Atlassian Intelligence Define Terms: Features, limitations, and alternatives

If you've ever started a new job, you know the feeling. You're dropped into a sea of acronyms, project codenames, and inside jokes that sound like a completely different language. What’s a "QBR"? What does "Project Sunrise" actually do?

This internal dictionary is a natural part of any growing company. To help teams navigate this, Atlassian has introduced a powerful AI feature inside Confluence called "Define Terms." The idea is to give you quick, in-context definitions to clear up confusion on the spot.

So, let's take a look at the Atlassian Intelligence Define Terms feature. We'll walk through what it is, how it works, where it’s particularly useful, and how to best utilize it. Then, we’ll explore how you can complement this tool to manage and access company knowledge across all your favorite applications.

What is Atlassian Intelligence Define Terms?

So, what's the deal with this feature? Simply put, Atlassian Intelligence Define Terms is an AI-powered tool inside Confluence that acts like a handy pop-up dictionary for your company's unique terminology.

Let's say you're reading a project plan and see the acronym "VPT." Instead of searching the entire wiki or asking a colleague, you can just highlight the term. A "Define" button pops up, and when you click it, the AI scans your Confluence space to generate a helpful definition based on your existing documents.

The whole point is to streamline your workflow, helping everyone from the new hire to the seasoned pro figure out what’s being said without having to leave the page. This feature is part of the larger Atlassian Intelligence suite, a mature platform that leverages OpenAI's technology. It intelligently pulls definitions from the Confluence content you have permission to see, ensuring your data remains secure within your team's permissions.

Core features and use cases

While the idea is simple, it has a few spots where it is genuinely handy, especially for teams that rely on Confluence as their central knowledge hub.

How to use the feature

Using it is very straightforward, as long as you're viewing a published page.

1. Open a page: Head to any published Confluence page or blog post.

2. Highlight a term: Select the acronym, project name, or piece of jargon you’re curious about.

3. Click define: In the pop-up toolbar that shows up (right next to the "Comment" button), just click "Define."

4. Get the definition: Atlassian Intelligence will then generate and show you a definition right there on the page, often linking to the source pages it used to provide the context.

Where the feature shines

When you use it in the right situation, this tool can definitely smooth over some common communication bumps.

• Making life easier for new hires: This is a fantastic benefit. New employees can find answers to jargon questions independently, helping them ramp up on company-specific lingo and gain confidence quickly.

• Keeping projects on track: When a project brief contains specific codenames or technical terms, team members can quickly get definitions to make sure everyone is aligned and moving in the same direction.

• Helping different teams talk to each other: A marketer reading an engineering spec can instantly look up a technical term. This helps departments that speak different professional languages communicate more effectively.

Key considerations for the feature

While the feature is a great addition to the platform, there are a few considerations to keep in mind to ensure you get the best results.

Consideration 1: Automated definition management

The definitions you get are generated by AI on the fly based on your documentation. This means that the accuracy of the definitions depends on the quality of the information in your Confluence space.

This provides a great incentive to keep your Confluence content updated and consistent. While there isn't currently a way to manually override these AI-generated definitions, keeping a well-organized wiki ensures the AI has the best possible "source of truth" to draw from. This is a common topic of interest in the Atlassian Community, reflecting how engaged users are with the tool's evolution.

Consideration 2: Optimized for the Confluence ecosystem

One thing to note is that the Define Terms feature is specifically designed to work within Confluence. This is perfect for when you are deep in documentation.

For those times when jargon pops up in other places - like a Slack thread, a Microsoft Teams chat, or a Zendesk ticket - you might find it helpful to pair Confluence with a tool that extends that knowledge across other apps. While Atlassian focuses on providing an excellent in-platform experience, users on the community forums often look for ways to complement this with cross-platform access.

Consideration 3: Specialized focus on terminology

This feature is built for the specific job of defining short terms and acronyms. It’s an excellent dictionary for your team.

If a team member needs to dive deeper into more complex queries, like "What's our process for handling P1 incidents?", they will typically refer back to the full documentation in Confluence. The Define Terms feature is specialized for terminology, while the rest of the Atlassian suite handles the heavy lifting of process management and complex answering.

A better approach: Unifying knowledge for instant answers everywhere

The capabilities of Atlassian's tool highlight how valuable quick access to information is. To build on this, many teams look to make their knowledge available wherever they are working. This means moving from a dictionary feature to a unified knowledge strategy.

Go beyond a simple dictionary with a unified knowledge platform

Instead of a feature that works in one place, you can use a central brain that connects to all of your company’s knowledge, whether it's in Confluence, Google Docs, Notion, or internal wikis. By complementing Confluence with a unified approach, you can provide your team with instant, reliable answers that go beyond definitions.

How eesel AI delivers knowledge where you work

This is where eesel AI comes in as a perfect companion to your Confluence setup. eesel’s AI Internal Chat product connects to your Confluence instance, plus over 100 other apps, to create a single, trustworthy source of knowledge for your whole company.

This complements the Confluence experience perfectly. Your team can ask anything, from simple definitions to complex "how-to" questions, and get instant, accurate answers right inside a Slack thread or Microsoft Teams. It takes the power of your Confluence documentation and makes it accessible everywhere.

What really makes eesel AI a great partner for Atlassian is that it learns from your entire knowledge ecosystem. It doesn't just scan your wiki; it pulls together information from your help desk and internal chats as well. And much like Confluence, it’s designed to be user-friendly, allowing you to go live in just a few minutes.

Atlassian Intelligence Define Terms vs. eesel AI

Here’s a look at how these tools can work together:

Feature	Atlassian Intelligence Define Terms	eesel AI
Knowledge Sources	Optimized for Confluence pages	Confluence, Google Docs, Notion, Zendesk, Slack & 100+ more
Accessibility	Confluence-native experience	Everywhere you work: Slack, MS Teams, Zendesk, etc.
Content Control	AI-driven automated definitions	Scope knowledge to specific sources for full control
Functionality	Rapid terminology definitions	Answers complex questions, summarizes docs, guides processes
Setup	Built-in (with various plans)	Radically self-serve, go live in minutes

Pricing for Atlassian Intelligence Define Terms and eesel AI

Atlassian Intelligence The Define Terms feature is available on Cloud Standard, Premium, and Enterprise plans. Atlassian offers these tiered plans to ensure that companies of all sizes can find a package that matches their needs. For teams looking for the most advanced AI features across the Atlassian suite, the Premium and Enterprise plans are excellent options.

eesel AI Complementing this, eesel AI offers clear and predictable pricing based on your needs. Plans include all the core products (AI Agent, Copilot, Internal Chat, and more) and start at just $239 per month when billed annually. There are no per-resolution fees, making it a budget-friendly way to expand the reach of your Confluence knowledge.

Move from a simple dictionary to a true knowledge network

Atlassian Intelligence Define Terms is a brilliant feature for providing quick definitions within your documentation. It’s a reliable, mature solution for teams that live in Confluence.

To take your team's productivity even further, a unified knowledge platform like eesel AI can bridge the gap between your tools. By connecting all your knowledge sources and making that information available in every app your team uses, you can provide them with instant, accurate answers whenever they need them. It's time to bring the power of your Confluence knowledge directly to your team, wherever they work.

Unlock your team's knowledge with eesel AI

Ready to give your team instant answers from all your company knowledge, right where they work? Sign up for eesel AI for free and see how a unified knowledge platform can complement your Confluence setup today.