The document discusses different types of definitions including formal, informal, and extended definitions. It explains that a definition should have three parts: the term being defined, its classification, and identifying characteristics. Good definitions are precise, not vague, and allow terms to be clearly understood. Definitions help improve communication and decision making by promoting shared understanding.

1. Definition
SUPERVISED BY: Dr. Khaleel B. Al Bataineh
DONE BY : Muhammed Zaid Salahalden
Doha Wajeeh Jasim
Haneen Ali
Amman Arab University
Dept. of English Language and Translation

2. A definition is a statement of the
meaning of a term (a word, phrase,
or other set of symbols).
The definition is a characterisation
of the
meaning of the (sense of the) lexeme;
it is not an exhaustive explanation of
the possihle
Referents.
The term “drfinition” came from the
latin word “Definire” meaning to lay
down
Thus , etymologically, to define
means to lay down the markers or
limit .
A definition

3. extensional definitions
What are the types of
definition ?
Nominal definitions

4. Classes of intensional definitions
 Classes of intensional definitions
A genus–differentia definition is a type
of intensional definition that takes a
large category (the genus) and narrows
it down to a smaller category by a
distinguishing characteristic .
More formally, a genus–differentia
definition consists of:

5.  Classes of extensional definitions
ostensive definition enumerative definition
This gives the
meaning of a
term by
pointing, in the
case of an
individual, to
the thing itself.
This gives an
explicit and
exhaustive
listing of all
the objects that
fall under the
concept or term
in question.

6. Nominal definitions Real definitions
A nominal definition is
the definition explaining
what a word means (i.e.,
which says what the
"nominal essence" is),
and is definition in the
classical sense as given
above.
A real definition, by
contrast, is one
expressing the real
nature or quid rei of
the thing.

7. A definition should be substitutable for the item being
defined; so the head of the definition phrase should belong
to the same word class as the delined lexenme ,different
forms of definition are appropriate to different types of
word.

8.  Kindsof DefinitionBasedonUsage
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.
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
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.
Precising

9. C. Précising Definition
The purpose of a précising 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.
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.
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).

10. E. Persuasive Definition
Some definitions are intended either mainly or at least
partly to influence attitudes
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.
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.

11. Rulesof Definition:
1. A definition should state the essential attributes of the object being defined.
Essential attributes are attributes which make the object what it is. So, a good definition
of “X” must be able to answer the question “What really is X?”
The definition of man as a rational animal satisfies this criterion, for it tells us what man
really is. However, defining man as an animal who is capable of speech violates this rule
because being able to speak is not what makes man as “man”.

12. 2. A definition should be neither too broad nor too
narrow.
When a definition is too broad, it might include objects
which are not proper extensions of the term, and when
it is too narrow, it might exclude objects which are
really extensions of the term.
For instance, if we define man as a bipedal mammal
then we have to include, based on that definition, other
mammals which are also bipedal like apes. Or, if we
define man as a rational animal with two legs, two
hands, and one head, then our definition is too narrow
since it would exclude people who do not have complete
legs or hands.
3. A definition must not be circular.
This means that the definiendum must not
appear in the definiens. A definition violates this
rule when the term that is supposed to be
defined is used to define itself.
Examples of definition that violates this rule:
“Sympathy” is the feeling of a person
who feels sympathetic.
“Fallacy” is an argument that is fallacious.
A “circle” is a plane figure that has a circular
shape.

13. 4. A definition should not be expressed in figurative, obscure and ambiguous language.
Good definitions do not use metaphor or figurative languages. The purpose of definition is to give us
clear idea of what a thing is, and using figurative language will not allow us to achieve that. No
matter how appealing such a definition, still it gives no clear idea of what it tries to define. It also
defeats the purpose of definition if we define words using other words that are more unfamiliar and
obscure.
Examples of definition that violates this rule:
An elephant is an animal with a long prosboscis.
A lover is someone who gives you sunshine.
God is the alpha and the omega.

14. 5. A definition should as much as possible be affirmative, rather than negative.
The purpose of definition is primarily to tell us what a thing is, not what a thing
is not.
Example of definition that violate this rule:
A plant is a living thing that is not an animal.
But there are terms which are essentially negative, and a defining such terms
requires negative definition. Hence, such negative definitions do not violate
this rule. Here are the example:
A bald person is someone who has no hair in the head.

15. What are the threepartsof a definition
statement?
1. Term being defined
2. Classification
3. Identifying characteristics

16. 1- TermBeingDefined
The term being defined is the part of a definition statement that serves as a label for
the classification and identifying characteristic(s).
In the sociology definitions given, the term being defined is given in bold faced print.
It is easier to use the term being defined in a statement instead of using the
definition of each individual word. For example, it is quicker and easier to say, “Tour
packages receive discount prices by hotels and restaurants because breakage.”
If you had to use in place of breakage “the financial gain to a hotel when meals or
other services included in a package are not used by the guests,” it would greatly
increase the amount of words needed to communicate. Communication would be
very difficult or impossible if each term used in a statement had to be defined.

17. 2- Classification
The classification is the part of a definition statement that tells under
what category or group a term is located.
In the sociology definitions given, the classification of each term is
underlined.
The classification in a definition statement tells what common feature
the term being defined shares with other terms. Here you can see each
sociology term has the common feature of being a “small group of
people.” Therefore, a "small group of people" is the classification of
each of these sociology terms.

18. 3- IdentifyingCharacteristic(s)
The identifying characteristic of each of the sociology terms being defined
is italicized. Notice that each of the sociology terms has a different
identifying characteristic.
A term's identifying characteristic(s) tell you how that term being defined is
unique or different from other terms that share the same classification.
It is the identifying characteristic(s) of a definition statement giving the
term's unique identifying characteristic(s) that permit you to identify
something as an example of the term being defined. This will be explained
later.

19. Definitionin medicine
In medical dictionaries, guidelines and other consensus
statements and classifications, definitions should as far as
possible be:
•simple and easy to understand, preferably even by the
general public.
•useful clinically or in related areas where the definition will
be used.
•specific (that is, by reading the definition only, it should
ideally not be possible to refer to any other entity than that
being defined);
•measurable.
•a reflection of current scientific knowledge.

20. What are the Identifying Typesof
Definitions
1- Identify formal definitions.
2- Identify informal definitions.
3-Identify extended definitions.

21. 1- Formaldefinition:
A formal definition consists of three parts: the term, the part of
speech to which it belongs, such as a noun or a verb, and all
the traits or characteristics that are specific to that term.
The dictionary is filled with formal definitions, but it is not the only
place where you will find them. Writers often include formal
definitions when they are writing about something that may be
unfamiliar to their readers. In textbooks, you may find the formal
definition of terms listed at the beginning, at the end of a chapter,
or in the glossary, which is a mini-dictionary of terms relevant to
that text.
In an informal definition, the writer uses known words or
examples to explain an unknown term.These definitions
may be synonyms or antonyms introduced
by or, in other words, or like.
2- Informaldefinition:

22. Extended definitions generally have components of both
informal and formal definitions. However, as the name
suggests, the author uses a number of other techniques to
define a word, concept, or phrase, including the following:
•Listing and describing the parts: identifying smaller, more
familiar pieces of an idea to point to the definition of the
bigger concept.
•Etymology: sharing a word's origin.
3- Extendeddefinitions

23. What is the difference between “define” and “what is”
“To define” usually means to cite, or to make a formal
“definition
“What is” on the other hand is not formal, so the answer can
range from “define” to “explain your grandmother”; it depends
on context.

24. Why good definitions are valuable assets?
They allow us to assess situations better, have more
meaningful conversations, and make better decisions.
In contrast, imprecise definitions make it difficult to even
agree on what we’re talking about.The conversations end
up circling around, going nowhere.

25. A really good definition is generative. It creates value
beyond its intended purpose of describing something
effectively. Our definition of social media very
naturally led us to realize why people are so
annoying on social media. It also helped us see
how social media disrupted traditional media. We
didn’t set out to answer those questions- the
definition led us there.

26. Fora definition to be useful,it has to be:
1. Precise. Not vague, and not convoluted. It should have as
few elements (“moving parts”) as possible.
2. Falsifiable.This is typically a function of precision.The
more precise you are about something, the easier it is for
others to point out when you’re wrong.This is a good thing,
because it then allows you to revise your definition. This
allows for healthy, constructive discussions that are focused
on outcomes rather than personal egos.

27.  References
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definition
 http://content.nroc.org/DevelopmentalEnglish/unit05/Foundations/i
dentifying-types-of-definitions.html
 https://www.referralcandy.com/blog/importance-of-good-
definitions/
 http://logicwrendolf.blogspot.com/2013/12/definition.html