Definovania

Definovania is a term used primarily in linguistics and philosophy to describe a procedural approach to creating precise, community-approved definitions. Rather than treating a definition as a static statement, definovania emphasizes an iterative, participatory process that aims to minimize ambiguity and disagreement.

The word combines the Latin definire "to define" with a suffix -ovania that signals process or practice, similar to other coinages used in scholarly discourse.

Typical steps include outlining the scope of the term, listing necessary and sufficient conditions, proposing provisional definitions, providing examples and counterexamples, and conducting rounds of revision until consensus is reached.

In lexicography and terminology management, definovania can guide dictionary entries and controlled vocabularies; in education, it helps standardize terms across curricula; in law and science, it supports precise legal or technical definitions. The approach is often applied in settings where multiple stakeholders must agree on what a term denotes, and where clarity is essential for communication, analysis, and policy.

Critics note that the approach can be labor-intensive and may reproduce existing power relations within a community. Proponents respond that transparent, revisable procedures enhance clarity, adaptability, and shared understanding.

Definovania is presented as a descriptive framework rather than a universal method. See also: definitions, lexicography, terminology management, concept analysis.