# def

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/def
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 2. excellent

adjective · CEFR C1 · Slang · Archaic

a slang word for something that is very good or cool.

For teachers: an adjective used to denote excellence or high quality; primarily associated with early hip-hop culture.

- That new song has a def beat.
- The DJ played a def set that kept the crowd dancing until the early hours of the morning.

Teaching tip: This sense is largely dated and associated with 1980s hip-hop; modern learners will rarely hear it used by younger speakers.

### 3. definition

noun · CEFR B2

a short way to write the word 'definition'.

For teachers: a standard abbreviation for 'definition', frequently used in dictionaries, glossaries, and programming.

- Check the def of that word in the back of the book.
- The technical manual provides a clear def for every acronym used in the text.

Usage: Usually written rather than spoken; often followed by a period in formal documents.

## Examples

- I'm def coming to the party tonight.
- We should def grab lunch next week once our exams are finally over.
- While formal writing requires the full adverb, in rapid digital exchanges, users def prefer shorter forms to maintain the conversational pace.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.