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I'm learning the new word "definition" and there are two example sentences listed on my app:

  1. What’s your definition of happiness?

  2. I need a definition for this word.

Should I use "of" or "for" after "definition"? Or both are OK?

Heartspring
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zhbink
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1 Answers1

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Both:

  1. What’s your definition of happiness?

  2. I need a definition for this word.

are correct.

Note should be taken of the fact that with definite determiners (in this case "your") the preposition "of" will be preferred, while with an indefinite determiner (in this case "a") the preposition "for" can be used. It should also be taken into account that "of" is much more usual than "for", which will only be accepted in restricted contexts such as (2) above.

According to Seth Lindstromberg in English Prepositions Explained, while "of" expresses referential possession (the word has a definition) or a verb-object relationship (the word is defined), "for" expresses purpose (I want a definition for the purpose of defining this word).

Something similar can happen with other nouns, for example "solution":

  • The solution of the problem is ...
  • A solution for the problem could be ...

Here is a good reply concerning the degree of idiomaticity of "a solution for" as compared with "a solution to" (in answer to Ram Pillai's comment below).

Gustavson
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    I think you're spot on, though it would be good to include a reference. // Perhaps the most commonly met examples are "What's the definition of xxxx?" and "The definition of xxxx is ..." (usually inaccurate, as decent dictionaries give various senses and subsenses for words). And here: (2) appropriate dictionary definitions of 'definition' would perhaps take up twenty to thirty lines for all the senses, four per 'definition', whereas an answer to (1) could run to pages. And then there's 'definition' when judging the quality of photographs.... – Edwin Ashworth Mar 23 '20 at 14:25
  • A solution to the problem - is more appropriate. Can we say, 'A solution for the problem....'? – Ram Pillai Mar 24 '20 at 06:03
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    @RamPillai Thank you for your comment. I made an addition accordingly. – Gustavson Mar 24 '20 at 15:08
  • Does your answer also hold for "equation of" vs "equation for"? – Bart Apr 19 '23 at 10:29
  • @Bart Could you provide an example? – Gustavson Apr 19 '23 at 14:45
  • Similar remarks can be made with the/an answer to/for this question. – John Lawler Apr 19 '23 at 15:04
  • @Gustavson: Example sentence: "Plug the equation of/for the stress into the Navier-Stokes equation." That is, the Navier-Stokes equation contains a stress variable. – Bart Apr 21 '23 at 07:14
  • @John Lawler: I indeed hope to distill generic principles, rather than merely writing the case 'definition of/for' correct. – Bart Apr 21 '23 at 07:19
  • @Bart Alas, there are no generic principles for prepositions beyond their vague locational senses (on the lawn, in the yard). Like articles, there are hundreds of specialized cases that have to be learned individually with different constructions and predicates. Prepositions, articles, auxiliaries, pronouns -- all are just gears and washers in the syntax machine. Only certain ones will fit, and the decisions are arbitrary. It's like fixing a cranky old engine, which is a good description of English syntax. – John Lawler Apr 21 '23 at 15:35