not well defined

USAGE SUMMARY

"not well defined" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate that something is not clear or specific enough. For example: The terms of the contract were not well defined, so we had to negotiate additional details.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

This crucial term is not well defined.

The New York Times - Magazine

For these reasons, the KPZ equation was not well defined.

The Guardian

"It won't help because government policies are not well defined.

The Guardian

Unfortunately, these geologists write, the present "is not well defined".

The New York Times

Hairer's general theory addresses other, higher-dimensional stochastic PDEs that are not well defined.

The Guardian

It's not well defined or understood and there's no road map.

The New York Times

"It's such a broad term, it's really not well defined.

TechCrunch

However, Delaunay triangulation is not well defined in rectilinear distance.

Information Processing Letters

However, the role of surgery is not well defined.

Journal of the American College of Surgeons

The optimal treatments for uremic pruritus are not well defined.

American Journal of Kidney Diseases

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

First, the accessibility of a route is not well-defined.

Information Sciences

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "not well defined", ensure that the context clearly indicates what aspect lacks clarity. Provide further explanation or examples to clarify the concept for your audience.

Common error

Avoid simply stating that something is "not well defined" without offering additional information or context. Instead, explain why it lacks clarity and what steps can be taken to improve understanding.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not well defined" primarily functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun or concept to indicate a lack of clarity or precision in its definition. As Ludwig indicates, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

55%

News & Media

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "not well defined" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to indicate a lack of clarity or precision. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's appropriate for use in written English. Appearing across scientific, news, and formal business contexts, it signals that a concept, term, or situation requires further clarification. Remember to provide context when using this phrase to ensure your audience understands the specific aspects that are unclear. Alternative expressions like "poorly defined" or "vaguely defined" can be used to add nuance to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

poorly defined

Replaces "well" with its opposite, indicating a lower degree of definition.

ill-defined

Uses a hyphenated form to convey a similar meaning of lacking clarity.

not clearly defined

Replaces "well" with "clearly", emphasizing the lack of clarity.

vaguely defined

Emphasizes the lack of clarity or precision in the definition.

badly defined

Replaces "well" with "badly", indicating a poor definition.

imprecisely defined

Highlights the absence of exactness in the definition.

ambiguously defined

Suggests that the definition is open to multiple interpretations.

inadequately defined

Indicates that the definition is insufficient or incomplete.

loosely defined

Implies a flexible or non-restrictive definition.

undefined

A more concise way to state that something lacks a definition.

FAQs

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

You can use "not well defined" to describe concepts, terms, or situations lacking clarity or precision. For example, "The role of the new committee is "not well defined", leading to confusion among members".

What are some alternatives to saying "not well defined"?

Alternatives include "poorly defined", "vaguely defined", or "imprecisely defined". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "not well defined" or "ill-defined"?

Both "not well defined" and "ill-defined" are acceptable. "Ill-defined" is more concise but "not well defined" might be clearer in some contexts.

What does it mean when something is described as "not well defined"?

It means that the boundaries, characteristics, or scope of something are unclear, ambiguous, or lacking in specific detail.