Circumscription

Origin

Latin circumscrīptiō.

Full definition of circumscription

Noun

1. the act of circumscribing or the quality of being circumscribed
2. anything that circumscribes or a circumscribed area
3. (taxonomy) the definition of what does and does not belong to a given taxon, from a particular taxonomic viewpoint or taxonomic system.The circumscription in the APG system of the family Malvaceae includes the former families Bombacaceae, Sterculiaceae and Tiliaceae.
4. An electoral district; used often in texts treating electoral systems in Romance countries.