摹状词理论（theory of descriptions 或 Russell's Theory of Descriptions，简称RTD）是数理逻辑、语言哲学和分析哲学上的一个极重要的理论，被誉为分析哲学的典范。运用这个理论可以将日常语言中的描述语（摹状词）进行改写，得到数理逻辑的形式，从而避免一些日常语言中可能出现的逻辑悖论。该理论的最早阐发是由伯特兰·罗素（Bertrand Russell）在1905年的一篇论文《论指称》（On Denoting）中完成的。

摹状词理论要解决的问题可以大致总结为：

A definite description is a denoting phrase in the form of "the X" where X is a noun-phrase or a singular common noun. The definite description is proper if X applies to a unique individual or object. For example: "the first person in space" and "the 42nd President of the United States of America", are proper. The definite descriptions "the person in space" and "the Senator from Ohio" are improper because the noun phrase X applies to more than one thing, and the definite descriptions "the first man on Mars" and "the Senator from Washington D.C." are improper because X applies to nothing. Improper descriptions raise some difficult questions about the law of excluded middle, denotation, modality, and mental content.