Definition of article

Definition of article

plural articles

1a : a distinct often numbered section of a writing 

• an article of the constitution

: a separate clause

c : a stipulation in a document (such as a contract or a creed) 

• articles of indenture

d : a nonfictional prose composition usually forming an independent part of a publication (such as a magazine) 

• wrote an article for the newspaper

e : a document setting forth the terms of an agreement —usually plural

• The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved the certificate of filing of the articles of merger and plan of merger …
•  —Ruby Anne M. Rubio

• articles of consolidation

• articles of incorporation

2: an item of business : matter

: any of a small set of words or affixes (such as a, an, and the) used with nouns to limit or give definiteness to the application

4: a member of a class of things; especially : an item of goods 

• articles of value

5: a thing or person of a particular and distinctive kind or class 

• the genuine article