working definition
Draft explanation used
A working definition is a provisional explanation of a term, adopted for practical purposes while remaining open to revision.
Unlike a final or authoritative definition, it serves as a starting point: Let's establish a working definition of success before we continue.
The phrase acknowledges that meaning may evolve as understanding deepens.
- conceptualOf or relating to ideas
- preliminaryBefore the main part
- first passInitial attempt at something
- rough draftUnpolished first attempt
- placeholderTemporary position marker
starting point · for now · heuristic · good enough · ballpark figure · operative · construct · example · provisional · subject to change · work in progress · tentative · guideline · criterion · prototype · theoretical model · meaning · hypothesis
working, worked, worker, workers, workable, unworkable, workings, rework, reworked