Definitionan

Definitionan is a coined term in philosophy of language and lexicography used to describe a category of definitions that foreground explicit criteria for application. In a definitionan, a term is defined not primarily by reference or synonymy, but by a stated set of conditions, tests, or rules that determine when the term applies within a given domain. This approach aims to enhance clarity and verifiability by making membership criteria inspectable and repeatable.

Origin and form: the word is a recent coinage that attaches the suffix -an to the root “definition” to signal a type of definitional practice. It has appeared mainly in informal discussions and teaching materials rather than in established dictionaries. Its exact origin is informal and uncertain, and the term is not widely adopted.

Relationship to other definitions: definitionans are discussed alongside stipulative, lexical, and operational definitions. The defining feature is the explicit, testable criteria for inclusion, which may include thresholds, measurement procedures, or decision rules. Critics worry about rigidity or context-dependence; proponents argue that such definitions improve cross-disciplinary communication and reproducibility.

Example: a definitionan of color could specify perceptual categories tied to a standard illumination and a reproducible testing method, with defined wavelength ranges and calibration steps. Another example defines a social role by enumerating observable obligations and verification procedures that confirm the role in a given setting.

See also: definition, dictionary, lexicography, operational definition.