Phrase guide

circular definition

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A definition relying directly or indirectly on the term being defined.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: human-sciences, linguistics, sciences, semantics

Examples

  • Saying that obscenity is indecent and then saying something is indecent if it's obscene is a circular definition.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

9 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 循環定義 /循环定义 (xúnhuán dìngyì) — definition
  • Czech: definice kruhem — definition
  • Finnish: kehämääritelmä — definition
  • Japanese: 循環定義 (junkanteigi) — definition
  • Polish: błędne koło w definiowaniu — definition
  • Portuguese: definição circular — definition
  • Romanian: definiție circulară — definition
  • Spanish: definición circular — definition
  • Swedish: cirkeldefinition — definition