From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishworking definition/theory/titleworking definition/theory/titleUSE somethinga definition, idea etc that may not be exactly right but is good enough to use when you start working on something → working
Examples from the Corpus
working definition/theory/title• Despite the difficulties, the teacher needs a rough working definition.• Like I say, it's just a working title.• The Household of Faith was Brideshead's working title.• A useful working definition has been provided by the Department of Trade and Industry in Britain.• A pragmatist judge will find room in his working theory of as if legal rights for some doctrine of precedent.• Is that a reasonable working definition of Paradise?• As a working theory this is impregnable, whether considered sceptically or superstitiously.• We can, however, offer a very general working definition, which seems to feature in most discussions. 