Identifying Types of Definitions

Learning Objectives:
• Identify Formal Definitions
• Identify Informal Definitions
• Identify Extended Definitions

LESSON
When writers are trying to explain an unfamiliar idea, they rely on definitions. All definitions
attempt to explain or clarify a term. This lesson will introduce you to the three different types
of definitions: formal, informal, and extended.

Formal Definitions
A Formal Definition consists of three (3) 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.
Formal Definition Example:
• Term: Freedom
• Part of speech: Noun
• Definition: The power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or
restraint.

Informal Definitions
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.
Informal Definition Example:
• Freedom, also referred to as liberty or independence, is a state people reach when they
are free to think and do whatever they please.

Extended Definitions
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.
• Examples or anecdotes: telling a story or example that illustrates the term.
 • Negation: defining a term by explaining what the concept is not.
• Evoking the senses: using a word that creates a picture in the reader's mind so that the
reader might relate through memory of sound, sight, touch, hearing, or smell.
• Environment or sector: pointing out how and where something is used.
• Ramifications: showing how the term or concept affects people or objects.
• Historical references: showing how a word has been defined throughout history.
Extended Definition Example:
• To our colonial forefathers, freedom meant having a voice in their government.
(historical reference) The Revolutionary War was a last resort against an empire that
continued to tax its colonists without the representation of the colonists in
Parliament. Since the United States won the right to rule itself, our country has been
referred to as "the land of the free and the home of the brave." (example) True
freedom means the ability to think, feel, say, or act however one chooses. (listing
parts) It is a state where the bars of bondage do not exist. (negation) Unfortunately,
the widening gap between the haves and have nots means that some are now
shackled by their lack of education. (evoke the senses: shackled) Americans can attain
real freedom when everyone has the same educational opportunities.

Practical Application
It is important for you to be able to understand new terms and ideas that you encounter both
in your college and professional lives. While you may be able to understand an entire text
without knowing what one or two words in the text are, you could also be easily confused.
For instance, if you read an article about whaling that uses the word "moratorium" and you
think that a "moratorium" is a special type of aquarium, your understanding of the entire
passage will be hindered since "moratorium" actually refers to the freezing, pausing, or
halting of something, in this case the practice of whaling. Imagine if you then used the word
"aquarium" when you should have used "moratorium." You run the risk of embarrassment if
you use it with someone who knows the actual meaning; even worse, you could pass on
incorrect information to another individual who would then be equally misinformed. Both
situations can be avoided when you are able to identify the correct definition.

A. Read the following definitions; notice whether each one is a formal, informal, or
extended definition. The term being defined appears as bold.
1. When my friend Katrice was young, she disobeyed her parents near Christmas. I don't
recall the crime, but I do recall the consequence. When she woke up on Christmas
morning, there were no presents for her under the tree from "Santa Claus." To make
matters worse, she had to watch her younger siblings open all their presents in front of
her. Santa did not come for Katrice that year because she was on the "naughty list." While
her parents may well still stand by their decision, Katrice maintains that she was the victim
of cruel and unusual punishment. I tend to agree, as it seems that the consequences were
too drastic for any child, no matter how naughty she may have been.
− EXTENDED DEFINITION
2. Many prisoners of war have been victims of cruel and unusual punishment; people were
shocked and horrified when they learned of the water torture, temperature extremes,
and sensory overloads that the prisoners were subjected to.
− INFORMAL DEFINITION

3. The Cornell University Law School website defines cruel and unusual punishment (noun)
as "punishment that is extremely excessive in relation to the crime, shocking to ordinary
sensibilities, or equivalent to torture."
− FORMAL DEFINITION

B. Read the following definitions, then identify whether each one is a formal, informal, or
extended definition. The term being defined has been bolded.
1. Bullying describes the act of forcing someone to do something he or she does not
want to do. Typically, the bully uses physical power or influence to intimidate the
person being bullied.

2. Once upon a time, bullying in schools only referred to the students who forced the
smaller students to give up their lunch money or the ones who beat them up after
school. In recent years, many schools have cracked down on bullying and have strict
zero-tolerance policies. In fact, a student was recently disciplined for biting a Pop-Tart
into the shape of gun. However, now harassment is often happening online. Real
bullies hide behind social media technology, like Facebook, posting embarrassing
pictures and videos of their classmates and setting up fake relationships to lead on and
shame others, an act known as catfishing.

3. Bullying occurs when someone uses his or her power or prestige to intimidate and
terrorize another person. At times, the bully pushes someone around to get
something specific from that person, but at other times, the bully simply is mean just
to watch the other person squirm. Tormenting anyone for any reason is inappropriate
and should not be tolerated.

Question: Why is it important to know how to identify the three types of definitions?
Reading or writing an essay where students are unfamiliar with most of the subject matter
can be very hard for them to write about or take a test on it. Identifying the meanings of
unfamiliar ideas should help students in their reading, writing, and test-taking.

Common Definition Essay Topics

1. Kindness 6. Respect 11. Success 16. Politics
2. Humor 7. Family 12. Communism 17. Terrorism
3. Love 8. Happiness 13. Selfie 18. Dependence
4. Charisma 9. Racism 14. Social Media 19. Weakness
5. Optimism 10. Ambitions 15. Independence 20. Power
Techniques of Extended Definition
A Definition can begin with a synonym, a brief phrase, or a formal sentence that explains the
term/field in its most basic form. When an assignment requires you to write an extended
definition, you should attempt to use the tactics of definition. The techniques you use will
depend on what is appropriate for audience and subject matter. These common techniques
are listed below:
• Etymology – explaining origin of the word itself
• History – if relevant, discussing the history of the term/its use/controversies associated
with it
• Cause and Effect – discussing how the situation came about and what effects it may have
• Description – listing and defining the component parts
• Principles of Operation – discussing how topic in question functions, including any special
materials or conditions required
• Classification - showing how the topic fits into a larger category
• Contrast/Negation – showing how the topic differs from others in the same class
• Comparison – showing how the topic is similar to others in the class
• Analogy – explaining by comparing two dissimilar topics, where the second is familiar to
the audience
• Examples
• Illustrations

Planning:
For your extended definition, research the topic you are to tasked to write. Next, identify the
larger document you would anticipate your definition appearing in (e.g., a user’s manual, a
textbook, an advertisement, a legal document). This larger document will determine your
audience, which will then determine how specific you need to be with your definition and
how formal its tone will be.

Organization:
Begin your extended definition with a sentence definition, which is a broad one-sentence
definition of your topic. Sentence definitions begin with “(topic) is/was a/the…” (examples:
A guitar is a musical instrument belonging to the string family; George Washington was the
first President of the United States).

From here, there are Eight Definition Strategies you can use to write your Extended
Definition. Your topic will determine which ones you use; however, you should plan to use
several of them.

Visuals: provide a graphic representation of a topic. For example, for a definition of the water
cycle, the writer might use a visual illustration of the process to supplement his or her written
description.
Examples: explain an abstract or complicated topic. For example, for a definition of
compound exercise, the writer might provide several compound exercises as examples
(squat, bench press, deadlift, etc.).

Partition: divides complex topics into multiple categories. For example, for a definition of
diabetes, the writer would want to partition the three kinds of diabetes (type 1 diabetes, type
2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes) and discuss them one at a time rather than try to define
them all at the same time.

Principle of Operation: defines a process or an object involved in a process; as such, it is likely

to appear in documents like a user’s manual or instructions. For example, for a definition of
four-wheel drive, the writer could explain, step-by-step, how four-wheel drive works.

Comparison and Contrast: useful when the topic consists of two categories with clear
similarities and differences. For example, for a definition of electric current, the writer might
want to set up the definition as a comparison/contrast between the two types of electric
current: alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC).

Analogy: draws a comparison between the topic and something likely already familiar to
readers. For example, for a definition of central processing unit, the writer might want to
draw an analogy between how a CPU works and how the human brain works.

Negation: defines the concept by what it is not. For example, one way to define automatic
transmission would be to explain how it is different from manual transmission, its
predecessor.

Etymology: explains where the name of the topic comes from. For example, for a definition
of tyrannosaurus rex, the writer might explain that the name comes from the Greek words
meaning “tyrant” and “lizard” and the Latin word meaning “king.”

Typically, your extended definition will proceed from general to specific; start with the broad
information - the “basics” - that readers would need to know about your topic. Gradually
make your paragraphs more and more specific, but remember that your larger document and
your audience will determine how specific you need to get.
 Extended Definition Template

Word to be Defined: ……………………………

Historical
Example Listing Parts Negation Evoke Senses
Reference