Great Definition Essay Topic Prompts

There are many words and phrases that are quite easy to define. These would never be covered in a definition essay. Instead, definition essays are written to explore concepts that aren’t as easy to define in concrete terms. For example, a word or phrase may mean something different depending on where you live or were raised. Other words start with one definition, and then evolve over time. Definitions can also vary according to your experience, belief systems, and culture.

You may also find words and phrases in which the definition of these is widely agreed upon. However, they are still good subjects for definition essays because they are complex, and require quite a bit of research and a lengthy explanation in order to properly define them.

You can also write a definition essay about a word or phrase that people frequently misunderstand. One example of this is the word chemical. People use the word when they say things like:

• There are chemicals in that water.

• I don’t eat food that has chemicals in it.

• Chemicals are dangerous.

Common use of the word is to describe things that are harmful. In reality, that is inaccurate and incomplete. So, you could write a definition essay about chemistry that explores the meaning of the word, and how its use has evolved over time.

To write a definition essay, you explore the meaning of a word or phrase. The challenge is that you have to do this objectively. Your goal isn’t to declare one particular definition of a word as being superior. Instead, it’s more important to detail how and why a word or phrase has the meaning that it does in any particular context.

In order to write a great definition essay, you have to start with an interesting concept. It’s challenging to find one that isn’t too simple, too complex, or that hasn’t been done to death. To help you get started, we have provided a few definition essay topics  here.

1. Success

What does success mean? How do you quantify it? Why do so many people define it differently? Why is it that so many people can be seemingly successful in one area of their lives but not others? Write a definition essay that explores the various factors influencing our perception of success.

1. Trust

2. Ambitions

3. Power

4. Respect

Some people believe that is respect is earned and courtesy is a given. They often see respect as a form of reverence only to be shown to people who are worthy of it. Others believe that respect is to be shown to everyone from the get go. In addition to this, there are varying perspectives on how respect is show. Is it obedience? Is it loyalty? Is it adhering to a certain code of conduct?

1. Heroes

2. Courage

3. Human indifference

4. Generosity

Are all acts of giving acts of generosity? Is it generous when the person giving something is also getting an emotional reward from the experience? Do generosity and selflessness mean the same thing?

1. Dedication

2. Love

3. Self-discipline

4. The Second Amendment

Of all the constitutional amendments, none creates debate more than the second amendment. What exactly did the founders mean by this amendment. How is the term well-regulated militia intended to be translated?

1. Freedom of Speech

2. Wealth

3. Copyright

4. Torrenting

5. Intellectual Property

6. Creativity

7. Poverty

There doesn’t seem to be a concrete definition of poverty. For some people the standard is survival. For others, anybody who isn’t able to achieve financial stability might be considered poor. It’s certainly clear that poverty looks different to someone in a first world country that has access to resources in spite of being poor than it does to somebody living without many resources in an emerging nation. Write an essay exploring the meaning of and perceptions about poverty.

1. The American Dream

2. Conservative

3. Liberal

4. Libertarianism

5. Socialism

The terms socialism, communism, and authoritarianism are thrown around quite frequently. Unfortunately, there seems to be a lot of misunderstanding about each of these political philosophies. This would be a good time to explore the meaning of one or many of these political terms.

1. Communism

2. Authoritarianism

3. Gentrification

4. Perfectionism

5. Charisma

6. Peer Pressure

7. Persistence

8. Evil

9. Presidential

10. Class

11. Duty

12. Honor

13. Commitment

14. Stress

15. Patriotism

16. Fascism

17. Cultural Appropriation

18. Senioritis

This word is often used to describe the condition of high school seniors who just want to party and coast their way through their last year of high school. They might blow off assignments, skip classes, and seem to be less motivated than ever.

Is senioritis always the right word to use? Many of the behaviors that accompany senioritis also accompany depression and anxiety. Does applying the word senioritis to struggling or unmotivated students cause people to miss more serious problems?

1. Racism

2. Anti Semitism

3. Oppression

4. Black Holes

5. Evolution

6. Darwinism

7. Manifest Destiny

8. Cults

9. Anarchy

10. Romance

11. Pornography

12. Augmented Reality

13. Virtual Reality

14. Plagiarism

15. Self Control

16. Being Woke

17. Confidence

18. Personal Ethics or Morality

Are personal ethics or morality subjective, or are there concrete standards that people must meet in order to be considered moral or ethical? What do people mean when they publicly declare they are making a stance based on their personal ethics or moral code? You can explore this concept through a personal ethics definition essay.

1. Corporate Personhood

2. Role Mode

3. Excitement

4. Cruelty

5. Ambition

6. Physical Fitness

7. Quality of Life

8. Modesty

9. Virtue

10. Nihilism

11. Existentialism

12. Offensiveness

13. Rudeness

14. Rejection

15. Lust

16. Family

17. Adoration

18. Perjury

19. The 25th Amendment

20. Assault Weapon

21. Civil Rights

22. Trigger

23. Electoral College

The electoral college is another hot topic. There are people who say that it’s outdated and no longer serves a beneficial purpose. Others believe it gives people in less populated states a fair chance of influencing the presidential election. The question is, do most people actually understand how the electoral college works? A definition essay would explain this concept in detail.

1. Family Values

2. Happiness

3. Use of Force

4. Creativity

5. Mid Life Crisis

6. Safe Spaces

7. Human Life

8. Parental Rights

9. Cheating

10. Misogyny

11. Misandry

12. Imagination

13. Male Chauvinism

14. Tribalism

15. Bigotry

16. Ageism

17. Sexual Harassment

18. Homophobia

19. Transphobia

20. Islamophobia

21. Leadership

22. Worth Ethic

23. Optimism

24. Negativity

25. Pragmatism

26. Hope

27. Paganism

28. Perfectionism

29. Cold Wars

30. GDP

31. The Value of a Billion Dollars

32. The Perfect Day

33. The Perfect Wedding

34. The Perfect Vacation

35. The Perfect Shopping Trip

36. The Perfect Marriage

37. The Perfect Relationship

38. The United Nations

39. Nuclear Power

40. Atomic Bombs

41. Renewable Energy

42. Restoration Ecology

43. Conservation

44. The Five Dimensions of a Culture

45. Organizational City

46. What is a Global City?

47. Cyber Crime

48. Define The Blues

49. An Economic Recession

50. Santa Clause

51. Smart Devices

52. United Arab Emirates

53. Suicide

54. The Ozone Layer

55. Position Based Negotiation

56. Smart Cities

57. Axis of Evil

58. Opportunity Costs

59. Meaningful Praise

60. Constructive Criticism

61. Temple

62. Church

63. Mosque

64. A Dedication

65. Value

66. Missionary Work

67. Simple Life

68. Mortal Sin

69. Venial Sin

70. Complete Knowledge

71. Compromise

72. Conversion

73. Relativism

74. Gratitude

75. Christlike

76. Importance of Kindness

77. Abortion Legality

78. Peer Pressure

79. Ambition

80. Business Woman

81. Surrealism

82. Selfie

83. Modern Art

84. Social Media

85. e-Commerce

86. Tsunami

87. Hurricane

88. Typhoon

89. Downshifting

90. Northern Lights

91. Individuality

92. Group Dynamics

93. Free Will

94. Ivy League

95. Sister City

96. Free Will

97. HBCU

98. Civil Wars

99. Women’s Lib

100. Feminazi

101. WW II

102. WW I

103. Parliamentary Procedures

104. Brexit

105. The Two Party System

106. Antebellum

107. The Victorian Era

108. Dark Ages

109. Renaissance

110. Plantations

111. Stock Market

112. Commerce

113. Accounting

114. Economic Depression

115. Business Administration

116. Cash Book

117. Ledger

118. Finance

119. Micro Economics

120. Macro Economics

121. Production

122. Salaries

123. Producers

124. Pop Music

125. Musical Charts

126. Chords And Scales

127. Brass Instruments

128. Percussion Instruments

129. Woodwind Instruments

130. Religious Tolerance

131. The Vatican

132. Mecca

133. Priesthood

134. Sainthood

135. Sikhism

136. Rock Climbing

137. The World Cup

138. Live Theater

139. Immersive Theater

140. Experimental Theater

141. Children’s Theater

142. Educational Technology

143. Operating Systems

144. Telecommunication

145. Program Languages

146. Email

147. IOT

148. Android

149. Apple

150. CPU

151. Motherboard

152. Mainframe

153. The Motivation of Terrorist

154. Attachment to Inanimate Objects

155. Fast Food Generation

156. Child Trafficking

157. Drug TEsting

158. Euthanasia

159. Genetic Engineering

160. Homeopathy

161. Essential Oils

162. International Financial Reporting

163. SWOT Analysis

164. FUD

165. Casual Dining

166. Fine Dining

167. Social Engineering

168. Organ Donation

169. Autopsy

170. Body Farms

171. Forensic Science

172. Organic

173. Habitat

174. Erosion

175. Fish Kill

176. Algae Bloom

177. Invasive Species

178. Overfishing

179. Ugly Produce

180. Bioswales

181. Stormwater Management

182. Wastewater Management

183. Endangered Species

184. Extinction

185. Animal Husbandry

186. Construction Management

187. Project Management

188. Architecture

189. Rooftop Gardening

190. Hydroponics

191. CBD Oil

192. Video Streaming

193. Cloud Computing

194. Customer Relationship Management

195. Phone Center

196. Outsourcing

197. Recruiting

198. Out Placement

199. Blacklisting

200. Chinese Firewall Policy

201. Strike

202. Labor Union

203. Labor Dispute

204. Management

205. Representation

206. What is an Autodidact

207. Acid Rain

208. Theoretical Physics

209. Aerospace Engineering

210. Time Management

211. Space Time Continuum

212. Eyewitness Testimony Flaws

213. Age Related Dementia

214. Unicorn Company

215. Angel Investor

216. Psychoanalysis

Researching a Personal Definition Essay

One you have decided on a word or phrase to use, you’ll want to do thorough research. One place to start is with the origin of the word or phrase. You can then start from that historical perspective. You can also explore the use of that word or phrase in literature, political speeches, even in movies or television shows.

Final Thoughts

If you can find an interesting topic, and the right research sources, a definition essay can be a relatively interesting assignment. It’s fascinating to explore the origins of words and phrases as well as explore the ways in which we use them. Hopefully, this list of 30 topic ideas will inspire you to explore a word or phrase that has meaning to you.