Standard Lemma guide

redefinition

noun · 2 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 EH2 F AH0 N IH1 SH AH0 N Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The act or event of redefining.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Examples

  • George Orwell's novel 1984 proposed that people's thoughts could be constrained by the redefinition of words in their language.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

the act of giving a new definition

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • words like `conservative' require periodic redefinition
  • she provided a redefinition of his duties

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: definition

History

Etymology

From re- + definition.

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Czech: redefinice — act or event of redefining
  • Finnish: uudelleenmäärittely — act or event of redefining
  • French: redéfinition — act or event of redefining
  • Italian: ridefinizione — act or event of redefining
  • Polish: przedefiniowanie — act or event of redefining