delineation

noun

de·​lin·​ea·​tion di-ˌli-nē-ˈā-shən 

dē-

1

: the act of outlining or representing something with lines or words : the act of delineating

the delineation of a scene

… the delineation of the territories allotted to the seven tribes of Israel …

—Adam Nicholson

2

: something made by delineating

a photographic delineation of low life

—T. S. Eliot

delineative

di-ˈli-nē-ˌā-tiv 

dē-

adjective

Synonyms

• cartoon
• drawing
• sketch

Examples of delineation in a Sentence

his simple but striking delineations of Dutch landscapes

a finely wrought delineation of a young woman's first experience with romantic love

Recent Examples on the Web

Pattinson manages a fine and witty character delineation between good-hearted, passive #17 and steely, brutal #18. —Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 6 Mar. 2025

If a signature scent represents the delineations of a person fully fleshed, perfume samples offer the liberty of a protean form. —Max Ufberg, hazlitt.net, 5 Mar. 2025

Thus, border delineation and enforcement of any flows of financial and human capital and ecological processes become intertwined in decision-making. —Saleem H. Ali, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025

Neither of these are indictments on their personality, or professionalism; merely a delineation of their respective approaches to the industry. —Elizabeth Stanton, Fox News, 3 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Late Latin dēlīneātiōn-, dēlīneātiō "description," from Latin dēlīneāre "to trace the outline of, delineate" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action

First Known Use

1570, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for delineation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation