<h2>Blockchain is a technical term that threatens the homogeneity of dictionaries because of lack of a standard definition. We draft a technical defination of Blockchain.</h2>
![2019-06-28.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmYCMKrizZLWBuCoeeEZ8h9zsN2AELeoq39LzEDMYmmzPA/2019-06-28.jpg)
In over a decade of its existence the term Blockchain lacks a standard definition. A definition is “a statement expressing the essential nature of something.” But why is a definition so important? Because definitions enable us to have a common understanding of a word or subject. They allow us all to be on the same page when discussing or reading about an issue. <br>
When a term is scientific and technical, and it isn’t properly defined, it constitutes a ‘threat’ to the homogeneity of the macrostructure and of the microstructure of general dictionaries. <br>
In 2015 Oxford Dictionaries added [a new definition for blockchain: ](https://www.coindesk.com/oxford-dictionaries-definitions-blockchain-miner)<br>
<i>“A digital ledger in which transactions made in bitcoin or another cryptocurrency are recorded chronologically and publicly.”</i><br>
However, [their current definition](https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/blockchain) as of June, 2019 reads:<br>
<i>“A system in which a record of transactions made in bitcoin or another cryptocurrency are maintained across several computers that are linked in a peer-to-peer network.”</i><br>
In 2018 [Merriam-Webster added blockchain](https://www.disruptordaily.com/blockchain-cryptocurrency-and-ico-earn-a-spot-in-merriam-webster-dictionary/) defining it as:<br>
<i>A digital database containing information (such as records of financial transactions) that can be simultaneously used and shared within a large decentralized, publicly accessible network; also : the technology used to create such a database</i><br>
For [Harper Collins blockchain is](https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/blockchain)<br>
<i>a system in which records of transactions using digital currencies are stored and may be accessed by linked computers.</i><br>
Other leading dictionaries, such as American Heritage Dictionary, Chambers and Random House haven’t yet included blockchain in their vocabulary.
<br>
Blockchain is a technical term that threatens the homogeneity of dictionaries because of lack of a standard definition. It also allows vested interests to introduce self-serving ambiguity into its definition as it happened in an ongoing Ethereum vs EOS war triggered by some bold claims made by [a report published by Whiteblock](https://www.whiteblock.io/library/eos-test-report.pdf) claiming that [EOS is not a blockchain.](https://steemit.com/blockchain/@sharonomics/prosperist-xliv-eos-is-not-a-blockchain-says-whiteblock) The authors justified their claim by [conflating the general definition of blockchain](https://medium.com/@thomas.cox_39839/yes-eos-is-a-blockchain-a5921e5497d5) with some specific features of Ethereum. If there was a universally accepted definition of blockchain this would not have happened.<br>
For all the above reasons a technical definition of blockchain is urgently warranted. <br>
Incorporating all the essential elements that constitute the technical features of blockchain, here is the definition we propose.<br>
<b><i>Blockchain is a decentralized ledger technology that immutably links a growing list of publicly accessible records called blocks in a chain, using cryptographic hashes that require consensus of majority of record validating peer nodes in a peer-to-peer public network incentivized with tokenized rewards for contributing their resources for validation the blocks.</i></b><br>
The following five essential elements make the definition of blockchain:
<ol>
<li>Decentralized ledger</li>
<li>Immutable chain of publicly accessible records</li>
<li>Cryptographic hashing</li>
<li>Consensus of peers for validating records</li>
<li>Incentivized public network</li>
</ol>
Appreciate some upvotes if you find the article useful. First published in [Medium](https://medium.com/@AlgoShare/6648074ef91c)

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