Legal Definitions - definition

A definition is the meaning of a term that is explicitly stated in a written document such as a contract, a corporate bylaw, an ordinance, or a statute. It is a way to clarify the meaning of a word or phrase so that everyone understands it the same way.

There are two main types of definitions:

• Lexical definition: This is a dictionary-style definition of a word that tries to give the full meaning of a term. For example, the dictionary definition of "dog" is "a domesticated carnivorous mammal that typically has a long snout, an acute sense of smell, and a barking, howling, or whining voice."
• Stipulative definition: This is a definition that is created for a specific purpose, such as to clarify a term with uncertain boundaries or to include or exclude certain items from the meaning of a term. For example, a contract might define "employee" as "any person who works for the company for at least 20 hours per week."

These types of definitions help to ensure that everyone is on the same page when it comes to understanding the meaning of a word or phrase.