By definition

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "By definition" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when you want to clarify the meaning of a term or concept based on its established definition. For example, "By definition, a triangle has three sides." Alternative expressions include "As defined" and "According to the definition."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

By definition they are discriminatory.

The Economist

By definition, they are chaotic.

The Economist

By definition, their relationship will be temporary.

The New Yorker

By definition, conspiracy is a team game.

Independent

By definition this is not a tax.

The New York Times

By definition, paternalistic policy is not libertarian.

The Economist

"By definition good taste is horrible taste.

The New York Times

By definition of what?

SEP

By definition,.

Journal of Inequalities and Applications

By definition, some competitors will fall short.

Forbes

By definition, fraud involves deception and concealment.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Place the phrase at the beginning of a sentence for emphasis or offset it with commas to create a parenthetical clarification.

Common error

Do not use "By definition" for obvious facts where the definition is already common knowledge, as this can sound patronizing or repetitive. For example, avoid "A square has four sides by definition", unless you are specifically distinguishing it from another shape in a technical context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "By definition" serves as an adverbial prepositional phrase. Its primary role is to modify a clause by asserting that the predicate is a necessary consequence of the subject's definition. As noted in the examples from Ludwig, it is frequently used to ground subjective observations in objective, logical frameworks.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "By definition" is an essential tool for writers who seek to establish logical clarity and authoritative grounding in their work. According to Ludwig AI and the provided data, it is extensively used across premier publications like The New Yorker and The Economist to distinguish between accidental qualities and essential ones. Whether you are defining a biological organism in a scientific journal or a political concept in an editorial, "By definition" ensures your reader understands that your conclusion is a matter of logical fact rather than mere speculation. When using it, ensure you are not stating the painfully obvious, and consider formal alternatives like "inherently" or "ipso facto" to vary your prose.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Inherently

Suggests a quality that is a permanent, inseparable element of the subject.

Intrinsically

Focuses on the internal nature or essence of something rather than its definition alone.

By its very nature

A more descriptive and idiomatic way to express logical necessity.

Necessarily

Emphasizes that the following statement is the only logical conclusion possible.

Per se

A Latinism used to refer to a thing by itself, often to isolate a specific quality.

In and of itself

Used to describe a thing considered alone, without regard to external factors.

Ipso facto

A Latin phrase meaning "by the fact itself", indicating a direct consequence.

A priori

A technical term meaning knowledge that proceeds from theoretical deduction rather than experience.

Definitionally

The adverbial form, used to specifically target the literal meaning of a word.

Automatically

Focuses on the immediate and unavoidable result of a specific condition.

FAQs

How do I use "By definition" in a sentence?

You can use it as an adverbial phrase to clarify a concept. For example: "By definition, an island is land completely surrounded by water."

What is a more formal way to say "By definition"?

Depending on the field, you might use "a priori" in philosophy or "ipso facto" in legal and formal logic contexts.

Can I use "By definition" and "Inherently" interchangeably?

Often yes, but they have subtle differences. "By definition" refers to the linguistic or formal rules governing a word, while "inherently" refers to the internal nature of the object itself.

Is it correct to say "By definition of"?

Yes, this variation is common when you want to specify which definition you are referring to. For example: "By definition of the term science, one supposes..."