delineation

noun

de·​lin·​ea·​tion di-ˌli-nē-ˈā-shən How to pronounce delineation (audio)
dē-
1
: the act of outlining or representing something with lines or words : the act of delineating
the delineation of a scene
… the delineation of the territories allotted to the seven tribes of Israel …Adam Nicholson
2
: something made by delineating
a photographic delineation of low lifeT. S. Eliot
delineative adjective

Examples of delineation in a Sentence

his simple but striking delineations of Dutch landscapes a finely wrought delineation of a young woman's first experience with romantic love
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Crypto policy advocates and investors would be well served to focus on establishing guardrails, frameworks, and delineations between the various sectors of the wider crypto marketplace. Sean Stein Smith, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024 Both Mitchell and Eales, now the face of the club’s executive arm, reached out to offer reassurances and to explain how the delineation of duties should work. George Caulkin, The Athletic, 23 July 2024 That contrasts with conventional computing, where there is a strict delineation between logic and memory. IEEE Spectrum, 25 May 2017 But for the Yankees, Dodgers, Red Sox or Blue Jays, a Soto signing wouldn’t be a franchise-altering moment that serves as a clear line of delineation between the before and after times. Jerry Beach, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for delineation 

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Late Latin dēlīneātiōn-, dēlīneātiō "description," from Latin dēlīneāre "to trace the outline of, delineate" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action

First Known Use

1570, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of delineation was in 1570

Dictionary Entries Near delineation

Cite this Entry

“Delineation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/delineation. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.

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