Definitions

Note: This page is still being revised.

  1. Five Purposes of Definition
    1. To Increase Vocabulary
    2. To Eliminate Ambiguity
    3. To Reduce Vagueness
    4. To Explain Theoretically
    5. To Influence Attitudes
  2. Five Types of Definition
    1. Stipulative-A definition that is given to a new term or idea. Example:Internet. Hip-hop.
    2. Lexical-Reports on the meaning already assigned.Dictionary definitions tend to be too brief to really give the reader agood understanding of a complex word. Often it is necessary to look upthe meaning of specialized terms in specialized resource material. Example:Compare the definition of "heart attack" in a standard dictionary and amedial textbook. In college, you generally need to use a more specializedresource when defining complex terms.
    3. Percising-"a definition capable of helpingto decide borderline cases that go beyond the mere lexical [or dictionary]meaning" (p. 151). Example: the term "reasonable doubt" requires an understandingof finer points than would be covered in a dictionary. These definitionstend to be longer since they need to develop the definition.
    4. Theoretical-"attempts to formulate anadequate characterization of the objects to which it is applied" (p. 152).Some examples include "justice," "virtue," "the good," as well as definitionsof terms such as "heat" or "temperature." (p. 152).
    5. Persuasive-A definition whose purpose is to get people to accepta position: Examples: Pro-Choice (contrast with Pro-Abortion), Anti-Abortion;partial Birth Abortions (contrast with late term abortions to save themother's life).
    6. Extended-A longer definition in which manyaspects of the term are analyzed. Example: What is meant by "Diversity?"
  3. Various Kinds of Meaning
    1. Denotation-"the collection of all thoseobjects to which a term applies" (p. 156) Definition by listing out theobjects that meet a criteria. Example: Spades, Hearts, Clubs and Diamondsare "card suits."
    2. Connotation-"collection of attributesshared by all and only those objects in a term's extension" (p. 155) Example:A "skyscraper" is a building over a certain height.
      1. Subjective Connotation-"the set of all attributes that a particularspeaker believes to be possessed by the object" (p. 155). Example: To me,a skyscraper is a building that is more that 10 stories high.
      2. Objective Connotation-"The total set of characteristics common toall objects that make up that term" (p. 155). These are not subject toindividual interpretation.
      3. Conventional Connotation-Generally accepted definition.
  4. Techniques for Defining
    1. Denotative Defintions-a definition by giving examples. Example:Mars and Venus are "planets." (Note: They are also Roman gods so the definitionis not as clear as it could be.) This method can't be used for terms thatdon't exist such as unicorns (p. 159).
    2. Connotative Definitions-a definition in which the object is describedin such a way that it fits the definition. Also called definition by genusand species. The genus is the general property while the species narrowsthe definition to include only the defined term. Example "The word 'triangle'means a polygon having three sides". (p. 163)
    3. Operational Definitions-"term appliedto a given case if and only if the performance of specified operationsin that case yields a specific result" (p. 162). This type of definitionsis use when defining the results of how something works. Also known asa definition by process. Example: The area of a rectangle is the productof the length times the width.
  5. Rules for Definition by Genus and Difference
    1. The definition should state the conventional connotations of the termbeing defined.
    2. The definition should not be circular: The definition can not beused in the formulation of a definition: Example: A circle is a circularobject.
    3. A definition must be neither too broad nor to narrow. Example: A"shoe" is a leather covering on the foot. (too narrow: shoes can be madeout of other material.) Man is a 'featureless biped.' (too broad: Platoplucked the feathers from a chicken and then asked was it a man. (p. 167).This is one of the most common mistakes,
    4. A definition must not be expressed in ambiguous, obscure or figurativelanguage. Example: Defining "bread" as the "staff of life." Defininga wedding ring as "a matrimonial tourniquet design to stop circulation"(p. 168).
    5. A definition should not be negative where it can be affirmative.It is better to define what something is rather than what it is not--ifyou can help it.
    Some general comments:
      When asked for a definition in college, it will generally fall intotwo types. The first is a short definition.This is generally a Lexical,Connotative or DenotativeDefinitions. Basically, all this shows is that you can memorize. Thesecond kind of definition asks whether you can explain a term. Often, youwill have to define the terms used in your definition to a much greaterdetail. This is more complex and often uses Percising,Theoretical, Operationalor Extended Definitions . Often these definitionsinvolve several paragraphs to long papers.

      The term "slavery" can be looked up in a dictionary. This gives youa basic understanding of the word. However, to get a truer understandingof the term, it necessary to consult longer works that go into all thevarious aspects of slavery. The term "immigrant" can be looked up in adictionary and define in a single sentence; however, the concept of whatan immigrant is can take several pages to go into. This can be done bygiving a detailed example or explaining the various aspects of what itmeans to be an immigrant.

    From Copi, Irving. Introduction to Logic. 6th Ed. Macmillian:NewYork, 1982.