This template is a self-reference and so is part of the Wikipedia project rather than the encyclopedic content.
Usage
This template may be used in articles where a term is used that lacks definition and it is unclear what the term refers to.
{{Definition needed|date=April 2025}}
This produces:
This template will add the article to Category:Wikipedia articles needing clarification or a monthly subcategory thereof.
See also
- {{Definition}} – when multiple definitions or meanings exist, or there is no consensus definition or meaning
- {{Disambiguation needed}} – for the special case where the term needing clarification is wikilinked to a disambiguation page, and you are unable to find a suitable replacement link.
- {{Expand acronym}} – for acronyms, abbreviations or initialisms that are not written in full on first occurrence
- {{Ambiguous}} – for ambiguous statements
- {{Clarify}} – for other text that is difficult to understand
Use {{Definition needed}} in the body of an article as a request for other editors to add a definition to text that assumes familiarity with a term. When the problem is not with [[WP:jargon]] or technical terms, but simply with the wording, one may use {{Clarify}} instead. For dealing with dubious information, please use one of the following: {{citation needed}}, {{Verify source}}, {{Dubious}} or {{Disputed inline}}; otherwise, {{Explain}} may be a good choice,
| Parameter | Description | Type | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Title | 1 title reason | A brief reason for the tag. Because it may not be immediately apparent to other editors what about the tagged passage is in need of further explanation, a brief reason is generally helpful. The reason parameter displays when the mouse cursor is placed over the text the template inserts. | String | suggested |
| Date | date | An optional date parameter that records when the tag was added. If this template is added without the date parameter, the date parameter will be added soon after by a [[WP:BOT|bot]].
| Date | suggested |