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
Relationship to other definitions: definitionans are discussed alongside stipulative, lexical, and operational definitions. The defining feature
Example: a definitionan of color could specify perceptual categories tied to a standard illumination and a
See also: definition, dictionary, lexicography, operational definition.