Conceptdefinitie

Conceptdefinitie, literally “concept definition” in Dutch, denotes the articulation of what a concept includes and excludes. It serves to identify the concept’s essential features, clarify its scope, and differentiate it from related terms. In philosophy, linguistics and cognitive science, definitions can be intensional (stating properties that are necessary for membership) or extensional (listing the instances that fall under the term).

A standard method is the genus proximum with differentia: define the concept by naming its closest broad category and the attributes that distinguish it from others. Other approaches include ostensive definitions (pointing to examples), lexical definitions (dictionary style), and stipulative definitions (assigning a new meaning for a specific purpose).

Definitions face challenges. Some concepts have necessary and sufficient conditions, others rely on more flexible criteria or prototype theory, family resemblance, or contextual shifting. Borderline cases, vagueness, polysemy and cultural variation can complicate agreement about a conceptdefinitie.

In practice, a precise conceptdefinitie supports clear communication in science, law, education and information systems, and underpins the construction of ontologies and knowledge graphs in computer science. Attentive definition also helps avoid ambiguity and misinterpretation in debate and analysis.

See also: definition, ontology, semantics.