who loves to take
picture of himself or herself.
Suppose that another living creature was found in another planet. Surely, there is no word in our
language to signify such creature. We, then, have to stipulate that the creature shall be known by
this or that particular name. Doing this means making a stipulative definition.

C. Precising Definition
The purpose of a precising definition is to reduce the vagueness of a word. There are terms in
our language which must have precise definitions because some future actions are based on our
knowledge of them.
For example, the arguments for or against contraception requires a clear, precise, and
unambiguous definition of life of human organism because such definition implies the moral
bearing of contraception.
Other examples which need precising definitions are legal terms like “theft”, “murder”, “private
property”, “rights”, and “sovereignty” since the definition sets the condition of understanding laws
and legislative praxis.

D. Theoretical Definition
Theoretical definitions attempt to define an object according to its true nature, and not necessarily
according to the way the word is used by a community of users.
Take, for instance, the definition of table salt as sodium chloride. Unless the persons involved
have some acquaintance with elementary chemistry, this would be a bad definition, for it would
define the familiar in terms of the unfamiliar. For those acquainted with the principles of chemistry,
however, this definition is the best one, for it reveals the real nature of salt. Other familiar
theoretical definitions are “force equals mass times acceleration,” or “light is electromagnetic
energy (of a certain range of wavelengths).” For scientific purposes, theoretical definitions are
necessary and cannot be replaced by other types of definitions. A theoretical definition answers
the question, “What really is x?” where “x” is the object whose name is to be defined.
Philosophers, too, are interested in theoretical definitions. The desire to know what is really the
nature of “human person”, “knowledge”, “existence”, “being”, “beauty” etc., tells us why philosophy
today have so many branches like Philosophy of the Human Person, Epistemology,
Existentialism, Metaphysics, and Aesthetics which endeavour to get correct theoretical definitions
of the objects just mentioned.

E. Persuasive Definition
Some definitions are intended either mainly or at least partly to influence attitudes. Persuasive
definition, under which these definitions are categorized, incites either favourable or unfavourable
responses to the object so defined. Here are examples of persuasive definitions:
Democracy is a government of the weak, inferior race.
Democracy is a government of the people by the people for the people.
A dictator is one who achieves greatness by violence in the political sphere.
Love is only an illusion on people who do not know the difference between reality and fantasy.
Contraception is the deliberate prevention of unwanted pregnancy so that families may be able
to give the best care to their children.
Contraception is the wilful interference of God’s will so that children who would have seen the
light of day are deliberately prevented from doing so.
Persuasive is not really concerned with revealing the true nature of the concept defined but of
influencing attitude by using phrases that appeal to one’s emotion.