Top 200 Definition Essay Topics For All

Essay writing can be hard if you don’t have the right essay topics. Most students need to make sure they choose a topic that they can adequately research, organize, and write about. A definition essay is a type of writing assignment that asks students to define a term, concept, or idea. Students cannot just provide a dictionary definition; students must extend the definition using well-thought examples. This list of definition essay topics covers a variety of areas. The topics are free to use and share with others.

Easy Definition Essay Topics

Students that learning how to write these types of essays should stick with a simple topic for definition essay that they can easily research and write about. Any student at the middle school or high school level should have no trouble working on the following:

1. What is trust essay
2. What is the definition of hatred?
3. What is the meaning of laziness?
4. What does it mean to be a first-world country?
5. What is the meaning of democracy?
6. What does it mean to be a hero?
7. What is the definition of a charismatic personality?
8. What is the definition of respecting one’s elders?
9. What is the definition of friendship?
10. What does it mean to be a coward?
11. What is the definition of jealousy?
12. What is the definition of being academically successful?
13. What is the definition of being a good student?
14. What is the definition of a good pet?
15. What is the bad way of breaking up with a partner?
16. What is the easiest way to change the oil on your car?
17. What does it mean to have a hit song?
18. What is meant by achieving academic success?
19. What does it mean to be a good student?
20. What do humans need to do to achieve peace?

Good Definition Paper Topics

A great definition essay topic should not pose difficult situations for students. Students can write about something they are familiar with and research what they are most comfortable with:

1. What makes a person kind or mean?
2. How does one define charisma in the 21^st century?
3. What does it mean to have a bad sense of humor?
4. What does it mean to love somebody unconditionally?
5. When athletes claim a person is a team player, what does it mean?
6. What does it mean to be optimistic during a pandemic?
7. What does it mean to be pessimistic during a pandemic?
8. What is the current definition of natural beauty?
9. What was the definition of beauty in the 1960s?
10. How does one give respect in the modern world?
11. What is the definition of happiness in today’s society?
12. What does it mean to have the dedication to succeed?
13. What is meant when experts warn of an economic recession?
14. What is meant when people achieve academic success?
15. What is meant by events that are from an “Act of God”?
16. What is meant when people find the perfect relationship?
17. How does one offer support to a loved one?
18. What is meant by alcoholic dependence?
19. What is the definition of entrepreneurship?
20. What is the definition of a professional internship?

Argument of Definition Topics

Some of the best topics for definition essay deal with everyday debates. These are the things people talk about often and make for great argumentative assignments:

1. What are the likely programming languages of the future?
2. What impact has the internet had on communication?
3. What are the characteristics of a government bailout?
4. What are the pros and cons of online learning?
5. What are the characteristics of an economic package?
6. What does it mean for a government to buy out a corporation?
7. What is the meaning of a good work ethic?
8. What are the characteristics managers use to hire employees?
9. What is meant by a generational talent in sports?
10. What does it mean to be artistic or creative?
11. What does it mean to create good art?
12. What is the meaning of a good soundtrack?
13. What is meant by having good common sense?
14. What does it mean to be a good professional athlete?
15. What does it mean to pay respect to others?
16. What is the definition of a dynasty in professional sports?
17. What does it mean to have the latest technology in business?
18. How does one provide child support in today’s economy?
19. How does one achieve true leadership?
20. What does it mean to be a loving parent?

Great Hot Topics Definition

The following topics for a definition essay work well for assignments you have about a week or two to complete. You can find ample information on the web, but you should rely more on academic resources you find at the library:

1. What does it mean to be addicted to pain medications?
2. How is veritable leadership defined in the workplace?
3. How is society progress defined in today’s world?
4. What is the meaning of eternal forgiveness in societies?
5. How do people exhibit respect and equality toward others?
6. What does it mean to be objective to art?
7. What does it mean to be loyal to one’s parents?
8. How does one explain racism to a child?
9. What is the definition of bigotry?
10. When can a political system for punishment be called just?
11. What is the definition of good parenting?
12. When is a child considered well-behaved?
13. What is the definition of a patriarchal system?
14. How is feminism defined in the 21^st century?
15. What does it mean to be a feminist in today’s world?
16. What is the difference between masculinity and femininity?
17. What does it mean to be a good parent?
18. What is the definition of being a good person?
19. What does gender equality mean?
20. What does it mean to be a third-world country?

Controversial Topics Definition

These topics for definition essays are controversial and will certainly gain a lot of attention. Be sure you commit enough time to find great resources that will back up your definitions:

1. What are the responsibilities of a first-world country?
2. What makes students lose interest in academic work?
3. What is the definition of a fun time at prom?
4. What does it mean to be a consenting adult?
5. What does it mean to have the perfect body?
6. How should the media portray young females on television?
7. What is meant by having the perfect relationship?
8. What is the meaning of a perfect marriage?
9. What is the definition of an extended family?
10. What does it mean to be mentally challenged?
11. What does it mean to have perfect children?
12. What constitutes cheating in a relationship?
13. What is the definition of a common-law marriage?
14. What is needed to get an annulment in the U.S.?
15. What is the definition of an arranged marriage?
16. What is the definition of an immediate family?
17. What is the meaning of a hit musical record?
18. What is the meaning of international diplomacy?
19. What constitutes an unfair criminal trial?
20. What does it mean to be sexually mature?

Definition Essay Topics for College

As students become more familiar with this type of assignment and as they advance to higher academic levels, they will need to choose good definition essay topics that meet or surpass the standards of their instructors’ expectations. Here is a list targeted toward college-level students:

1. What is the definition of academic sabotage?
2. What does it mean to cheat on a test?
3. What does it mean to develop mental strength?
4. What is the meaning of academic stress?
5. What does it mean to colonize a foreign territory?
6. What is the meaning of good fashion sense?
7. What is the meaning of good taste in music?
8. What is the definition of a rebellion?
9. What does it mean to be heroic in today’s world?
10. What is the definition of heroism in a technology-driven world?
11. What do people mean when they say gambling addiction?
12. What does it mean to have internet privacy?
13. What does it mean to protest in the 21^st century?
14. What is the meaning of constitutional rights?
15. What does it mean to have independence from parents?
16. What is meant when the media talks about white privilege?
17. What defines a terrorist threat?
18. What is meant when people refer to domestic terrorism?
19. What does feminism mean in the 21^st century?
20. What can be defined as a modern revolution?

Definition Speech Topics

These definition essay topics examples can be used for both speech presentations and written assignments. They are perfect for all academic levels and are relatively easy to research using online and print resources:

1. What does it mean to be a good parent in a technology-based world?
2. What does it mean to give children their privacy?
3. What does it mean to apologize to one’s children?
4. What does it mean to give children freedom in today’s world?
5. What does it mean to have a cultural history?
6. What is the definition of accountability?
7. What is meant by the term “teacher’s pet”?
8. What does it mean to be connected to one’s heritage?
9. What does it mean to have a fair election?
10. What does it mean to be a good role model for your kids?
11. What does it mean to be a good role model for society?
12. What is meant by a morally just act of war?
13. What defines a justified military attack on a city?
14. What does it mean to be addicted to caffeine?
15. What is the definition of an inappropriate teacher-student relationship?
16. What are the major causes of global warming?
17. What is the reasoning behind human cloning?
18. What were the major characteristics of the 60s hippie movement?
19. What is the meaning of independent sovereignty?
20. What is meant by the perfect poker hand?

Funny Definition Essay Topics

There are many occasions where using humor is a great way of handling definition topics. Students can often write freely without having to do much research. Here is a list that may be suitable for these occasions:

1. What is the definition of being a bad tourist?
2. What are the characteristics of a poser?
3. What is a kind of music you are embarrassed to hear?
4. What does it mean to help the upper class?
5. Which season is the best one for slacking off?
6. Which is the best type of pet?
7. What is the hardest subject in school?
8. What is the definition of dark humor?
9. What can be expected from next year’s television programs?
10. What was the hardest part about wearing masks during quarantine?
11. Why don’t we feel our planet rotating around the sun?
12. Why can’t cough people cough and sneeze at the same time?
13. What is the reason we haven’t come into contact with aliens?
14. What makes it hard for us to be polite to others?
15. What is the meaning of slapstick humor?
16. What does it mean to be rich in life?
17. What makes for a good television sitcom?
18. What does it mean to be a typical tourist?
19. What do people mean when people roll their eyes?
20. What is the definition of ironic comedy?

Creative Definition Essay Topics

Some of the best essays come from a careful selection of definition paper topics. Creative essay ideas and challenge students is a great way of attracting attention and earning a high score on an assignment:

1. What does it mean to be poor?
2. What defines a historical figure?
3. What is the definition of offensive language?
4. What is meant by the term social anarchist?
5. What does it mean to live in a monarchy?
6. What does it mean to ban free speech?
7. How do checks and balances in the United States work?
8. What is the purpose of a standardized test?
9. What does it mean to Ghostlight somebody?
10. What is global capitalism?
11. What are the characteristics of a socialist government?
12. What does mass media mean to different societies?
13. What makes for a good piece of writing?
14. What does freedom of the press mean in the U.S.?
15. What is the definition of a well-written essay?
16. What does it mean to censor offensive language?
17. What are the characteristics of a democratic society?
18. Who was Nero and why was he important?
19. What did Stalin do that was condemned by others?
20. What does liberal ideology mean?

Extended Definition Topics

With this type of essay, you may want to include things like etymology and historical context to define an idea. Here is a definition essay topics list that meets these requirements:

1. What is meant to have self-respect in today’s world?
2. What is meant by showing courage during difficult situations?
3. What is the definition of contempt in court?
4. What is the meaning of greatness in society?
5. What is the definition of emotional abuse?
6. What is the meaning of a manslaughter charge?
7. What does it mean to be pessimistic about climate change?
8. How is one’s legacy defined by his successes?
9. What is the meaning of higher education?
10. What is the meaning of unconditional love?
11. What is the definition of statutory rape?
12. What is the meaning of being loyal?
13. What is the definition of a good university?
14. What is the meaning of the term argument?
15. What is the definition of an avid reader?
16. What is the meaning of greatness in sports?
17. What is the meaning of a plea bargain?
18. What is the meaning of spousal abuse?
19. What does it mean to be knowledgeable of world events?
20. What does it mean to be patriotic in today’s world?

All the definition essay topics from our professional writer service can be shared and modified to fit assignment requirements. The topics definition can be sued for long and short projects. Students should try to choose a topic that interests them so that the process of researching and forming arguments will be less challenging.