Phrase guide

working definition

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

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A definition that is chosen for an occasion and may not fully conform with established or authoritative definitions.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Not knowing of established definitions would be grounds for selecting or devising a working definition.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A definition being developed; a tentative definition that can be tailored to create an authoritative definition.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

1 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Danish: arbejdsdefinition — a definition being chosen for convenience