Theory of the Elasticity of Definitions

A meta‑linguistic framework that examines how definitions themselves are elastic—not fixed, dictionary entries but dynamic tools that shift with context, use, and power. Definitions can be stretched to include new referents (e.g., “marriage” expanding to include same‑sex couples), contracted to exclude unwanted cases, or strategically deployed to settle debates by fiat. The theory reveals that arguments over definitions are rarely just about words; they are struggles over boundaries, inclusion, and legitimacy. It also explains how redefinition becomes a political tool: change the definition, and you change the reality the definition governs.

Example: “The legal battle over ‘woman’ was a case of the theory of the elasticity of definitions—both sides knew that whichever definition became legally authoritative would determine access to rights, facilities, and recognition.”

by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal March 24, 2026