definitionlike

Definitionlike is an adjective used to describe language or statements that resemble a definition but do not meet the criteria of a formal definition. It is not a standard term with a fixed technical definition, but a descriptive label used in linguistic and rhetorical analysis.

Definitionlike statements typically identify a term and summarize its salient properties, scope, or usage. They are often declarative sentences that aim to convey essential meaning quickly, rather than to establish strict boundaries or exhaustive lists.

These statements can be characteristic of educational glosses, introductory encyclopedia entries, or manual explanations. They may be contextual, provisional, or evaluative, and they sometimes omit edge cases or exceptions that a formal definition would cover.

Definitionlike language contrasts with formal definitions in philosophy and lexicography, which seek necessary and sufficient conditions and explicit scope. In practice, definitionlike phrasing supports understanding and recall but may introduce ambiguity if relied on outside its context.

Examples include: a browser is software that retrieves and displays web pages; in biology, a mammal is an animal that nurses its young; a smartphone is a portable device that combines communication features with computing capabilities.