definitioneering

English

Etymology

Blend of definition +‎ engineering or from definition +‎ -eer +‎ -ing

Noun

definitioneering (uncountable)

1. (rare, humorous) The act of creating, usually by making up, definitions.
   • 1968 (1972?), "Definitioneering: An Article-review of Sidney Hook's Academic Freedom," The Philosophy Forum, supplement 11, nos. 1-2 (Summer 1972): S77-S95:

     Are we entitled to so define, or is Hook bogged down in a form of "persuasive definitioneering"?

   • 1973, Paul Kurtz, The Humanist Alternative: Some Definitions of Humanism, Prometheus Books, page 177:

     ...danger is that we may become bogged down in 'definitioneering'; that is, we may become advocates of special definitions that are arbitrarily stipulated.

   • 2001, Catherine Brölmann, "T. Makkonen, Identity, Difference and Otherness. The Concepts of People, Indigenous People and Minority in International Law," International Journal on Minority and Group Rights, ISSN 1385-4879, 2001, vol. 8; issue 1, pg. 93:

     Makkonen argues that the rationale of the rights concerned should always be taken as a point of departure, rather than an attempt at a priori 'definitioneering'.

   • 2006 December 29, John Wenzel, “We make the music we want to make”, in Denver Post:

     "...when you try to define it it becomes a surreal puddle of definitioneering," said drummer Brandon Weaver.