Nondefinite

Nondefinite is a linguistic term used to describe noun phrases that do not refer to a specific, uniquely identifiable entity. In contrast to definite expressions, which presuppose shared knowledge of a particular referent, nondefinite phrases point to members of a class or to entities not anchored in the current discourse context.

In English, nondefinite noun phrases are commonly marked by indefinite determiners such as a or an, as in “I saw a bird.” Bare plurals and mass nouns can also be nondefinite in certain contexts, as in “Cats are common pets” or “Water is essential.” These forms can convey generic, non-specific, or non-identifiable reference, and they can carry existential or generic readings depending on context and verb form.

Cross-linguistically, the expression of nondefiniteness varies. Some languages have definite articles that explicitly mark definiteness, while others rely on demonstratives, case, word order, or the absence of articles to signal nondefiniteness. In languages without definite articles, nondefinite meaning may be conveyed through quantifiers, classifiers, or discourse context rather than a dedicated article system. This leads to a range of strategies for signaling nondefinite reference across languages.

Theoretical treatments of nondefinite NP reference appear in semantics and grammar work, where researchers examine how nondefinite phrases contribute to information structure, discourse grounding, and referential flexibility. Nondefinite readings are common in generic statements (for example, “Dogs bark”) as well as in non-specific existential contexts, and their interpretation often depends on the surrounding linguistic and situational context.

In summary, nondefinite describes noun phrases that do not specify a unique, identifiable referent, with expression and interpretation shaped by language-specific article systems, syntax, and discourse context.