good enough definition

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "good enough definition" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when discussing whether a definition meets a certain standard or sufficiency for a particular purpose. An example would be: "While it may not be perfect, it's a good enough definition for our discussion." Alternative expressions include "satisfactory definition" and "adequate definition."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

For me, that's often a good enough definition, as I'm interested in people understanding that there's power and potential in data.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Apart from its general aura of moral unhealthiness, one of the chief factors that kept "Island of Lost Souls" off the market for so long was the lack of material good enough for a high-definition release.

The New York Times

A startup called Plume is betting that the challenge of running a home wireless network good enough for ultra-high-definition television, video games, and the Internet of things means that consumers are ready to pay extra for high-quality managed Wi-Fi in their homes.

MIT Technology Review

We have different definitions for good enough when it comes to how much training humans require in different jobs.

Harvard Business Review

Fox contended that with progressive scanning, the picture quality was more than good enough even at current screen definitions.

The New York Times

Simon dealt with the first: the systematic incompleteness of the information, with the idea of a rationality which is limited by uncertainty, to which actors respond producing frames and routines and limiting their explorations to alternatives and solutions considered "good enough" according to what their problem definition allows.

City, Territory and Architecture

In essence, there is no definition of "how good is good enough" when it comes to a product or company making green marketing claims.

Wikipedia

That means our definitions of privacy aren't good enough if they are all about PII.

Forbes

He then proposes an alternative definition: nonfiction is offered as a "good enough" guide to some part of the world (p. 181); fiction is not.

SEP

This suggests our definition on intergenic miRNA clusters is good enough for our study, and it does not take any bias impact on the final conclusion.

BMC Systems Biology

88 None of the current definitions of low birthweight has a good enough predictive ability for adverse outcome to recommend their superiority in clinical practice.

BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prefer this phrase in contexts where pragmatism is valued over theoretical perfection, such as in business strategy or introductory science

Common error

Do not use this phrase in legal contracts or high-level technical specifications where ambiguity can lead to error. In these scenarios, a "good enough definition" is often legally or technically insufficient, and you should aim for an "exhaustive definition" instead

Linguistic Context

The phrase "good enough definition" acts as a complex noun phrase. The head noun "definition" is modified by the adjective phrase "good enough", which specifies the level of quality or sufficiency. According to Ludwig, this structure is used to qualify a statement, acknowledging its limits while asserting its utility.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

25%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "good enough definition" is a perfectly valid and useful construction in English. Based on data from Ludwig, it is frequently employed by experts in fields ranging from big data to philosophy to signal that a working explanation is sufficient for progress. While the exact combination is statistically "Rare", the components are highly standard. It strikes a balance between conversational accessibility and intellectual rigor, making it ideal for bridging the gap between complex theory and practical application. When using it, ensure the context supports a pragmatic approach rather than a need for absolute, legalistic precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

adequate definition

Provides a slightly more formal tone suitable for technical or academic reporting

working definition

Suggests a definition that is currently being used for practical purposes but might be refined later

sufficient definition

Emphasizes that the description meets all the necessary requirements for the context

satisfactory definition

Shifts the focus slightly toward meeting the expectations or approval of an audience

functional definition

Highlights that the definition works in practice, regardless of theoretical completeness

serviceable definition

Implies the definition is useful and fulfills its function well enough despite being basic

passable definition

Suggests a lower level of quality that is just barely acceptable for the situation

approximate definition

Indicates that the definition is close to the truth but lacks exact precision

rough definition

Implies an initial or unpolished attempt at defining a concept

loose definition

Suggests a definition that is broad and not strictly limited by rigid boundaries

FAQs

How to use "good enough definition" in a sentence?

You can use it to introduce a basic explanation, for example: "While broad, this is a "good enough definition" for our current analysis."

What can I say instead of "good enough definition"?

Depending on your needs, you can use alternatives like "working definition", "adequate definition", or "functional definition".

Is "good enough definition" grammatically correct?

Yes, it is a grammatically correct noun phrase where the adjective phrase "good enough" modifies the noun "definition". It is frequently found in high-quality sources like the "The New York Times".

What's the difference between "good enough definition" and "adequate definition"?

A "good enough definition" feels slightly more conversational and pragmatic, whereas an "adequate definition" sounds more formal and objective.