Interpretation definition: The act or process of interpreting. Interpretation is the act of explaining, reframing, or otherwise showing your own understanding of something. A person who translates one language into another is called an interpreter because they are explaining what a person is saying to someone who doesn't understand. An interpretation of something is an opinion about what it means. The government put a different interpretation on the figures. Analysis and interpretation is a very personal thing. Interpretation definition: the act of interpreting; elucidation; explication.. See examples of INTERPRETATION used in a sentence.