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
Metadefinitions are not universally standardized; different disciplines promote different meta-criteria. Critics note that overly formalized metadefinitions
Related topics include philosophy of language, lexicography, conceptual engineering, and ontology design.