Legal Definition and Related Resources of Definition

Description of the thing defined, including all essential elements and excluding all non-essential so as to distinguish it from all other things . See define .

Browse or run a search for Definition in the American Encyclopedia of Law, the Asian Encyclopedia of Law, the European Encyclopedia of Law, the UK Encyclopedia of Law or the Latin American and Spanish Encyclopedia of Law.

Definition in Historical Law

You might be interested in the historical meaning of this term. Browse or search for Definition in Historical Law in the Encyclopedia of Law.

Search for legal acronyms and/or abbreviations containing Definition in the Legal Abbreviations and Acronyms Dictionary.

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Definition in the Dictionary of Law consisting of Judicial Definitions and Explanations of Words, Phrases and Maxims

An enumeration of the particular acts included by or under a name: as, the definition of a crime. See above Define; Definition above.

Note: This legal definition of Definition in the Dictionary of Law (English and American Jurisprudence) is from 1893.

Legal Usage of Define/definition in English

An European Commission document offers the following explanation about the misused of Define/definition:In English, ‘define’ means ‘to state the precise meaning of’ (for

Example

‘we have already defined the meaning of control’). It does not mean ‘establish’, ‘set out’, ‘lay down’ or ‘illustrate’.

Examples ‘The main tasks and activities of the IMI Joint Undertaking shall be: (a) to ensure the establishment and sustainable management of the Joint Technology Initiative on “Innovative Medicines”; (b) to define and carry out the annual implementation plan referred to in Article 18 via calls for project66.’ ‘A high level of human health protection shall be ensured in the definition and implementation of all Union policies and activities67.’

Alternatives

establish, lay down, set out, draft, establishment, drafting, design.

Resources

Legal English Vocabulary: Definition in Spanish

Online translation of the English legal term definition into Spanish: definición (English to Spanish translation) . More about legal dictionary from english to spanish online.

Related to the Legal Thesaurus

Resources

Further Reading

• David Mellinkoff, “Mellinkoff’s Dictionary of American Legal Usage”, West Publishing Company, 1992
• Bryan A. Garner, “A Dictionary of Modern Legal Usage”, West Publishing Company, 1995

Resources

See Also

• Language
• Legal English
• Language Policy
• Language Law