Barbara P
Barbara P

100 Best Definition Essay Topics For Students

7 min read

Published on: Jun 6, 2019

Last updated on: May 26, 2023

Definition Essay Topics

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definition essay is the most common type of essay that is assigned to high school and college students. These essays are given to students to enhance their academic writing skills.

A definition essay is an essay that defines or explains a word, term, concept, or idea. There are some words that have literal meanings and they are very easy to explain i.e. pencil, table, chair, etc. While there are some terms that have abstract meaning and are difficult to explain i.e. love, care, emotion, feelings.

In this blog, you’ll get some amazing topics and some useful tips on how to choose a definition essay topic. All you have to do is give this article a good read and pick an amazing topic of your interest.

What is a Definition Essay?

Before we look at a list of definition essay topics by experts, let's remind ourselves of what this type of essay is.

A definition essay is an academic essay that shows up as a dictionary entry. It includes both the official meanings of the word and the writer's interpretation. This interpretation is supported by examples.

A good definition essay will not exceed one page in length, and it should include 250-500 words. The goal is for the student to expand on a word’s usage. This can be done by explaining other possible concepts of what they are analyzing - this makes them more interesting!

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How to Choose a Definition Essay Topic?

The success of your essay majorly depends on the topic. A good topic is a key element in writing a good essay. So when you choose a topic for your essay, keep the following things in mind.

  • Choose a topic that has a broad meaning rather than a literal meaning.
  • Make sure you understand the topic completely.
  • Make sure that the subject should be interesting for you.
  • The topic should be interesting for the reader as well.
  • Choose a word, idea or term that is fresh for the audience.
  • Avoid picking any common topic that the reader is already familiar with.
  • Choose an idea that connects with your target audience.

Choosing a controversial topic is quite easier than choosing a definition essay topic. As you have a few options to choose from and a little space to write about it. But if you keep the instructions given above in mind, you can easily choose an amazing topic for your essay.

Definition Essay Topics Ideas

Having a good topic in hand can give you a chance to express your ideas regarding a topic, concept, or idea. You need to choose a topic that gives you the freedom to write sufficiently enough about it.

When you search over the internet you’ll get plenty of definition essay topics. Having a lot of ideas in hand can make the topic selection process difficult. That is why we have compiled a list of some effective and interesting definition essay topics.

Check out our list of creative definition essay example topics examples and choose the best one for your essay.

Definition Essay Topics for High School Students

  • What is Will power to you?
  • Self-confidence
  • What does friendship mean to you?
  • What is the definition of the best teacher for you?
  • A strong family
  • What does happiness mean to you?
  • Sense of humor
  • Kindness
  • Teamwork
  • Team player

Definition Essay Topics for College Students

  • What is the meaning of optimism?
  • What does sincerity mean?
  • Love at first sight
  • The true meaning of respect
  • The actual definition of family
  • Define Buddhism
  • Who is a strong leader?
  • What is the actual meaning of ambitions?
  • Define racism in your own words
  • How will you define success?

Funny Definition Essay Topics

  • Define smelly cats
  • What your dog thinks about you
  • Why is the customer never right?
  • How does pineapple on pizza taste?
  • Why is only the pair of socks a successful pair in the world?
  • Shark attack show
  • Types of dates
  • How to become an expert gamer?
  • Why Micky Mouse is a scary cartoon
  • How to pretend that you are busy

Creative Definition Essay Topics

  • Peace of mind
  • Elaborate self-respect
  • Define self-esteem
  • What is the meaning of courage?
  • Define bravery
  • What is the exact meaning of sportsmanship?
  • What is the literal meaning of maturity?
  • Dedication
  • Define modesty
  • Define curse in your own words

Easy Definition Essay Topics

  • Marriage
  • Friendship
  • Love
  • Care
  • Privacy
  • Humanity
  • Blessing
  • Grace
  • Courtesy
  • Fame

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Good Definition Essay Topics

  • Describe laziness
  • Define attitude
  • What is magnetism?
  • How do you define attraction?
  • Define human rights
  • What is the meaning of responsibilities?
  • Time management
  • Define health
  • Define class
  • What is the meaning of wealth

Extended Definition Essay Topics

  • What does the term freedom mean?
  • Define ownership in your own words
  • What is the meaning of the term character?
  • The current American dream
  • The evolution of the definitions
  • Define experience in your own words
  • What is common sense?
  • Explore the term science
  • What role does a degree play in a student’s life?
  • A healthy way of life

Random Definition Essay Topics

  • Small business
  • Cheating
  • Rudeness
  • Beauty
  • Heroism
  • Fashion
  • Masculinity
  • Poverty
  • Individuality
  • Good human

Definition Argumentative Essay Topics

  • Democracy vs. Dictatorship
  • Meaning of two sides of a coin
  • Classical music vs. Pop music
  • Friendship vs. Love
  • Racial segregation
  • Death penalty
  • Election campaigns
  • Climate change
  • An official language in a country
  • Physical fitness

Controversial Definition Essay Topics

  • Different faces of happiness.
  • Are vaccines the friend or the enemy?
  • Video games - fun or destruction?
  • Nationalism vs. patriotism.
  • E-learning
  • Artificial intelligence
  • Spam
  • Capital Punishments
  • Romance
  • War

Tips on How to Write a Definition Essay?

Here are some tips that you should learn before writing your essay. These steps will help you structure your essay in a proper format.

  1. Pick an interesting and unique paper topic.
  2. Research the topic thoroughly and collect detailed information about it.
  3. Create a definition essay outline, it will help you follow the essay pattern. Without an outline, it is really difficult to craft a good essay according to the format.
  4. Tell the exact meaning of your subject in the introduction part. Present the thesis statement that provides a detailed meaning of the essay topic. Your introduction should be able to grab the reader’s attention and make them read the complete essay.
  5. In the body paragraphs, provide evidence that supports your personal yet dictionary definition. Elaborate on the topic with the help of your personal experience examples.
  6. In the conclusion section, just sum up all the explanations and descriptions. This is akin to closing remarks so do not provide a fresh idea over here. Provide your close remarks and finish the essay.
  7. After writing the essay, spare some time for the proofreading and editing process. Check your essay for spelling and grammatical mistakes. Remove all the errors from the essay to make it flawless.

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Definition Essay Structure

Your final definition paper may have a structure similar to this:

  • A copy-pasted or paraphrased definition from the dictionary.
  • Writer’s personal understanding and interpretation of the word.
  • An example of the usage of the word in a real context.
  • Supporting evidence justifying the writer’s interpretation of the word.
  • Conclusion summarizing each point briefly.

This essay writing guide will help you a lot in writing your essay. Make sure you follow the procedure so that you don’t make any mistakes.

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Barbara P

WRITTEN BY

Barbara P (Literature, Marketing)

Dr. Barbara is a highly experienced writer and author who holds a Ph.D. degree in public health from an Ivy League school. She has worked in the medical field for many years, conducting extensive research on various health topics. Her writing has been featured in several top-tier publications.

Dr. Barbara is a highly experienced writer and author who holds a Ph.D. degree in public health from an Ivy League school. She has worked in the medical field for many years, conducting extensive research on various health topics. Her writing has been featured in several top-tier publications.

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