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Full Idea
A stipulative definition lays down that a given linguistic expression is to have a certain meaning; this is why they cannot be said to be correct or incorrect.
Gist of Idea
A stipulative definition lays down that an expression is to have a certain meaning
Source
Thomas Mautner (Penguin Dictionary of Philosophy [1996], 'definition')
Book Ref
Mautner,Thomas: 'Dictionary of Philosophy' [Penguin 1997], p.126
A Reaction
These are uncontroversial when they are explicitly made in writing by a single person. The tricky case is where they are implicitly made in conversation by a community. After a century or two these look like facts, their origin having been lost.
| 11219 | Frege suggested that mathematics should only accept stipulative definitions [Frege, by Gupta] |
| 11218 | Stipulative definition assigns meaning to a term, ignoring prior meanings [Gupta] |
| 9960 | A stipulative definition lays down that an expression is to have a certain meaning [Mautner] |
| 8680 | Classical definitions attempt to refer, but intuitionist/constructivist definitions actually create objects [Friend] |