description
noun
de·scrip·tion
di-ˈskrip-shən 
1
a
: an act of describing
specifically
: discourse intended to give a mental image of something experienced
beautiful beyond description
gave an accurate description of what he saw
b
: a statement or account giving the characteristics of someone or something : a descriptive statement or account
The review was little more than a description of the film's plot.
2
: kind or character especially as determined by salient (see salient entry 1 sense 3b) features
someone fitting the suspect's description
had toys of every description
opposed to any tax of so radical a description
Examples of description in a Sentence
Reporters called the scene “a disaster area,” and I think that was an accurate description.
I applied for the position after reading the job description.
a writer with a gift of description
Recent Examples on the Web
The Chiefs have players that fit that description in Chris Jones, George Karlaftis, Charles Omenihu, Jerry Tillery and Janarius Robinson.
—
Nate Taylor, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
To perform necessary services that aren’t in their job description.
—Judy Berman, Time, 11 Apr. 2025
As an example of the changes that would be made by the bill about state laws (HB 575), legal descriptions of boundaries of gulf-front counties from Escambia to Collier include references to the Gulf of Mexico.
—Jim Saunders, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2025
Another man who worked at the convenience store testified that Wallace fit the description of a man who came into the store the night of the shooting, the lawsuit said.
—Jennifer Rodriguez, Kansas City Star, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for description
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Nate Taylor, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
To perform necessary services that aren’t in their job description.
—Judy Berman, Time, 11 Apr. 2025
As an example of the changes that would be made by the bill about state laws (HB 575), legal descriptions of boundaries of gulf-front counties from Escambia to Collier include references to the Gulf of Mexico.
—Jim Saunders, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2025
Another man who worked at the convenience store testified that Wallace fit the description of a man who came into the store the night of the shooting, the lawsuit said.
—Jennifer Rodriguez, Kansas City Star, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for description
Cite this Entry
“Description.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/description. Accessed 17 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
description
noun
de·scrip·tion
di-ˈskrip-shən
1
: an account of something
especially
: an account that presents a picture to a person who reads or hears it
2
: sort entry 1 sense 1a, kind
people of every description
Etymology
Middle English descripcioun "description," from early French descripcioun and Latin description-, descriptio (both, same meaning), from Latin describere "to describe," from de- "down" and scribere "to write" — related to scribe
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