definitionsmässigt

Definitionsmässigt is a Swedish adverb that translates roughly to “definition-wise” or “in terms of the definition.” It signals that a statement or analysis is limited to or judged by the formal definitions of the terms involved, rather than by empirical observations, practical usage, or extrinsic properties. The term is commonly found in philosophical, logical, and linguistic discussions, where precise definitional criteria matter for arguments and distinctions.

Etymology and form: The word combines definition with a possessive s- linking element and the suffix -mässigt, which yields an adverb meaning “in terms of X” or “in the manner of X.” The form emphasizes scope restricted to definitional criteria. It is typically used in scholarly prose and is less common in everyday speech.

Usage and function: Definitionsmässigt is used to frame a claim as valid only under the given definitions. For example, a statement might be true definitionsmässigt if two concepts are defined in such a way that they denote the same thing, even if they diverge in common usage or empirical examples. It can also precede a contrast between definitional equality and practical or real-world differences.

Examples:

- Definitionsmässigt är begreppen X och Y identiska om de definieras som att denotationerna är lika.

- Definitionsmässigt följer detta från den givna definitionen, men i praktiken kan observationer måla en annan bild.

Related terms: definitional, definitionell, definitionellt sett. Related fields include semantics, logic, and philosophy of language.