Formal Definition

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Formal definition, or definition by classification, is a way of defining a term by giving illustrative examples of its use. A definition by classification has three parts. The first part is the TERM to be defined:

TERM: Trivia

Next, to help the reader identify the TERM, place it in the general CLASS to which the TERM belongs:

TERM: Trivia
CLASS: Information

Finally, you need to differentiate the TERM, "Trivia," from that very general CLASS, "information" to communicate a precise meaning of the TERM:

TERM: Trivia
CLASS: Information
DIFFERENTIATION: that is unimportant, inconsequential or inessential.

It might be written this way:

Trivia is information that is unimportant, inconsequential or inessential.

This definition by classification consists of three parts: TERM, CLASS, and DIFFERENTIATION.

Let's look at another example:

TERM: A charlatan
CLASS: A person
DIFFERENTIATION: who pretends to have knowledge or skill he does not possess.

Again, it might be written in this way:

A charlatan is a person who pretends to have knowledge or skill he/she does not possess.

Try one more:

TERM: Charisma
CLASS: A special quality
DIFFERENTIATION: which gives an individual influence or authority over large groups of people.

Charisma is a special quality which gives an individual influence or authority over large groups of people.

In each case, the term to be defined is first identified by being included in a general class with which the reader is likely to be familiar. Then, the term is differentiated from other members of that class, thus specifying a particular meaning for the term in question.

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