An official definition put forth and agreed to by the majority of scientists.

Q Now, you claim that intelligent design is a
6 scientific theory.
7 A Yes.
8 Q But when you call it a scientific theory, you re
9 not defining that term the same way that the National
10 Academy of Sciences does.
11 A Yes, that s correct.

Science and Creationism: A View from the National Academy of Sciences, Second Edition STEERING COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND CREATIONISM Francisco J. Ayala (Chairman) Donald Bren Professor of Biological Sciences Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of California Irvine, California Ralph J. Cicerone Chancellor Aldrich Professor of Earth System Science University of California Irvine, California M. T. Clegg Professor of Genetics College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences University of California Riverside, California G. Brent Dalrymple Dean College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences Oregon State University Corvallis, Oregon Richard E. Dickerson Molecular Biology Institute University of California Los Angeles, California Stephen J. Gould Professor of Geology Agassiz Professor of Zoology Harvard University The Agassiz Museum Cambridge, Massachusetts Dudley R. Herschbach Professor of Science Department of Chemistry Harvard University Cambridge, Massachusetts Donald Kennedy Bing Professor of Environmental Sciences Stanford University Stanford, California Joseph D. McInerney Director Biological Sciences Curriculum Study Colorado Springs, Colorado John A. Moore Professor Emeritus of Biology Department of Biology University of California Riverside, California Jeremiah P. Ostriker Provost Princeton University Princeton, New Jersey George Rupp President Columbia University New York, New York Eugenie Scott Executive Director National Center for Science Education El Cerrito, California Barbara Schulz Lakeside School Seattle, Washington Steven M. Stanley Professor of Paleobiology Department of Earth and Planetary Systems Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, Maryland Staff Donna M. Gerardi, Director, Office on Public Understanding of Science, National Academy of Sciences Paul Gilman, Executive Director, Commission on Life Sciences, National Research Council (through September 1998) Alvin Lazen, Associate Executive Director, Commission on Life Sciences, National Research Council (through September 1998) Kit Lee, Senior Project Assistant Steve Olson, Consultant Editor Erika C. Shugart, Research Associate, Office on Public Understanding of Science, National Academy of Sciences