For many people, writing a definition essay seems a hard task because it takes a lot of time and skills. Some topics are interesting, while others are boring. That’s why it’s important to choose an original topic and create a catchy title when working on your paper. This guide explains how to write a great definition essay.
What is a definition essay?
It’s an academic paper defining specific terms or a piece of writing where you explain what a particular word means. Some words have their concrete meanings, while others are more abstract and have complex or extensive meanings (they’re perfect for your definition essay). Their explanation depends on a person’s point of view.
How does a definition essay look like?
Your definition paper should take half of a page or more and it looks quite similar to a dictionary explanation, but the key difference is that this assignment is more extended. Definition essay writing isn’t as difficult as it seems. Choosing a good topic is the first step.
Picking an effective topic
In your definition essay, it’s necessary to give a detailed explanation so that you should pick a broad term to be defined. Simple words have a narrow meaning. Look for broad terms to get a higher chance to give many definitions of the same one, provide your interpretation, and give explanations. Focus on real-life examples to support your ideas. There are some groups of topics that can help you develop a strong definition essay:
- Politics, history, governance;
- General issues;
- Special terms;
- Social topics;
- Abstract terms;
- Religious or disputed issues.
Simple steps to write a great definition essay
After getting a clear idea of what a definition essay is, you need to learn a few simple steps to write a good one:
- Choose an interesting topic;
- Use primary sources of information;
- Disclose your term in the introduction;
- Reveal it in the main body;
- Give vivid examples.
How to choose an interesting topic?
It’s the first part of your definition essay writing experience. Look for broad, complex, and complicated words to get a great opportunity to impress teachers and earn higher grades. They have interesting origins and meanings to help you succeed. Make sure that your chosen topic is complex. To understand that it’s good enough for your definition essay, determine whether you can explain it in more than a few sentences.
Use primary sources of information
In your definition essay, include explanations from famous and reliable vocabularies, encyclopedias, textbooks, and dictionaries or use other trusted sources of information. They’ll let you show readers how others explain your term.
Disclose it in the introduction
Tell the target audience what your term stand for in an opening paragraph and make them keep reading. How to achieve this goal? Show them that your definition essay is interesting to read.
Reveal your term in the main body
Body paragraphs play an essential role in your definition essay because they provide readers with detailed and full information on a particular topic. Write a few strong paragraphs. Avoid overloading your definition essay with unnecessary details and giving duplicating explanations to submit a great draft on time.
Give vivid examples
Include sound and bright examples that can help you show and interpret your chosen term and its meaning. Don’t forget to explain your personal opinion.
Definition essay writing: effective tips
- Before picking a subject, explore interesting ideas and make a wise choice;
- Unite all paragraphs in a logical manner and use transition phrases or words;
- Focus on words with multiple meanings and synonyms;
- Take dynamic definitions into account because there are complex;
- Use real-life examples in your academic paper;
- Edit and proofread your final draft to fix all errors;
- Conduct your in-depth research to get a clear understanding of the meaning and origin of your subject.
Definition essay structure: making all paragraphs shine
To submit a winning piece of writing, learn to structure it correctly. What is it all about? The basic purpose of your definition essay is to provide readers with a full explanation of a specific term. Create it according to the standard structure that contains the following:
- Introductory paragraph;
- Thesis statement;
- Body paragraphs;
- Concluding section.
Why create an outline?
Your definition essay starts with a helpful outline. It can help you determine the length of each paragraph, the complexity of your topic, and structure all parts effectively. Create a detailed outline before you start writing.
Introductory paragraph
It should contain a basic explanation of your chosen word that you find in a reliable and well-known dictionary. Look for it in libraries or online dictionaries. Feel free to develop a unique context of your definition essay and provide the target audience with the official meaning that suits. It’s a great idea to include catchy hooks. They can take these forms:
- Interesting facts;
- Persuasive stats;
- Jokes or anecdotes;
- Literary quotes or metaphors;
- Famous stories;
- Rhetorical questions.
Use interesting details to motivate people to read your text. The opening paragraph of your definition essay should introduce major ideas, catch your readers’ attention, and build smooth transitions.
Thesis statement
It’s the main argument of your definition essay that you need to give at the end of an opening paragraph. It’s not a standard thesis statement. The main difference is that the key purpose of a definition essay is to explain a particular term without proving anything. Use a clear and complex explanation as your thesis.
Body paragraphs
The entire writing process will be more straightforward after structuring the main body of your definition essay. Conduct research and give logical explanations in it. You need to share different points of view to explain the full meaning of your word in body paragraphs. Discuss each one in a separate section. The structure of your main body can be the following:
- Explain the first meaning;
- Include another aspect of your term;
- Use the third opinion.
In this part of your definition essay, you can give your own explanation or tell readers about the history or origin of a specific word.
Why is a concluding part important?
In this definition essay section, it’s necessary to sum up all the meanings of your term that you reveal in other paragraphs and make a strong conclusion. You can add a brief summary. Some students prefer to restate a strong thesis, while others decide to give a short analysis of their explanations.
Brilliant topics for your definition essay
The above-mentioned guidelines can help you submit a winning and original definition essay. Make sure that you have a great topic. If you find it hard to choose a good one, look at this list of extraordinary ideas in different categories.
Definition essay on love
- A common interpretation of love;
- The first love and its impact on people’s lives;
- The most important qualities of love;
- Love and trust;
- The meaning of love in modern families;
- Long-distance relationships and love;
- The modern concept of love and its impact on same-gender relationships;
- Development of a child’s personality and parents’ love;
- Love is a way to harmonize a person;
- Is love real or just a fairy tale?
Family definition essay ideas
- The role that a family plays in modern society;
- Extended families and their roles in people’s lives;
- Single parenting: whether one parent can be a good family;
- The influence of social media on families;
- Big, small, and medium families today;
- Family obligation and how to decide who is the main one;
- Childfree couples: whether they’re families or not;
- The importance of bloodline for being a family;
- Happy families and their distinguishing features;
- What is a family?
Happiness definition essay
- Family influences and happiness;
- The common meanings of happiness;
- Money and happiness in modern society;
- Happiness is a major positive feeling;
- Your personal definition of happiness;
- People can’t be happy without love;
- Happiness is a great motivation for success;
- The meaning of happiness for modern people;
- Happiness and the impact of a happy childhood on a person;
- What does happiness consist of?
Freedom definition essay
- Freedom and its general meanings;
- Freedom in modern society;
- Personal independence and freedom;
- Why some prisoners choose to stay in jail over their freedom;
- Communism and freedom;
- The modern youth: a meaning of freedom for them;
- Justice and freedom;
- Possibility to feel free when living in the modern social system;
- Happiness and freedom: decide what is derivative;
- Do all people deserve freedom?
Common definition essay topics
- Social networks and people’s right to privacy;
- Different aspects of racism;
- Family relationships and loyalty;
- The general meaning of the American dream;
- Student’s life and laziness;
- Fashion trends and their influence on teens;
- Healthy living is a new religion or a new way of life;
- Terrorism is a major problem in modern times;
- Respect and its meaning for all relationships;
- Does maturity depend just on people’s age?
Definition essay ideas for college students
- Happy marital life and its impact on one’s success;
- College application and its importance for impressing committee members;
- The role of cell phone applications in studies;
- Love and its meaning for teens;
- Good job: important factors that people should take into account;
- Family or career: whether it’s possible to succeed in both;
- Democracy is a major condition of freedom;
- The second language is an obligatory skill for all high-educated people;
- A healthy lifestyle meaning and its general explanation;
- Is a college degree necessary for future success?
Extended definition essay ideas
- Modern society, communication, and social media;
- Real friendship and hostility: how to recognize each one;
- Individuality and dependence of minor children;
- Despots or caring parents: punishment measures;
- Secrecy and falsehood in relationships;
- If modern education can develop a student’s individuality;
- The meaning of procrastination and how to overcome it;
- Downshifting is a new way of personal development;
- Common things between self-assurance and self-development;
- When can people be called honest?
Definition essay arguments
- The importance of charisma for managers;
- Individual players and team players: the most important skills;
- The role of women in the modern business world;
- E-commerce is the business future;
- Ambitions are essential for every young specialist;
- Reasons why racism must be stopped across the globe;
- The use of electronic devices in classes;
- Natural beauty and why it’s necessary to save it when plastic surgery is so popular;
- Corporate culture and why it’s a great advantage;
- Is death penalty acceptable in modern times?
Simple definition essay ideas
If you understand how to complete this academic assignment and you’re sure in your definition essay writing skills, consider one of these great topics:
- Political correctness;
- Sense of humor;
- Peer pressure;
- Creative mind;
- Peace of mind;
- Self-respect;
- Human cloning;
- Generosity;
- Individualism;
- Heroism.
Final touches
Proofreading is necessary to make your text perfect. For a final edit, read your definition essay aloud because it’s an effective way to find all small mistakes and missed words. You’ll notice awkward sentences and phrases. Watch out for:
- Using different sentence types and lengths;
- Not starting sentences with the same word;
- Adding transition words at the beginning of sentences.
When to get help?
Writing an impressive definition essay can be a real challenge, especially if you aren’t familiar with definition essay basics. All the above-mentioned tips can help you succeed. They teach you how to create the best definition essay and provide you with excellent examples of topics in different categories.
If you don’t feel confident in your definition essay writing skills or you have other problems, feel free to get expert assistance online. What will you get? Professional and qualified writers can help you submit a winning definition essay and meet the highest academic standards with no delays. You only need to place your online order and share assignment details to get excellent results within specified deadlines. Grab a helping hand to submit a good definition essay.