diff --git a/source/intro.tex b/source/intro.tex
index 57a2c3726b..88f931b14e 100644
--- a/source/intro.tex
+++ b/source/intro.tex
@@ -106,8 +106,6 @@
 are defined where they are used and italicized where they are
 defined.
 
-\def\definition{\definitionx{\section}}%
-
 \indexdefn{access}%
 \definition{access}{defns.access}
 \defncontext{execution-time action} to read or modify the value of an object
diff --git a/source/iostreams.tex b/source/iostreams.tex
index 4a57c3c3b9..4500d7cb43 100644
--- a/source/iostreams.tex
+++ b/source/iostreams.tex
@@ -10010,8 +10010,6 @@
 
 \rSec2[fs.definitions]{Terms and definitions}
 
-\def\definition{\definitionx{\subsubsection}}%
-
 \definition{absolute path}{fs.def.absolute.path}
 A path that unambiguously
 identifies the location of a file without reference to an additional starting
diff --git a/source/lib-intro.tex b/source/lib-intro.tex
index 038bb34360..8d80dc9a46 100644
--- a/source/lib-intro.tex
+++ b/source/lib-intro.tex
@@ -132,8 +132,6 @@
 Clause \ref{intro.defs} defines additional terms used elsewhere in this International Standard.
 \end{note}
 
-\def\definition{\definitionx{\subsection}}%
-
 \definition{arbitrary-positional stream}{defns.arbitrary.stream}
 \indexdefn{stream!arbitrary-positional}%
 a stream (described in Clause~\ref{input.output}) that can seek to any integral position within
diff --git a/source/macros.tex b/source/macros.tex
index ef5883c92d..a519d1bb71 100644
--- a/source/macros.tex
+++ b/source/macros.tex
@@ -91,12 +91,12 @@
 % is equivalent to
 %   \Sec2[temp.arg.type]{Template type arguments}
 \newcounter{SectionDepthBase}
-\newcounter{scratch}
+\newcounter{SectionDepth}
 
 \def\rSec#1[#2]#3{%
-\setcounter{scratch}{#1}
-\addtocounter{scratch}{\value{SectionDepthBase}}
-\Sec{\arabic{scratch}}[#2]{#3}}
+\setcounter{SectionDepth}{#1}
+\addtocounter{SectionDepth}{\value{SectionDepthBase}}
+\Sec{\arabic{SectionDepth}}[#2]{#3}}
 
 %%--------------------------------------------------
 % Indexing
@@ -519,11 +519,18 @@
 %%--------------------------------------------------
 %% Definitions section for "Terms and definitions"
 \newcommand{\nocontentsline}[3]{}
-\newcommand{\definitionx}[3]{%
-\addxref{#3}%
+\newcommand{\definition}[2]{%
+\addxref{#2}%
 \let\oldcontentsline\addcontentsline%
 \let\addcontentsline\nocontentsline%
-#1[#2]{\hfill[#3]}\vspace{-.3\onelineskip}\label{#3} \textbf{#2}\\*%
+\ifcase\value{SectionDepth}
+         \let\s=\section
+      \or\let\s=\subsection
+      \or\let\s=\subsubsection
+      \or\let\s=\paragraph
+      \or\let\s=\subparagraph
+      \fi%
+\s[#1]{\hfill[#2]}\vspace{-.3\onelineskip}\label{#2} \textbf{#1}\\*%
 \let\addcontentsline\oldcontentsline%
 }
 \newcommand{\defncontext}[1]{\textlangle#1\textrangle}
diff --git a/source/regex.tex b/source/regex.tex
index dac6c613fc..3e7b386f84 100644
--- a/source/regex.tex
+++ b/source/regex.tex
@@ -37,8 +37,6 @@
 
 \rSec1[re.def]{Definitions}
 
-\def\definition{\definitionx{\subsection}}%
-
 \pnum
 The following definitions shall apply to this Clause: