Al-Maani’ lug‘atda: u boshqa narsaga to‘sqinlik qiladigan va uni to‘xtatadigan narsadir.

Al-Maani’ linguistically: It is what prevents and is obstructive to other than it.

Istilohdagi ma'nosi (terminologik ta'rif):

The meaning in accordance to the Istilaah (Terminological definition):

Bu, Shoriʼ (Shoriʼ — Allohdir) hukmning yo‘qligini uning mavjudligidan kelib chiqadigan qilib qo‘ygan yoki hukmning sababi yo‘qligini uning mavjudligidan kelib chiqadigan qilib qo‘ygan narsadir (ya’ni agar u mavjud bo‘lsa, hukm mavjud bo‘lmaydi yoki hukmning sababi mavjud bo‘lmaydi).

It is what the Shaari’ has made the absence of the Hukm resultant from its presence or the absence of the Sabab (cause) of the Hukm resultant from its existence (i.e. if it exists the Hukm does not exist or the Sabab for the Hukm does not exist).