A practical definition
Prompt engineering means writing clearer instructions so an AI tool understands the task, context, constraints, and desired format.
Why it matters
The better your prompt, the less cleanup you usually need. This is especially important when using AI for writing, coding, or research, where vague requests often lead to vague output.
Common misconception
Prompt engineering is not secret magic. In most cases it means being specific about audience, goal, examples, tone, and what good output should look like.