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Definition of essay

 (Entry 1 of 2)

Definition of essay  (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

• composition

attempt , try , endeavor , essay , strive mean to make an effort to accomplish an end.

attempt stresses the initiation or beginning of an effort.

try is often close to attempt but may stress effort or experiment made in the hope of testing or proving something.

endeavor heightens the implications of exertion and difficulty.

essay implies difficulty but also suggests tentative trying or experimenting.

strive implies great exertion against great difficulty and specifically suggests persistent effort.

Examples of essay in a Sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'essay.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Middle French essai , ultimately from Late Latin exagium act of weighing, from Latin ex- + agere to drive — more at agent

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing essay

• photo - essay
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“Essay.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/essay. Accessed 22 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

Kids definition of essay.

Kids Definition of essay  (Entry 2 of 2)

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Definition of 'essay'

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essay example in a phrase

I need an extension to the deadline as I'm not going to finish this essay on time

I need to finish this essay before anything else

Definition of essay

• an analytic or interpretive literary composition
• a tentative attempt
• make an effort or attempt

Synonyms of essay

• effort pronunciation effort [ en ]
• trial pronunciation trial [ en ]
• endeavour pronunciation endeavour [ en ]
• attempt pronunciation attempt [ en ]
• composition pronunciation composition [ en ]
• article pronunciation article [ en ]
• dissertation pronunciation dissertation [ en ]
• tract pronunciation tract [ en ]
• thesis pronunciation thesis [ en ]
• exposition pronunciation exposition [ en ]

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Definition of essay verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

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Hypernyms [ edit ]

Descendants [ edit ], norwegian bokmål [ edit ].

Borrowed from English essay , from Middle French essai .

essay   n ( definite singular essayet , indefinite plural essay or essayer , definite plural essaya or essayene )

• an essay , a written composition of moderate length exploring a particular subject
• essaysamling

References [ edit ]

• “essay” in The Bokmål Dictionary .

Norwegian Nynorsk [ edit ]

essay   n ( definite singular essayet , indefinite plural essay , definite plural essaya )

• “essay” in The Nynorsk Dictionary .

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What does the noun essay mean?

There are 12 meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun essay , nine of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

essay has developed meanings and uses in subjects including

Entry status

OED is undergoing a continuous programme of revision to modernize and improve definitions. This entry has not yet been fully revised.

How common is the noun essay ?

How is the noun essay pronounced, british english, u.s. english, where does the noun essay come from.

Earliest known use

The earliest known use of the noun essay is in the late 1500s.

OED's earliest evidence for essay is from 1597, in the writing of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor, politician, and philosopher.

It is also recorded as a verb from the Middle English period (1150—1500).

essay is a borrowing from French.

Etymons: French essai .

Nearby entries

• esrache, v. 1477
• esraj, n. 1921–
• ESRO, n. 1961–
• ess, n. 1540–
• -ess, suffix¹
• -ess, suffix²
• essamplerie, n. 1393
• essart, n. 1656–
• essart, v. 1675–
• essarting, n. a1821–
• essay, n. 1597–
• essay, v. 1483–
• essayal, n. 1837–
• essayer, n. 1611–
• essayette, n. 1877–
• essayfy, v. 1815–
• essay-hatch, n. 1721–
• essayical, adj. 1860–
• essaying, n. 1861–
• essaying, adj. 1641–
• essayish, adj. 1863–

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Meaning & use

Pronunciation, compounds & derived words, entry history for essay, n..

essay, n. was first published in 1891; not yet revised.

essay, n. was last modified in March 2024.

Revision of the OED is a long-term project. Entries in oed.com which have not been revised may include:

• corrections and revisions to definitions, pronunciation, etymology, headwords, variant spellings, quotations, and dates;
• new senses, phrases, and quotations which have been added in subsequent print and online updates.

Revisions and additions of this kind were last incorporated into essay, n. in March 2024.

Earlier versions of this entry were published in:

OED First Edition (1891)

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OED Second Edition (1989)

• View essay, n. in OED Second Edition

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• Knowledge Base
• The four main types of essay | Quick guide with examples

The Four Main Types of Essay | Quick Guide with Examples

Published on September 4, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.

An essay is a focused piece of writing designed to inform or persuade. There are many different types of essay, but they are often defined in four categories: argumentative, expository, narrative, and descriptive essays.

Argumentative and expository essays are focused on conveying information and making clear points, while narrative and descriptive essays are about exercising creativity and writing in an interesting way. At university level, argumentative essays are the most common type. 

In high school and college, you will also often have to write textual analysis essays, which test your skills in close reading and interpretation.

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Table of contents

Argumentative essays, expository essays, narrative essays, descriptive essays, textual analysis essays, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about types of essays.

An argumentative essay presents an extended, evidence-based argument. It requires a strong thesis statement —a clearly defined stance on your topic. Your aim is to convince the reader of your thesis using evidence (such as quotations ) and analysis.

Argumentative essays test your ability to research and present your own position on a topic. This is the most common type of essay at college level—most papers you write will involve some kind of argumentation.

The essay is divided into an introduction, body, and conclusion:

• The introduction provides your topic and thesis statement
• The body presents your evidence and arguments
• The conclusion summarizes your argument and emphasizes its importance

The example below is a paragraph from the body of an argumentative essay about the effects of the internet on education. Mouse over it to learn more.

A common frustration for teachers is students’ use of Wikipedia as a source in their writing. Its prevalence among students is not exaggerated; a survey found that the vast majority of the students surveyed used Wikipedia (Head & Eisenberg, 2010). An article in The Guardian stresses a common objection to its use: “a reliance on Wikipedia can discourage students from engaging with genuine academic writing” (Coomer, 2013). Teachers are clearly not mistaken in viewing Wikipedia usage as ubiquitous among their students; but the claim that it discourages engagement with academic sources requires further investigation. This point is treated as self-evident by many teachers, but Wikipedia itself explicitly encourages students to look into other sources. Its articles often provide references to academic publications and include warning notes where citations are missing; the site’s own guidelines for research make clear that it should be used as a starting point, emphasizing that users should always “read the references and check whether they really do support what the article says” (“Wikipedia:Researching with Wikipedia,” 2020). Indeed, for many students, Wikipedia is their first encounter with the concepts of citation and referencing. The use of Wikipedia therefore has a positive side that merits deeper consideration than it often receives.

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An expository essay provides a clear, focused explanation of a topic. It doesn’t require an original argument, just a balanced and well-organized view of the topic.

Expository essays test your familiarity with a topic and your ability to organize and convey information. They are commonly assigned at high school or in exam questions at college level.

The introduction of an expository essay states your topic and provides some general background, the body presents the details, and the conclusion summarizes the information presented.

A typical body paragraph from an expository essay about the invention of the printing press is shown below. Mouse over it to learn more.

The invention of the printing press in 1440 changed this situation dramatically. Johannes Gutenberg, who had worked as a goldsmith, used his knowledge of metals in the design of the press. He made his type from an alloy of lead, tin, and antimony, whose durability allowed for the reliable production of high-quality books. This new technology allowed texts to be reproduced and disseminated on a much larger scale than was previously possible. The Gutenberg Bible appeared in the 1450s, and a large number of printing presses sprang up across the continent in the following decades. Gutenberg’s invention rapidly transformed cultural production in Europe; among other things, it would lead to the Protestant Reformation.

A narrative essay is one that tells a story. This is usually a story about a personal experience you had, but it may also be an imaginative exploration of something you have not experienced.

Narrative essays test your ability to build up a narrative in an engaging, well-structured way. They are much more personal and creative than other kinds of academic writing . Writing a personal statement for an application requires the same skills as a narrative essay.

A narrative essay isn’t strictly divided into introduction, body, and conclusion, but it should still begin by setting up the narrative and finish by expressing the point of the story—what you learned from your experience, or why it made an impression on you.

Mouse over the example below, a short narrative essay responding to the prompt “Write about an experience where you learned something about yourself,” to explore its structure.

Since elementary school, I have always favored subjects like science and math over the humanities. My instinct was always to think of these subjects as more solid and serious than classes like English. If there was no right answer, I thought, why bother? But recently I had an experience that taught me my academic interests are more flexible than I had thought: I took my first philosophy class.

Before I entered the classroom, I was skeptical. I waited outside with the other students and wondered what exactly philosophy would involve—I really had no idea. I imagined something pretty abstract: long, stilted conversations pondering the meaning of life. But what I got was something quite different.

A young man in jeans, Mr. Jones—“but you can call me Rob”—was far from the white-haired, buttoned-up old man I had half-expected. And rather than pulling us into pedantic arguments about obscure philosophical points, Rob engaged us on our level. To talk free will, we looked at our own choices. To talk ethics, we looked at dilemmas we had faced ourselves. By the end of class, I’d discovered that questions with no right answer can turn out to be the most interesting ones.

The experience has taught me to look at things a little more “philosophically”—and not just because it was a philosophy class! I learned that if I let go of my preconceptions, I can actually get a lot out of subjects I was previously dismissive of. The class taught me—in more ways than one—to look at things with an open mind.

A descriptive essay provides a detailed sensory description of something. Like narrative essays, they allow you to be more creative than most academic writing, but they are more tightly focused than narrative essays. You might describe a specific place or object, rather than telling a whole story.

Descriptive essays test your ability to use language creatively, making striking word choices to convey a memorable picture of what you’re describing.

A descriptive essay can be quite loosely structured, though it should usually begin by introducing the object of your description and end by drawing an overall picture of it. The important thing is to use careful word choices and figurative language to create an original description of your object.

Mouse over the example below, a response to the prompt “Describe a place you love to spend time in,” to learn more about descriptive essays.

On Sunday afternoons I like to spend my time in the garden behind my house. The garden is narrow but long, a corridor of green extending from the back of the house, and I sit on a lawn chair at the far end to read and relax. I am in my small peaceful paradise: the shade of the tree, the feel of the grass on my feet, the gentle activity of the fish in the pond beside me.

My cat crosses the garden nimbly and leaps onto the fence to survey it from above. From his perch he can watch over his little kingdom and keep an eye on the neighbours. He does this until the barking of next door’s dog scares him from his post and he bolts for the cat flap to govern from the safety of the kitchen.

With that, I am left alone with the fish, whose whole world is the pond by my feet. The fish explore the pond every day as if for the first time, prodding and inspecting every stone. I sometimes feel the same about sitting here in the garden; I know the place better than anyone, but whenever I return I still feel compelled to pay attention to all its details and novelties—a new bird perched in the tree, the growth of the grass, and the movement of the insects it shelters…

Sitting out in the garden, I feel serene. I feel at home. And yet I always feel there is more to discover. The bounds of my garden may be small, but there is a whole world contained within it, and it is one I will never get tired of inhabiting.

Though every essay type tests your writing skills, some essays also test your ability to read carefully and critically. In a textual analysis essay, you don’t just present information on a topic, but closely analyze a text to explain how it achieves certain effects.

Rhetorical analysis

A rhetorical analysis looks at a persuasive text (e.g. a speech, an essay, a political cartoon) in terms of the rhetorical devices it uses, and evaluates their effectiveness.

The goal is not to state whether you agree with the author’s argument but to look at how they have constructed it.

The introduction of a rhetorical analysis presents the text, some background information, and your thesis statement; the body comprises the analysis itself; and the conclusion wraps up your analysis of the text, emphasizing its relevance to broader concerns.

The example below is from a rhetorical analysis of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech . Mouse over it to learn more.

King’s speech is infused with prophetic language throughout. Even before the famous “dream” part of the speech, King’s language consistently strikes a prophetic tone. He refers to the Lincoln Memorial as a “hallowed spot” and speaks of rising “from the dark and desolate valley of segregation” to “make justice a reality for all of God’s children.” The assumption of this prophetic voice constitutes the text’s strongest ethical appeal; after linking himself with political figures like Lincoln and the Founding Fathers, King’s ethos adopts a distinctly religious tone, recalling Biblical prophets and preachers of change from across history. This adds significant force to his words; standing before an audience of hundreds of thousands, he states not just what the future should be, but what it will be: “The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.” This warning is almost apocalyptic in tone, though it concludes with the positive image of the “bright day of justice.” The power of King’s rhetoric thus stems not only from the pathos of his vision of a brighter future, but from the ethos of the prophetic voice he adopts in expressing this vision.

Literary analysis

A literary analysis essay presents a close reading of a work of literature—e.g. a poem or novel—to explore the choices made by the author and how they help to convey the text’s theme. It is not simply a book report or a review, but an in-depth interpretation of the text.

Literary analysis looks at things like setting, characters, themes, and figurative language. The goal is to closely analyze what the author conveys and how.

The introduction of a literary analysis essay presents the text and background, and provides your thesis statement; the body consists of close readings of the text with quotations and analysis in support of your argument; and the conclusion emphasizes what your approach tells us about the text.

Mouse over the example below, the introduction to a literary analysis essay on Frankenstein , to learn more.

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is often read as a crude cautionary tale about the dangers of scientific advancement unrestrained by ethical considerations. In this reading, protagonist Victor Frankenstein is a stable representation of the callous ambition of modern science throughout the novel. This essay, however, argues that far from providing a stable image of the character, Shelley uses shifting narrative perspectives to portray Frankenstein in an increasingly negative light as the novel goes on. While he initially appears to be a naive but sympathetic idealist, after the creature’s narrative Frankenstein begins to resemble—even in his own telling—the thoughtlessly cruel figure the creature represents him as. This essay begins by exploring the positive portrayal of Frankenstein in the first volume, then moves on to the creature’s perception of him, and finally discusses the third volume’s narrative shift toward viewing Frankenstein as the creature views him.

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

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At high school and in composition classes at university, you’ll often be told to write a specific type of essay , but you might also just be given prompts.

Look for keywords in these prompts that suggest a certain approach: The word “explain” suggests you should write an expository essay , while the word “describe” implies a descriptive essay . An argumentative essay might be prompted with the word “assess” or “argue.”

The vast majority of essays written at university are some sort of argumentative essay . Almost all academic writing involves building up an argument, though other types of essay might be assigned in composition classes.

Essays can present arguments about all kinds of different topics. For example:

• In a literary analysis essay, you might make an argument for a specific interpretation of a text
• In a history essay, you might present an argument for the importance of a particular event
• In a politics essay, you might argue for the validity of a certain political theory

An argumentative essay tends to be a longer essay involving independent research, and aims to make an original argument about a topic. Its thesis statement makes a contentious claim that must be supported in an objective, evidence-based way.

An expository essay also aims to be objective, but it doesn’t have to make an original argument. Rather, it aims to explain something (e.g., a process or idea) in a clear, concise way. Expository essays are often shorter assignments and rely less on research.

The key difference is that a narrative essay is designed to tell a complete story, while a descriptive essay is meant to convey an intense description of a particular place, object, or concept.

Narrative and descriptive essays both allow you to write more personally and creatively than other kinds of essays , and similar writing skills can apply to both.

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New U.K. Extremism Policy Raises Concerns Over Free Speech

The government said it would use a new legal definition of extremism to blacklist certain groups from public funding or engagement.

By Stephen Castle

Reporting from London

Britain’s government published a new definition of extremism on Thursday that it intends to use to cut ties or funding to groups deemed to have crossed the line, but which critics fear could curtail campaigners’ rights and curb free speech.

Michael Gove, a senior cabinet minister, said in a statement that the move was intended to “protect democratic values” by being “clear and precise in identifying the dangers posed by extremism.”

Some advocacy groups and legal experts greeted the announcement with concern, warning that it could affect the rights of those deemed by the government to meet the definition. The only way to challenge such a decision is likely to be through the courts.

The initiative has also stirred a wider debate about how, before a general election that must be held by early next year, British politicians choose to deal with domestic tensions that have risen since Hamas’s Oct. 7 attacks on Israel and Israel’s subsequent bombardment of the Gaza Strip. Hundreds of thousands of people have attended pro-Palestinian demonstrations in London and, according to the government, there has been a significant rise in both antisemitic incidents and anti-Muslim hate cases.

Even before the details of the new extremism proposals were made public, they had provoked criticism from rights groups and concern from three former Conservative Party home secretaries, whose remit included national security, who warned against using the issue of extremism for political advantage.

Leaders from the Church of England also weighed in. The archbishop of Canterbury — Justin Welby , who is the head of the church and a peer in the House of Lords — and the archbishop of York said in a statement on Tuesday that the new definition “not only inadvertently threatens freedom of speech, but also the right to worship and peaceful protest, things that have been hard won and form the fabric of a civilized society.”

They added, “Crucially, it risks disproportionately targeting Muslim communities, who are already experiencing rising levels of hate and abuse.”

Under the new plan, extremism will be defined as “the promotion or advancement of an ideology based on violence, hatred or intolerance” that aims to “negate or destroy the fundamental rights and freedoms of others; or undermine, overturn or replace the U.K.’s system of liberal parliamentary democracy and democratic rights,” or intentionally create a “permissive environment” for others to do so.

In its statement, the government said that its new definition was not statutory and would have no effect on existing criminal law. But it added that “the government will undertake a robust process to assess groups for extremism against the definition, which will then inform decisions around government engagement and funding.”

Critics said it was that element — the idea that whichever government is in power could blacklist groups it considers extremist and bar them from meeting with any government bodies or officials or receiving taxpayer funding — that could threaten free speech and civil liberties.

David Anderson, a senior lawyer and former independent reviewer of terrorism legislation for the government, told the BBC that there were many questions that still needed to be answered about the policy.

“The definition remains extremely broad,” he said. “For example, it catches people who advance an ideology which negates the fundamental rights of others. One can imagine both sides of the trans debate leaping on that one.”

Mr. Anderson, who is also a member of the House of Lords, said he did not take much comfort from reassurances that the definition related only to interactions with government. “I think you are also affecting a lot of people potentially by branding them as extremists,” he said, adding that it “affects potentially the freedoms and reputations of an awful lot of people.”

Speaking in Parliament, Mr. Gove identified some of the organizations whose activities will be assessed in line with the new definition, including the British National Socialist Movement, which has been described by the government as a white supremacist group and Patriotic Alternative which opposes multiculturalism and immigration.

Mr. Gove said that those that “promote neo-Nazi ideology, argue for forced repatriation, a white ethno-state and the targeting of minority groups for intimidation, are precisely the type of groups about which we should be concerned.”

He also named the Muslim Association of Britain, which says it is dedicated to “nurturing, supporting and leading Muslim grassroots contributions” toward positive social change; Cage, which has urged the release of prisoners in Guantánamo Bay and campaigned against some antiterrorism laws; and MEND, which describes its aims as helping to empower and encourage British Muslims. Such groups, Mr. Gove added, “give rise to concern because of their Islamist orientation and views.”

The Muslim Council of Britain condemned the approach as undemocratic and potentially illegal. “A broad cross section of British society will see through the government’s divisive extremism proposals,” said Zara Mohammed, its secretary general.

Sacha Deshmukh, Amnesty International’s chief executive, described the plan as a “dangerously sweeping approach to labeling groups and individuals ‘extremist.’”

“This attempt to stigmatize legitimate, peaceful political activity is taking us further down the road toward authoritarianism,” he added.

Some Conservative lawmakers also warned against any measures that could threaten free speech. Miriam Cates, a Conservative Party lawmaker, told The Times of London that she believed radical Islamism to be the most significant threat to Britain’s national security but that it should be addressed “by properly upholding our existing laws and proscribing groups that have links to terrorism.”

“In a pluralistic democracy, there are, of course, a wide range of opinions that many of us would consider extreme,” she added. “But the state should only intervene if there is an actual threat of physical harm. Otherwise, we erode our fundamental freedoms of speech, association, expression and religion.”

The government tried to address such concerns in its statement on Thursday, saying that the plan was “not about silencing those with private and peaceful beliefs — not will it affect free speech, which will always be protected.”

A list of groups deemed to have fallen foul of the new definition is expected to be released in the coming weeks after an assessment process during which they will be allowed to make representations, Downing Street said.

The initiative follows a speech by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak this month in which he spoke of “a shocking increase in extremist disruption and criminality” in Britain since the Oct. 7 Hamas-led attack in Israel. Mr. Sunak appealed to people in Britain to come together “to combat the forces of division and beat this poison.”

Mr. Sunak had previously given an outspoken warning at a meeting of senior police officers that “mob rule is replacing democratic rule.”

In an awkward juxtaposition for Mr. Sunak, the announcement on extremism came in the same week that it emerged that the Conservative Party’s largest donor had reportedly said that Diane Abbott , a prominent Black lawmaker, “should be shot.”

Asked on Thursday whether such comments would run afoul of the new extremism definition, Mr. Gove said, “I wouldn’t want to conflate those motivated by an extremist ideology with an individual comment, however horrific, which had quite rightly been called out and which has quite rightly led to an apology.”

Stephen Castle is a London correspondent of The Times, writing widely about Britain, its politics and the country’s relationship with Europe. More about Stephen Castle

Updates to the OECD’s definition of an AI system explained

Stuart Russell , Karine Perset , Marko Grobelnik

Obtaining consensus on a definition for an AI system in any sector or group of experts has proven to be a complicated task. However, if governments are to legislate and regulate AI, they need a definition to act as a foundation. Given the global nature of AI, if all governments can agree on the same definition, it allows for interoperability across jurisdictions.

Recently, OECD member countries approved a revised version of the Organisation’s definition of an AI system. We published the definition on LinkedIn, which, to our surprise, received an unprecedented number of comments.

We want to respond better to the interest our community has shown in the definition with a short explanation of the rationale behind the update and the definition itself. Later this year, we can share even more details once they are finalised.

How OECD countries updated the definition

Here are the revisions to the current text of the definition of “AI System” in detail, with additions set out in bold and subtractions in strikethrough ):

An AI system is a machine-based system that can , for a given set of human-defined explicit or implicit objectives, infers, from the input it receives, how to generate outputs such as makes predictions, content , recommendations, or decisions that can influenc e ing physical real or virtual environments. Different AI systems are designed to operate with vary ing in their levels of autonomy and adaptiveness after deployment

These changes reflect the following observations:

Description of the objectives : These edits seek to reflect the scientific consensus that an AI system’s objectives may be explicit (e.g. , where they are directly programmed in the system by a human developer) or implicit (e.g. , via a set of rules specified by a human, or when the system is capable of learning new objectives).

Examples of systems with implicit objectives include self-driving systems that are programmed to comply with traffic rules (but do not “know” their implicit objective of protecting lives), or a large language model like ChatGPT where the objective s of the system are not explicitly programmed but acquired in part through the process of imitation learning from human-generated text and partly from the process of reinforcement learning from human feedback (RLHF).

Inputs : The addition of “infer, from the input it receives” underscores the important role of input, including rules and data , , which may be provided by humans or machines, in operating AI systems. An AI system is said to “infer how to generate outputs” when it receives input from the environment and computes an output by processing the input through one or more models and underlying algorithms. For example, a visual object recognition system implemented by a deep neural network performs “inference”, i.e. , infers how to generate its output (in this case, a classification of the object in the image) by passing its input (the pixels of the image) through the deep network (a parameterised algebraic expression composed of addition, multiplication, and certain nonlinear operations).

Outputs : The addition of the word “content” clarifies that the Recommendation applies to generative AI systems, which produce “content” (technically, a sub-set of “predictions, recommendations, or decisions”) such as text, video, or images.

Environment : Substituting “real” with “physical” clarifies and aligns with other international processes. Furthermore, contrasting real with virtual suggests that virtual environments are not real, which is not the case: they are real in that they accept real actions from the AI system and generate real sensory inputs to the AI system .

Adaptiveness : This reflects that some AI systems can continue to evolve after their design and deployment (for example, recommender systems that adapt to individual preferences or voice recognition systems that adapt to user’s voice) and is an additional characterisation of an important group of AI systems. Also, the previous wording, “operate with varying levels”, might be read as describing a single system whose level of autonomy and adaptiveness might change over time, which was not the intended reading.

In addition to the revised “AI System” definition, the OECD is working on an Explanatory Memorandum to complement the definition and provide further technical background. While the definition is necessarily short and concise, its application in practice would depend on a range of complex and technical considerations. The Explanatory Memorandum will support all adherents to the OECD AI Principles for better implementation.

Background on the OECD AI Principles and the AI system definition

The OECD AI Principles are the first intergovernmental standard on AI, adopted by OECD countries, the OECD Council at ministerial level to be precise, on 22 May 2019. The Principles aim to foster innovation and trust in AI by promoting the responsible stewardship of trustworthy AI while ensuring respect for human rights and democratic values.

Complementing existing OECD standards in areas such as privacy, digital security , risk management, and responsible business conduct, the Principles focus on AI-specific issues and set a standard that is implementable and sufficiently flexible to stand the test of time in this rapidly evolving field.

In its final provisions, the Council instructed the Committee for Digital Economic Policy to “monitor, in consultation with other relevant Committees, the implementation of this Recommendation and report to the Council no later than five years following its adoption and regularly thereafter”.

Accordingly, the OECD and member country representatives have begun working on that report. In the context of their discussions, OECD countries identified a timely opportunity to maintain the relevance of the Principles by updating the definition of “AI System” and agreed to pursue this update urgently before finalising the full report on implementation, dissemination, and relevance of the Principles.

Updating the definition is important substantively to ensure it continues to be technically accurate and reflect important technological developments, including with respect to generative AI.

Strategically, it would be a timely occasion to foster broad alignment between the OECD’s definition of an “AI system” and ongoing policy and regulatory processes internationally, including in the European Union and Japan.

By facilitating such alignment, the proposed update reinforces the OECD’s and the AI Principles’ foundational position in the international AI governance landscape.

University of California, Berkeley

Professor of Computer Science -

• See all posts

Karine Perset

Head of AI Unit and OECD.AI, OECD Digital Economy Policy Division - Expert Group on Compute & Climate - Expert Group on AI Incidents - Expert Group on AI Risk & Accountability - Expert Group on AI Futures

Marko Grobelnik

AI Lab of Slovenia’s Jozef Stefan Institute

AI Researcher & Digital Champion - Expert Group on AI risk and accountability - Expert Group on AI Futures - Expert Group on AI Incidents

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed and arguments employed herein are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official views of the OECD or its member countries. The Organisation cannot be held responsible for possible violations of copyright resulting from the posting of any written material on this website/blog.

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Michael Gove names far-right and Islamist groups which could fall under fresh extremism definition

The communities secretary insisted the government has no intention of restricting "freedom of expression, religion or belief", as critics warned the new definition could have a "chilling effect" on free speech.

Political reporter @NifS

Thursday 14 March 2024 19:58, UK

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Michael Gove has named five groups that will be re-assessed as a result of the government's new definition of extremism.

Speaking in the Commons, the communities secretary said two far-right organisations - the British National Socialist Movement and the Patriotic Alternative - and three Islamist organisations - the Muslim Association of Britain, Cage and Mend - were groups "we should be concerned" about.

Follow live: Reaction as Gove gives extremism statement to MPs

Speaking after the government announced the new definition of extremism this morning, the minister said it was "critically important we do not unwittingly or through ignorance fund or support organisations who are themselves extremist" as it had been the case in the past that "extremist groups and actors have sought to present themselves as moderate voices representative of majority or mainstream opinion".

Mr Gove also sought to reassure critics the plan was "in no way intending to restrict freedom of expression, religion or belief", saying gender critical campaigners, trans activists, those with conservative religious views and environmental protest groups would not be included.

But, he added: "The government cannot be in a position where, unwittingly or not, we sponsor, subsidise or support in any way organisations or individuals opposed to the freedoms we hold dear."

Labour's deputy leader, Angela Rayner, agreed that "hateful extremism threatens the safety of our communities and the unity of our country," and was "a serious problem which demands a serious response".

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But she criticised how long it had taken the government to act since their last definition was introduced in 2011, and said it was "deeply concerning" that extremists had already "benefited from government engagement, endorsement and support".

Ms Rayner also raised concerns about how the announcement had been trailed, with leaks detailing organisations that could face reassessment after the definition came into force.

Mr Gove revealed an investigation into the leaks had been launched, saying it was "fundamentally a challenge to the effective operation of government".

The new definition described extremism as "the promotion or advancement of an ideology based on violence, hatred or intolerance" that aims to "negate or destroy the fundamental rights and freedoms of others" or "undermine, overturn or replace the UK's system of liberal parliamentary democracy and democratic rights".

It also includes those who "intentionally create a permissive environment for others to achieve" either of those aims.

The update came as part of a ministerial drive to clamp down on the Islamist and far-right extremism that has intensified in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war.

But some critics have raised concerns that it could have a "chilling effect" on free speech, while others say it doesn't go far enough and there needs to be a change in the law to tackle extremism.

Mr Gove pointed to five specific groups that would come in for further scrutiny now the new definition is in place.

After warning the "activities of the extreme right-wing are a growing worry", the minister said: "Across this House, I am sure that we would agree that organisations such as the British National Socialist Movement and Patriotic Alternative, who promote neo-Nazi ideology, argue for forced repatriation, a white ethno state and the targeting of minority groups by intimidation, are precisely the type of groups about which we should be concerned and whose activities we will assess against the new definition."

And after saying the religion of Islam should not be confused with the "totalitarian ideology" of Islamists, he added: "Organisations such as the Muslim Association of Britain, which is the British affiliate of the Muslim Brotherhood, and other groups such as Cage and Mend, give rise to concern for the Islamist orientation and views.

"We will be holding these and other organisations to account, to assess if they meet our definition of extremism and will take action as appropriate."

Mr Gove confirmed there would be a new "centre of excellence" on counterterrorism created within the Home Office, promising it would become a "world-leading authority" on the issue.

Can new extremism definition strike the right balance?

Political correspondent

The criticisms Michael Gove had going into the House of Commons were from civil liberty groups on one side worrying that democratic protest could be infringed, and on the other side MPs like Miriam Cates, who say free speech is at risk.

How this new definition strikes that balance is still unclear.

As expected, Mr Gove named some of the groups that now fall under the new definition - but there is no accompanying list of organisations published that the government have deemed extreme.

And that might be because it's an extremely controversial and complex task.

The government knows that this week more than ever, with alleged comments from one of the biggest Conservative donors about former Labour MP Diane Abbott hanging over them.

The prime minister has been trying to work out whether those comments went too far and what to do with the donations.

Rishi Sunak had to make a judgement too last month on whether former Tory MP Lee Anderson's comments about London mayor Sadiq Khan were Islamophobic or not.

Now the government is having to draw a line as to what is acceptable and not acceptable for potentially hundreds of organisations without any legal teeth.

It's not clear he has the full support of his party either.

The minister added: "The liberties that we hold dear and indeed the democratic principles we are all sent here to uphold, requires us to counter and challenge the extremists who seek to intimidate, coerce and to divide.

"We have to be clear-eyed about the threat we face, precise about where that threat comes from and rigorous in defending our democracy.

"That means upholding freedom of expression, religion and belief when we are threatened, facing down harassment and hate, supporting the communities facing the greatest challenge from extremist activity and ensuring this House and this country are safe, free and united."

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The prime minister's official spokesperson confirmed a full list of organisations covered by the government's new extremism would be published "in the coming weeks".

But Labour wants ministers to also update its full counter-extremism strategy and its action plan on hate crime.

Ms Rayner told MPs: "We need much stronger action to tackle the corrosive forms of hatred that devastate lives and corrode communities.

"But today's statement does not go far enough. And regardless of how workable and effective this new definition and centre of excellence is, this announcement will not be enough."

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Tory MPs also voiced their concerns, with former immigration minister Robert Jenrick saying: "I fear that the definition, though well-intentioned, lands in no man's land - not going far enough to tackle the real extremists, not doing enough to protect the non-extremists, those people who are simply expressing contrarian views who might find this definition used against them, not perhaps now, but possibly in the future."

Fellow Conservative Sir Edward Leigh also said he was worried the definition was "going to add to the increasing culture, in what should be a free country, of the intolerance of the right to offend".

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The British government wants to define extremism. Critics say it risks creating more division

Britain’s Prime Minster Rishi Sunak departs 10 Downing Street to go to the House of Commons for his weekly Prime Minister’s Questions in London, Wednesday, March 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Britain’s Minister for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Michael Gove, leaves the Millbank Studios in central London after taking part in the morning interview rounds, Thursday March 14, 2024. The British government published an official definition of “extremism” on Thursday, and said groups that get the label will be barred from receiving government funding. The government did not provide examples of extremist groups, and is not expected to publish a list of such organizations for some weeks. But Gove pointed to the threat from the extreme right and Islamic “extremists who are seeking to separate Muslims from the rest of society and create division within Muslim communities.” (Jordan Pettitt/PA via AP)

FILE - Protesters hold up flags and placards during a demonstration in support of Palestinian people in Gaza, in London, on Feb. 17, 2024. The British government published an official definition of “extremism” on Thursday, March 14, 2024 and said groups that get the label will be barred from receiving government funding. Mass pro-Palestinian protests have drawn hundreds of thousands of people to central London to call for a cease-fire. The protests have been overwhelmingly peaceful, though there have been dozens of arrests over signs and chants that police say showed support for the militant Hamas group, a banned organization in Britain. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali, File)

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LONDON (AP) — The British government published a new official definition of “extremism” on Thursday, and said groups that get the label will be barred from receiving government funding.

The move is in response to a surge in reports of antisemitism and anti-Muslim hate speech and what authorities call an increase in radicalization in Britain since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel, which triggered the war and Israel’s invasion of Gaza .

But critics say branding nonviolent groups as extremist could undermine freedom of speech and worship, or risk unfairly targeting some people, such as Muslims, and create more division.

The government defined extremism as “the promotion or advancement of an ideology based on violence, hatred or intolerance” that aims to destroy others’ rights and freedoms or “undermine, overturn or replace the U.K.'s system of liberal parliamentary democracy and democratic rights.”

Communities Secretary Michael Gove pointed in particular to threats from the extreme right and Islamic “extremists who are seeking to separate Muslims from the rest of society and create division within Muslim communities.”

“We are in no way intending to restrict freedom of expression, religion or belief, but the government cannot be in a position where, unwittingly or not, we sponsor, subsidize or support in any way organisations or individuals opposed to the freedoms we hold dear,” Gove told lawmakers.

Groups that raise concerns under the new definition include the British National Socialist Movement, a neo-Nazi organization, and the Muslim Association of Britain, the U.K. affiliate of the Muslim Brotherhood, Gove said.

Authorities are expected to publish a list of such organizations in coming weeks. The new guidelines will not criminalize or ban the groups.

Islamic and civil liberties groups said they worried the definition would be used disproportionately on Muslims.

Qari Asim, chairman of the Mosques and Imams Advisory Board, said the proposed definition may not be applied consistently.

“If it’s left to people to apply any definition of extremism and call anyone extremist at their whim, then that is going to create huge division in our society,” he told the BBC.

The Muslim Council of Britain warned that the proposals were “undemocratic, divisive, and potentially illegal” and “may involve defining established Muslim organizations as extremist.”

“With elections looming, it’s unsurprising that the government is resorting to this desperate tactic in the culture war,” said Zara Mohammed, the group’s secretary general.

The Church of England’s most senior clerics also criticized the government’s plans, warning that the new definition of extremism threatens the right to worship and peaceful protest.

The announcement comes two weeks after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak made a rare televised speech outside 10 Downing Street to denounce “a shocking increase in extremist disruption and criminality,” which he linked to the Israel-Hamas war.

Reports of both antisemitic and anti-Muslim abuse in Britain have surged since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel, which triggered the war and Israel’s invasion of Gaza.

Mass pro-Palestinian protests have drawn hundreds of thousands of people to central London to call for a cease-fire. The protests have been overwhelmingly peaceful, though there have been dozens of arrests over signs and chants that police say showed support for the militant Hamas group, a banned organization in Britain. Police also arrested some right-wing counter-protesters and charged them with inciting racial hatred.

Jewish organizations and many lawmakers say the mass marches have created an intimidating atmosphere for Jewish Londoners, though members of the Jewish community have been among those on pro-cease-fire marches.

Gove said the new definition isn’t aimed at stopping protests.

“Today’s definition applies only to government and makes it clear that we will keep these organizations at arm’s length so they can’t benefit from access to government and its funds,” he said.

Google Changes Definition of 'Bloodbath' Following Trump Rally

Google was the chief promulgator of the Donald Trump "bloodbath" hoax over the weekend, flooding its search results with articles that deceptively framed the former president's comment. 

Trump predicted that re-electing Joe Biden would stir an economic "bloodbath," while specifically referencing the automotive industry at a rally last weekend.

Yet nearly every headline Google generated on the topic led users to an article skimping over the context, suggesting Trump warned of his plans to provoke a civil war.

Google understands it can no longer lead users to such deceptive headlines. Most Americans know what Trump said by now. Therefore, Google implemented a change. 

A change to its definition of the word "bloodbath," that is. The change occurred sometime between March 17 and March 21.

Take a look:

Someone at Google is determined to deter voters away from Donald Trump, using "bloodbath" as a tool to accomplish that mission. 

Conspiratorial? 

On Monday, the Media Research Center published a study concluding that Google "interfered" in major elections in the United States "41 times over the last 16 years."

As expected, Google's efforts disproportionately favored liberal candidates. 

"Google has utilized its power to help push to electoral victory the most liberal candidates, regardless of party, while targeting their opponents for censorship," found the study.

"From the mouths of Google executives, the tech giant let slip what was never meant to be made public: That Google uses its "great strength and resources and reach to advance its leftist values."

We've warned for well over a year, here at OutKick, that Google poses a far greater threat by way of election interference than any other tech or media platform.

Google accounts for 92 percent of the search engine market share. Over 99% of searchers only look at the first page of Google results, on which the search engine dictates what appears.

Google controls what voters see. Google manipulates the information to which voters have access. Google decides to which stories voters are not privy.  And, now, the meaning of specific words.

Who makes those decisions within Google?

That's part of the fun. We don't know. Google won't say.

The search engine giant does not present a front-facing character, a la Facebook (Mark Zuckerberg), X (Elon Musk), or Amazon (Jeff Bezos).

A faceless tyrant  – or tyrants - was put in place to enforce unilateral policies over the most omnipotent app to ever influence American politics.