define this term

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'define this term' is both correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want someone to explain the meaning of a specific term. Example: Can you please define this term for me? I'm not sure what "biomimicry" means.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Research and define this term.

The New York Times

The legislation does not define this term, leaving it to the administration, according to officials.

The New York Times

But before we get to the risk, let's talk about how we define this term in the first place.

The New York Times

The Guardian has also discovered that the bonus scheme rules give managers the power to exclude a member of staff if they are considered an "unsatisfactory performer", although they do not precisely define this term and it could be subject to abuse, according to employment lawyers.

The Guardian - Business

We rely on the object likelihoods L∗,1 acquired in the previous stage to define this term: E 1 ( z i ) = L ( z i ) - ∑ x ∈ z i L ∗, 1 ( x ) / | z i | (7).

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

Here to better define this term are images that will clarify things.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

On top of this, Kálnoky granted the Italians the right to ask for compensation in case of any change in the territorial status quo without defining this term.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The judgment exempts information processed "solely for journalistic purposes" without defining this term – deeply problematic at a time when more and more people have access to both newsworthy information and publishing tools.

The Guardian - Opinion

Luthans and Youssef (2007) has defined this term as "an individual's better psychological situation of success".

Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research

Freire defines this term as a method of teaching that emphasizes critical thinking for the purpose of liberation (Wallerstein 1987).

Research and Practice in Technology Enhanced Learning

Unfortunately, though it is clear that he intends most of the Topics (Books II VI) as a collection of these, he never explicitly defines this term.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In educational settings, this phrase serves as a precise imperative for students to demonstrate their understanding of specific vocabulary.

Common error

Do not use "define this term" when you actually want someone to describe a situation or an event. Use it strictly for words, phrases, or specific linguistic expressions. For broader contexts, use "describe the situation" instead.

Linguistic Context

This phrase serves as an imperative instruction or an infinitive verbal goal. It functions to prompt a semantic explanation of a specific linguistic unit. According to Ludwig, it is frequently used in both instructional manuals and analytical texts where precision is paramount.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

35%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Academia

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "define this term" is a highly effective and grammatically standard way to request linguistic clarification. Data from Ludwig shows that it is exceptionally versatile, appearing in settings ranging from scientific methodology to high-stakes journalism. It is most frequently used when a specific word or technical label requires a clear boundary of meaning. Whether you are writing a textbook, a research paper, or a news report, this phrase remains the gold standard for initiating a definition. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is both correct and highly recommended for professional and educational writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

provide a definition for this term

Expands the instruction into a full verbal request, often used in formal writing or assessments.

explain this concept

Broadens the scope from a specific linguistic unit to a general idea or "explain this concept".

clarify this expression

Focuses on making the meaning of a specific phrasing more understandable.

elucidate this word

Uses a more formal, academic verb to request a detailed explanation.

interpret this phrase

Suggests that the meaning might be subjective or requires contextual translation.

describe this terminology

Focuses on the technical classification or usage of the words within a system.

outline this concept

Requests a summary or structured overview rather than a dictionary-style definition.

articulate this notion

Emphasizes the clear verbal expression of an abstract idea.

expound upon this term

Highly formal, asking for a lengthy and detailed analytical explanation.

decode this term

A more figurative or technical way to ask for the meaning of jargon or complex language.

FAQs

How to use "define this term" in a sentence?

You can use it as a direct command in instructions, such as: "Please "define this term" before we proceed with the analysis.", or as part of a research task like: "The student was asked to "define this term" metaphorically."

What can I say instead of "define this term"?

Depending on the context, you can use "explain this phrase", "clarify this term", or "elucidate this concept".

Is it correct to say "define this term"?

Yes, it is perfectly correct. As noted by Ludwig, it is widely used in high-quality journalism and scientific literature to signal the need for linguistic clarification.

What's the difference between "define this term" and "define this phrase"?

The phrase "define this phrase" is usually reserved for a group of words, while "define this term" typically refers to a single word or a specific technical designation.