字典对析取的定义是“析取的行为或被析取的状态”。在语法和语义中，坐标结构使用析取连词（通常为“或”或“或”或“或”）。析取连接两边的项目称为析取。析取是一种复合命题，只有在几个备选方案中至少有一个也是真的情况下，析取才是真的，并且通常用于修辞论证，尽管析取在科学和数学领域也有应用。

析取的基本例子

"The statement p or q is a disjunction. It is true when p is true, or when q is true, or when p and q are both true; it is false when both p and q are false. For example, 'Either Mac Did it or Bud did.' This statement is true if either or both of its component statements, or disjuncts, is true."—From "Critical Thinking" by W. Hughes and J. Lavery

排他性与包容性，示例一

"In everyday language, disjunction is normally expressed using the word 'or'...Indeed, perhaps the hottest issue in linguistics studies of disjunction is that of whether the 'basic' meaning of 'or' is inclusive, exclusive, or whether there are in fact two quite distinct meanings. Intuitively, there do seem to be some contexts in which 'or' is inclusive, and others in which it is exclusive. If an advertisement for a lecturing position was phrased, 'Applicants must have either a Ph.D. or teaching experience,' this would surely not be taken to exclude someone who had both a Ph.D. and teaching experience; hence this would be an inclusive disjunction. On the other hand, if a mother said to her son, 'You can either have some candy or some cake,' her instruction surely would have been disobeyed if her son had both candy and cake; hence this is an exclusive disjunction. . . While the extreme claim that 'or' is always inclusive can be rejected, it is still possible that the inclusive interpretation is the basic one."—From "The Language and Thought of Disjunction" by S. E. Newstead and R. A. Griggs

排他性与包容性，示例二

"The choice between exclusive and inclusive interpretations depends on the semantic content of the disjuncts together with background knowledge and context. 'The letter was posted on Tuesday or Wednesday' will normally be interpreted exclusively because letters are normally posted only once, whereas, 'Tom has missed the train or the train is late,' will normally have an inclusive interpretation because the likely context is one where I'm advancing reasons for Tom's absence, and if he missed the train I have no evidence as to whether it is late or not."—From English Grammar: An Outline" by Rodney Huddleston

来源

• 休斯，W；批判性思维〉，布罗德维尤。2004
• 纽斯特德，S.E。；格里格斯，R.A.《思维与推理：心理学方法》中的“分离的语言与思维”。1983
• 哈德斯顿，罗德尼。《英语语法：大纲》，剑桥大学出版社。1988