metadefinitions

Metadefinitions are definitions that describe what counts as a proper definition. They articulate criteria, standards, and conventions for what a definition should accomplish, and they analyze the aims of definitions, such as clarifying sense, enabling reference, or supporting classification. In philosophy of language and epistemology, metadefinitions help assess how terms acquire meaning and how definitions should be structured. In lexicography and ontology design, metadefinitions guide the creation of entries and concepts and provide guidelines for validity and usefulness.

Typical components described in metadefinitions include the purpose of a definition (to reduce ambiguity, to name and delimit a concept), the criteria for a good definition (clarity, precision, non-circularity, coverage, and testability or falsifiability), and the standard forms often discussed (such as genus and differentia, or necessary and sufficient conditions). Metadefinitions may also address different definitional strategies and the domain of applicability, distinguishing between nominal definitions and real or essential definitions.

Metadefinitions are not universally standardized; different disciplines promote different meta-criteria. Critics note that overly formalized metadefinitions can be restrictive or circular if applied too rigidly. Nonetheless, they play a practical role in ensuring terminological consistency, improving communication, and supporting activities such as automated reasoning, knowledge organization, and clear scholarly discourse.

Related topics include philosophy of language, lexicography, conceptual engineering, and ontology design.