Markdown Definition Lists
Last updated: 2026-10-14
Definition Lists Common extension
An extension. A term on its own line, definitions on the next lines starting with a colon, rendering as <dl><dt><dd>. Great for glossaries, parameter docs and API references; not on GitHub.
| Group | GFM Extensions |
|---|---|
| Spec level | Common extension |
| Spec version | CommonMark 0.31.2 + GFM |
📝 Syntax
Term
: definition▶ Live Example
Edit Markdown on the left, see the result on the right
💡 Key points
⚠️ Warning GitHub and this site's default renderer show it literally; use HTML <dl> when needed.
ℹ️ Note Multiple colon lines under one term produce multiple <dd> elements.
❓ FAQ
Q Which tools support it?
A Pandoc, PHP Markdown Extra, kramdown and friends support it.
Q Definition list or table?
A Few fields with long descriptions: list. Many uniform fields: table.
Q What structure does it render to?
A A <dl> with <dt> terms and <dd> definitions — clean semantics.
📚 See also
TablesGFM extension Inline HTMLCommonMark core