not strictly defined

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "not strictly defined" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
You can use this phrase when describing something that is not clearly or precisely defined, or when there is room for interpretation. Example: The boundaries between the two countries are not strictly defined, leading to disputes over land ownership.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

These categories are not strictly defined, as many organisms feed on several trophic levels; for example, some carnivores also consume plant materials or carrion and are called omnivores, and some herbivores occasionally consume animal matter.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Noble metal, any of several metallic chemical elements that have outstanding resistance to oxidation, even at high temperatures; the grouping is not strictly defined but usually is considered to include rhenium, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, silver, osmium, iridium, platinum, and gold; i.e., the metals of groups VIIb, VIII, and Ib of the second and third transition series of the periodic table.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The canard parameter value (a_{c}) is not strictly defined, as also a "small-amplitude limit cycle" is not strictly defined.

The Journal of Mathematical Neuroscience

The Bottom Line Security is not strictly defined, so it must always be approached from a situational perspective.

Forbes

Meanwhile, we are not convinced that MmTKL1 and MmTKL2 are orthlogs of TKL1 and TKL2 of S. cerevisiae, respectively, because number of MmTKL is not strictly defined.

AMB Express

To our knowledge, only one study demonstrated hypothalamic SERT binding using PET and [11C]DASB, although the delineation of the hypothalamus was not strictly defined [21].

EJNMMI Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

This was my first experience with installation art and performance art and with arts organizations that did not strictly define themselves by presenting just one art form.

Huffington Post

As explained in the Methods section, we do not strictly define 1-to-1 orthology, but for the sake of clarity we will refer in the sequel to these sequences as (putative) orthologs.

BMC Genomics

The initial study design of the clinical trial did not strictly define the types of patients that could be included, the eligibility criteria, the threshold mortality risk for inclusion and whether an intervention should be included for the control group.

BMJ Open

Although not defined in the protocol, some additional patients who were not in strictly defined remission (as above), but deemed by their doctor to be well enough at the end of the parent studies or the 8-week extension phase, could enter the randomised maintenance phase of study 303.

Gut

There were still plenty of traditional garden structures to be enjoyed, but even these paid tribute to a time when where we lived and where we worked were not so strictly defined.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider stronger, more descriptive synonyms like "loosely defined" or "imprecisely defined" if greater precision is needed.

Common error

Avoid using "not strictly defined" without further explanation. Readers may interpret the ambiguity differently than intended. Elaborate on the flexibility or lack of clarity inherent in the subject.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not strictly defined" functions as an adjective phrase that modifies a noun, indicating that the noun it describes lacks a precise or rigid definition. As supported by Ludwig, it's grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

16%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "not strictly defined" is a grammatically sound and commonly used adjective phrase that indicates a lack of precision or rigidity in a definition. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is suitable for various contexts, including science, news, and encyclopedic content. When using this phrase, it is important to provide sufficient context to avoid ambiguity and ensure the reader understands the intended meaning. For greater precision, consider using alternatives such as "loosely defined" or "imprecisely defined".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

loosely defined

Implies a definition exists but is flexible and not rigidly enforced.

imprecisely defined

Highlights the lack of precision in the definition.

not clearly delineated

Focuses on the lack of clear boundaries or distinctions.

vaguely defined

Suggests the definition is unclear and lacks specificity.

ambiguously defined

Indicates the definition is open to multiple interpretations.

not rigidly defined

Emphasizes the absence of strict rules or criteria.

not precisely defined

Highlights a lack of exactness in the definition.

subject to interpretation

Focuses on the role of individual understanding in shaping the definition.

open to interpretation

The definition is not fixed, and others may understand it in different ways.

undefined

Indicates that the term lacks a formal definition.

FAQs

How can I use "not strictly defined" in a sentence?

You can use "not strictly defined" to indicate that a concept or term lacks a precise or rigid definition. For example, "The criteria for inclusion in the study were "not strictly defined", allowing for some flexibility in participant selection."

What is a good alternative to "not strictly defined"?

Depending on the context, alternatives like "loosely defined", "vaguely defined", or "imprecisely defined" can be used to convey a similar meaning.

When is it appropriate to use "not strictly defined" in writing?

It's appropriate when you want to acknowledge that a term or concept has some level of ambiguity or lacks clear boundaries. It's especially useful in academic or technical writing where precision is usually expected, but a degree of flexibility exists.

What does it mean when something is "not strictly defined"?

It means that the boundaries or criteria for something are flexible and there is room for interpretation. It does not necessarily mean that there is no definition, but rather that the definition is not rigid or absolute.