Determineddefinite

Determineddefinite is a term used in some discussions of formal semantics and pragmatics to describe a subtype of definite descriptions whose referent is fixed through explicit contextual determination in addition to the usual requirement of a unique referent. The idea emphasizes that certain definite expressions rely on concrete cues from the discourse, shared knowledge, or physical/contextual grounding to lock reference, rather than on the listener’s inference alone from uniqueness.

In theoretical treatments, a determineddefinite expression is modeled as operating on a context set and a property or description predicate. The referent is the unique individual x within the current context that both satisfies the descriptive content and meets an independently supplied context-determination constraint. This constraint can arise from demonstratives, deictic anchoring, proximity, evidential marking, or prior discourse structure. If no such unique x exists under the constraint, the expression may fail to refer or require repair through discourse repositioning, pointing, or clarification.

Cross-linguistic observations suggest determineddefinite readings are more likely when languages encode additional cues for reference, such as demonstratives that are anchored to the speaker’s or addressee’s perspective, or evidential systems that signal how a referent is known. In such cases, the same definite description can shift in referential force depending on the availability of the contextual determination cue.

See also: definite descriptions, demonstratives, deictic expressions, evidentiality, discourse context.