by definition

According to the literal definition or widely-known understanding of something. You know, illegal activities by definition break the law. I always thought that singers were outgoing by definition—until I saw how shy you are off-stage.

by definition

According to prior determination, as a given. For example, This antibiotic is by definition the most effective now on the market. [1970s]

See also: by

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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References in periodicals archive ?

By definition, the rating for that subfactor is green.

Best value source selection: the Air Force approach, Part I

Whereas Part Two of Defining Reality takes up argument about definition, Part Three is concerned to address "arguments from and by definition" (109).

Defining Reality: Definitions and the Politics of Meaning

The main effect for gender and the gender by definition interaction were not significant.

What is sex? Students' definitions of having sex, sexual partner, and unfaithful sexual behaviour

Also, "Core real estate, by definition, carries low leverage.

Core investing outperforms all classes on risk-adjusted basis

"AIDS by definition is not new and is not a disease," the web site of HEAL Toronto declares.

Answering the AIDS Denialists: Is AIDS Real?

"By definition, the Avogadro number relates macroscopic masses to atomic measurements," Taylor says.

Bearing down on the kilogram standard

This follows from the fact that, by definition, a position that has a reasonable basis is not a negligent position; see Regs.

Penalty regulations address new reasonable basis disclosure standard

By definition, the individual is not a common-law employee and, therefore, is not covered by ERISA.

Nationwide v. Darden: restoring to the term "employee" its common-law meaning

Finally, Example (1) excludes from the definition of research "debugging." We submit, however, that a software product that has not been "debugged" does not -- by definition -- meet its basic design specifications.

Comments on proposed regulations on the definition of research and experimental expenditures

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