Standard Lemma guide

redefine

verb · 5 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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  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: R IY0 D IH0 F AY1 N Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To define again or differently.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To define again or differently.

To give a new or different definition to (a word).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To define again or differently.

To define a previously defined area of storage etc. in a different manner, e.g. changing it from textual to numeric.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

give a new or different definition of (a word)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: define

5

verb

Meaning 5

give a new or different definition to

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • She redefined his duties

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: specify, define, delineate, delimit, delimitate

History

Etymology

From re- + define.

Across languages

Translations

14 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: redefinir — to give a new or different definition to a word
  • Chinese Mandarin: 重新定義 /重新定义 (chóngxīn dìngyì) — to give a new or different definition to a word
  • Czech: předefinovat — to give a new or different definition to a word
  • Finnish: määritellä uudelleen — to give a new or different definition to a word
  • French: redéfinir — to give a new or different definition to a word
  • Greek: επαναπροσδιορίζω (epanaprosdiorízo) — to give a new or different definition to a word
  • Italian: ridefinire — to give a new or different definition to a word
  • Polish: przedefiniować — to give a new or different definition to a word
  • Polish: przedefiniowywać — to give a new or different definition to a word
  • Romanian: redefini — to give a new or different definition to a word
  • Russian: переопределя́ть (pereopredeljátʹ) — to give a new or different definition to a word
  • Russian: переопредели́ть (pereopredelítʹ) — to give a new or different definition to a word
  • Finnish: määritellä uudelleen — to define an area of storage, that has already been defined, in a different manner
  • Māori: tautuhi anō — to define an area of storage, that has already been defined, in a different manner