widely accepted definition

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "widely accepted definition" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a definition that is generally recognized and agreed upon by a large number of people or experts in a particular field. Example: "The widely accepted definition of democracy emphasizes the importance of free and fair elections."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It is not acceptable to dismiss low dose effects simply because there is not one widely accepted definition.

Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source

To be fair, there is no widely accepted definition of what constitutes a "gig" job.

The Washington Post

The most widely accepted definition of recession is two consecutive quarters of economic decline.

The New York Times

Today there is a widely accepted definition of antisemitism, produced by the European Union agency for fundamental rights.

The Guardian - Opinion

France experienced a second consecutive quarter of contraction, the widely accepted definition of a recession, of 0.2 percent.

The New York Times

On the most widely accepted definition, it takes two successive quarters of negative growth for a recession to kick in.

The Economist

'Future-proofing' is an emerging research agenda with currently no widely accepted definition amongst scholars and building professionals.

Energy Policy

The lack of a widely accepted definition has arguably had the single most harmful effect on the industry.

The Complete Business Process Handbook Body of Knowledge from Process Modeling to BPM, Volume I

That is the widely accepted definition of a voucher, yet Mr. Bush declines to use the word, suggesting that he considers it loaded with bad connotations.

The New York Times

The most widely accepted definition of a troll is a provocateur – someone who says outrageous, extreme or abusive things to elicit a reaction.

The Guardian

There is no widely accepted definition that says how long flash fiction tales need to be, but they tend to run anywhere between 300 and 1,000 words.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "widely accepted definition", ensure that the definition you are referring to is genuinely recognized and utilized by a significant portion of the relevant community or field. Provide context or citation to support this claim.

Common error

Avoid using "widely accepted definition" when referring to a definition that is only supported by a small group or is still under debate. Overstating the level of acceptance can undermine your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "widely accepted definition" functions as a noun phrase that identifies a specific understanding or explanation of a term, concept, or phenomenon. According to Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It introduces clarity and establishes a shared understanding in a discussion or analysis.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

48%

News & Media

28%

Formal & Business

24%

Less common in

Wiki

12%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "widely accepted definition" is a common and grammatically sound way to refer to a definition that is generally recognized and agreed upon. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It's most frequently used in scientific, news media, and formal business contexts to establish a shared understanding of a term or concept. Remember to ensure the definition you're referencing is genuinely recognized before using the phrase, and consider alternatives like "commonly recognized definition" or "standard definition" depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

commonly recognized definition

Replaces "widely accepted" with "commonly recognized", emphasizing general recognition rather than formal acceptance.

generally agreed-upon definition

Substitutes "widely accepted" with "generally agreed-upon", focusing on agreement within a community or field.

universally acknowledged definition

Uses "universally acknowledged" instead of "widely accepted", suggesting near-complete agreement.

standard definition

Replaces "widely accepted definition" with "standard definition", implying a definition that is commonly used and followed.

prevailing definition

Employs "prevailing" to indicate the definition that is currently most common or influential.

established definition

Uses "established definition" to highlight that the definition has been accepted for some time.

orthodox definition

Substitutes with "orthodox definition", indicating a traditional or conventional understanding.

conventional definition

Uses "conventional definition" to highlight that the definition is based on or in accordance with what is generally done or believed.

typical definition

Replaces with "typical definition", indicating a definition that is normal or usual.

accepted meaning

This alternative replaces "definition" with "meaning", focusing on the general understanding of a term.

FAQs

How can I use "widely accepted definition" in a sentence?

You can use "widely accepted definition" to refer to a definition that is generally recognized and agreed upon. For example: "The "widely accepted definition" of a planet includes orbiting a star and clearing its orbital path."

What can I say instead of "widely accepted definition"?

You can use alternatives like "commonly recognized definition", "generally agreed-upon definition", or "standard definition depending on the context.

Is it always correct to assume a definition is "widely accepted"?

No, it's crucial to ensure that the definition you are referring to is truly recognized and used by a significant portion of the relevant field. Overstating the level of acceptance can be misleading.

What makes a definition "widely accepted"?

A definition becomes "widely accepted" when it is consistently used, understood, and endorsed by a substantial number of experts, practitioners, or members of the relevant community. Evidence of this acceptance can often be found in academic literature, industry standards, and common usage.