Definitionsdefinitions

Definitionsdefinitions is not a standard term in established lexicography, but a coined expression used to explore meta-definitional processes. It refers to the idea of defining definitions themselves, or a chain of definitions that defines the act, the object, and the criteria by which definitions are judged.

In mathematical logic and philosophy of language, meta-definitions establish the rules for what counts as a valid definition. If those rules are themselves defined by other rules, the process can become recursive or layered, sometimes described as a definitionsdefinitions scenario.

This concept highlights issues of circularity and infinite regress, as a definition references another definition that references another, potentially without a clear base case. Practical systems such as dictionaries and knowledge bases address this by providing base definitions and explicit hierarchies.

Applications include lexicography, ontology engineering, and semantic modeling. By examining definitionsdefinitions, researchers assess whether a language or taxonomy is well-founded, whether base criteria exist for inclusion, and how to avoid ambiguity or drift in meaning.

See also: recursion, circular definition, meta-language, linguistic semantics, ontology, epistemology.