Definimet

Definimet is a proposed unit of definitional metadata used in knowledge representation to capture the meaning of a concept in a structured, machine-readable form. It is designed to function as a reusable module in ontologies, lexical databases, and related knowledge bases, enabling consistent definitions, relationships, and provenance.

A definimet typically comprises several components: a canonical label (the term), language, part of speech, a natural-language definition, a formal definition or logical axioms, scope notes, usage examples, and metadata such as authorship and version. It may also include semantic relations to other definimet nodes, such as is-a, part-of, and associated terms, as well as cross-linguistic translations and synonyms.

Origin: The term appears in contemporary discussions about knowledge representation and lexicography as a neologism blending define with metadata. There is no single universal standard accepted for definimet, and implementations vary across projects.

Applications: In practice, definimet entries can support disambiguation, multilingual lookup, reasoning over concept hierarchies, and automated documentation generation. They can be serialized in formats such as RDF, JSON-LD, or OWL, allowing integration with existing ontologies and lexical resources.

Limitations and reception: Definimet is a relatively new and niche concept. While attractive for modularity and consistency, it competes with established representations like concept schemes, lexical entries, or ontology classes, and adoption depends on project goals and tooling availability. Related areas include ontology design, knowledge graphs, and lexical databases.