well-formed

adjective

: produced by the correct application of a set of transformations : grammatical sense 2a
grammar … specifies the infinite set of well-formed sentencesJerry Fodor & Jerrold J. Katz
well-formedness
ˌwelˈfȯ(r)m(ə̇)dnə̇s
noun
plural -es

Word History

First Known Use

1946, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of well-formed was in 1946

The Ultimate Dictionary Awaits

Expand your vocabulary and dive deeper into language with Merriam-Webster Unabridged.

  1. Expanded definitions
  2. Detailed etymologies
  3. Advanced search tools
  4. All ad-free

Discover what makes Merriam-Webster Unabridged the essential choice for true word lovers.

Start Your Free Trial Now

Dictionary Entries Near well-formed

Cite this Entry

“Well-formed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/well-formed. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!