diff --git a/crates/red_knot_python_semantic/src/semantic_index.rs b/crates/red_knot_python_semantic/src/semantic_index.rs
index 64e50dcea6836..1730ec1b74e75 100644
--- a/crates/red_knot_python_semantic/src/semantic_index.rs
+++ b/crates/red_knot_python_semantic/src/semantic_index.rs
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ pub mod expression;
 pub mod symbol;
 mod use_def;
 
-pub(crate) use self::use_def::{DefinitionWithConstraints, DefinitionWithConstraintsIterator};
+pub(crate) use self::use_def::{BindingWithConstraints, BindingWithConstraintsIterator};
 
 type SymbolMap = hashbrown::HashMap<ScopedSymbolId, (), ()>;
 
@@ -326,16 +326,16 @@ mod tests {
     use crate::Db;
 
     impl UseDefMap<'_> {
-        fn first_public_definition(&self, symbol: ScopedSymbolId) -> Option<Definition<'_>> {
-            self.public_definitions(symbol)
+        fn first_public_binding(&self, symbol: ScopedSymbolId) -> Option<Definition<'_>> {
+            self.public_bindings(symbol)
                 .next()
-                .map(|constrained_definition| constrained_definition.definition)
+                .map(|constrained_binding| constrained_binding.binding)
         }
 
-        fn first_use_definition(&self, use_id: ScopedUseId) -> Option<Definition<'_>> {
-            self.use_definitions(use_id)
+        fn first_binding_at_use(&self, use_id: ScopedUseId) -> Option<Definition<'_>> {
+            self.bindings_at_use(use_id)
                 .next()
-                .map(|constrained_definition| constrained_definition.definition)
+                .map(|constrained_binding| constrained_binding.binding)
         }
     }
 
@@ -397,8 +397,8 @@ mod tests {
         let foo = global_table.symbol_id_by_name("foo").unwrap();
 
         let use_def = use_def_map(&db, scope);
-        let definition = use_def.first_public_definition(foo).unwrap();
-        assert!(matches!(definition.node(&db), DefinitionKind::Import(_)));
+        let binding = use_def.first_public_binding(foo).unwrap();
+        assert!(matches!(binding.kind(&db), DefinitionKind::Import(_)));
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -427,22 +427,19 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(
             global_table
                 .symbol_by_name("foo")
-                .is_some_and(|symbol| { symbol.is_defined() && !symbol.is_used() }),
+                .is_some_and(|symbol| { symbol.is_bound() && !symbol.is_used() }),
             "symbols that are defined get the defined flag"
         );
 
         let use_def = use_def_map(&db, scope);
-        let definition = use_def
-            .first_public_definition(
+        let binding = use_def
+            .first_public_binding(
                 global_table
                     .symbol_id_by_name("foo")
                     .expect("symbol to exist"),
             )
             .unwrap();
-        assert!(matches!(
-            definition.node(&db),
-            DefinitionKind::ImportFrom(_)
-        ));
+        assert!(matches!(binding.kind(&db), DefinitionKind::ImportFrom(_)));
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -455,17 +452,14 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(
             global_table
                 .symbol_by_name("foo")
-                .is_some_and(|symbol| { !symbol.is_defined() && symbol.is_used() }),
-            "a symbol used but not defined in a scope should have only the used flag"
+                .is_some_and(|symbol| { !symbol.is_bound() && symbol.is_used() }),
+            "a symbol used but not bound in a scope should have only the used flag"
         );
         let use_def = use_def_map(&db, scope);
-        let definition = use_def
-            .first_public_definition(global_table.symbol_id_by_name("x").expect("symbol exists"))
+        let binding = use_def
+            .first_public_binding(global_table.symbol_id_by_name("x").expect("symbol exists"))
             .unwrap();
-        assert!(matches!(
-            definition.node(&db),
-            DefinitionKind::Assignment(_)
-        ));
+        assert!(matches!(binding.kind(&db), DefinitionKind::Assignment(_)));
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -477,12 +471,12 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(names(&global_table), vec!["x"]);
 
         let use_def = use_def_map(&db, scope);
-        let definition = use_def
-            .first_public_definition(global_table.symbol_id_by_name("x").unwrap())
+        let binding = use_def
+            .first_public_binding(global_table.symbol_id_by_name("x").unwrap())
             .unwrap();
 
         assert!(matches!(
-            definition.node(&db),
+            binding.kind(&db),
             DefinitionKind::AugmentedAssignment(_)
         ));
     }
@@ -515,13 +509,10 @@ y = 2
         assert_eq!(names(&class_table), vec!["x"]);
 
         let use_def = index.use_def_map(class_scope_id);
-        let definition = use_def
-            .first_public_definition(class_table.symbol_id_by_name("x").expect("symbol exists"))
+        let binding = use_def
+            .first_public_binding(class_table.symbol_id_by_name("x").expect("symbol exists"))
             .unwrap();
-        assert!(matches!(
-            definition.node(&db),
-            DefinitionKind::Assignment(_)
-        ));
+        assert!(matches!(binding.kind(&db), DefinitionKind::Assignment(_)));
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -551,17 +542,14 @@ y = 2
         assert_eq!(names(&function_table), vec!["x"]);
 
         let use_def = index.use_def_map(function_scope_id);
-        let definition = use_def
-            .first_public_definition(
+        let binding = use_def
+            .first_public_binding(
                 function_table
                     .symbol_id_by_name("x")
                     .expect("symbol exists"),
             )
             .unwrap();
-        assert!(matches!(
-            definition.node(&db),
-            DefinitionKind::Assignment(_)
-        ));
+        assert!(matches!(binding.kind(&db), DefinitionKind::Assignment(_)));
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -593,27 +581,27 @@ def f(a: str, /, b: str, c: int = 1, *args, d: int = 2, **kwargs):
 
         let use_def = index.use_def_map(function_scope_id);
         for name in ["a", "b", "c", "d"] {
-            let definition = use_def
-                .first_public_definition(
+            let binding = use_def
+                .first_public_binding(
                     function_table
                         .symbol_id_by_name(name)
                         .expect("symbol exists"),
                 )
                 .unwrap();
             assert!(matches!(
-                definition.node(&db),
+                binding.kind(&db),
                 DefinitionKind::ParameterWithDefault(_)
             ));
         }
         for name in ["args", "kwargs"] {
-            let definition = use_def
-                .first_public_definition(
+            let binding = use_def
+                .first_public_binding(
                     function_table
                         .symbol_id_by_name(name)
                         .expect("symbol exists"),
                 )
                 .unwrap();
-            assert!(matches!(definition.node(&db), DefinitionKind::Parameter(_)));
+            assert!(matches!(binding.kind(&db), DefinitionKind::Parameter(_)));
         }
     }
 
@@ -641,23 +629,19 @@ def f(a: str, /, b: str, c: int = 1, *args, d: int = 2, **kwargs):
 
         let use_def = index.use_def_map(lambda_scope_id);
         for name in ["a", "b", "c", "d"] {
-            let definition = use_def
-                .first_public_definition(
-                    lambda_table.symbol_id_by_name(name).expect("symbol exists"),
-                )
+            let binding = use_def
+                .first_public_binding(lambda_table.symbol_id_by_name(name).expect("symbol exists"))
                 .unwrap();
             assert!(matches!(
-                definition.node(&db),
+                binding.kind(&db),
                 DefinitionKind::ParameterWithDefault(_)
             ));
         }
         for name in ["args", "kwargs"] {
-            let definition = use_def
-                .first_public_definition(
-                    lambda_table.symbol_id_by_name(name).expect("symbol exists"),
-                )
+            let binding = use_def
+                .first_public_binding(lambda_table.symbol_id_by_name(name).expect("symbol exists"))
                 .unwrap();
-            assert!(matches!(definition.node(&db), DefinitionKind::Parameter(_)));
+            assert!(matches!(binding.kind(&db), DefinitionKind::Parameter(_)));
         }
     }
 
@@ -695,15 +679,15 @@ def f(a: str, /, b: str, c: int = 1, *args, d: int = 2, **kwargs):
 
         let use_def = index.use_def_map(comprehension_scope_id);
         for name in ["x", "y"] {
-            let definition = use_def
-                .first_public_definition(
+            let binding = use_def
+                .first_public_binding(
                     comprehension_symbol_table
                         .symbol_id_by_name(name)
                         .expect("symbol exists"),
                 )
                 .unwrap();
             assert!(matches!(
-                definition.node(&db),
+                binding.kind(&db),
                 DefinitionKind::Comprehension(_)
             ));
         }
@@ -742,8 +726,8 @@ def f(a: str, /, b: str, c: int = 1, *args, d: int = 2, **kwargs):
         let element_use_id =
             element.scoped_use_id(&db, comprehension_scope_id.to_scope_id(&db, file));
 
-        let definition = use_def.first_use_definition(element_use_id).unwrap();
-        let DefinitionKind::Comprehension(comprehension) = definition.node(&db) else {
+        let binding = use_def.first_binding_at_use(element_use_id).unwrap();
+        let DefinitionKind::Comprehension(comprehension) = binding.kind(&db) else {
             panic!("expected generator definition")
         };
         let target = comprehension.target();
@@ -822,12 +806,10 @@ with item1 as x, item2 as y:
 
         let use_def = index.use_def_map(FileScopeId::global());
         for name in ["x", "y"] {
-            let Some(definition) = use_def.first_public_definition(
-                global_table.symbol_id_by_name(name).expect("symbol exists"),
-            ) else {
-                panic!("Expected with item definition for {name}");
-            };
-            assert!(matches!(definition.node(&db), DefinitionKind::WithItem(_)));
+            let binding = use_def
+                .first_public_binding(global_table.symbol_id_by_name(name).expect("symbol exists"))
+                .expect("Expected with item definition for {name}");
+            assert!(matches!(binding.kind(&db), DefinitionKind::WithItem(_)));
         }
     }
 
@@ -847,12 +829,10 @@ with context() as (x, y):
 
         let use_def = index.use_def_map(FileScopeId::global());
         for name in ["x", "y"] {
-            let Some(definition) = use_def.first_public_definition(
-                global_table.symbol_id_by_name(name).expect("symbol exists"),
-            ) else {
-                panic!("Expected with item definition for {name}");
-            };
-            assert!(matches!(definition.node(&db), DefinitionKind::WithItem(_)));
+            let binding = use_def
+                .first_public_binding(global_table.symbol_id_by_name(name).expect("symbol exists"))
+                .expect("Expected with item definition for {name}");
+            assert!(matches!(binding.kind(&db), DefinitionKind::WithItem(_)));
         }
     }
 
@@ -889,14 +869,14 @@ def func():
         assert_eq!(names(&func2_table), vec!["y"]);
 
         let use_def = index.use_def_map(FileScopeId::global());
-        let definition = use_def
-            .first_public_definition(
+        let binding = use_def
+            .first_public_binding(
                 global_table
                     .symbol_id_by_name("func")
                     .expect("symbol exists"),
             )
             .unwrap();
-        assert!(matches!(definition.node(&db), DefinitionKind::Function(_)));
+        assert!(matches!(binding.kind(&db), DefinitionKind::Function(_)));
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -964,7 +944,7 @@ class C[T]:
         assert!(
             ann_table
                 .symbol_by_name("T")
-                .is_some_and(|s| s.is_defined() && !s.is_used()),
+                .is_some_and(|s| s.is_bound() && !s.is_used()),
             "type parameters are defined by the scope that introduces them"
         );
 
@@ -996,8 +976,8 @@ class C[T]:
         };
         let x_use_id = x_use_expr_name.scoped_use_id(&db, scope);
         let use_def = use_def_map(&db, scope);
-        let definition = use_def.first_use_definition(x_use_id).unwrap();
-        let DefinitionKind::Assignment(assignment) = definition.node(&db) else {
+        let binding = use_def.first_binding_at_use(x_use_id).unwrap();
+        let DefinitionKind::Assignment(assignment) = binding.kind(&db) else {
             panic!("should be an assignment definition")
         };
         let ast::Expr::NumberLiteral(ast::ExprNumberLiteral {
@@ -1127,12 +1107,10 @@ match subject:
             ("k", 0),
             ("l", 1),
         ] {
-            let definition = use_def
-                .first_public_definition(
-                    global_table.symbol_id_by_name(name).expect("symbol exists"),
-                )
+            let binding = use_def
+                .first_public_binding(global_table.symbol_id_by_name(name).expect("symbol exists"))
                 .expect("Expected with item definition for {name}");
-            if let DefinitionKind::MatchPattern(pattern) = definition.node(&db) {
+            if let DefinitionKind::MatchPattern(pattern) = binding.kind(&db) {
                 assert_eq!(pattern.index(), expected_index);
             } else {
                 panic!("Expected match pattern definition for {name}");
@@ -1159,12 +1137,10 @@ match 1:
 
         let use_def = use_def_map(&db, global_scope_id);
         for (name, expected_index) in [("first", 0), ("second", 0)] {
-            let definition = use_def
-                .first_public_definition(
-                    global_table.symbol_id_by_name(name).expect("symbol exists"),
-                )
+            let binding = use_def
+                .first_public_binding(global_table.symbol_id_by_name(name).expect("symbol exists"))
                 .expect("Expected with item definition for {name}");
-            if let DefinitionKind::MatchPattern(pattern) = definition.node(&db) {
+            if let DefinitionKind::MatchPattern(pattern) = binding.kind(&db) {
                 assert_eq!(pattern.index(), expected_index);
             } else {
                 panic!("Expected match pattern definition for {name}");
@@ -1181,11 +1157,11 @@ match 1:
         assert_eq!(&names(&global_table), &["a", "x"]);
 
         let use_def = use_def_map(&db, scope);
-        let definition = use_def
-            .first_public_definition(global_table.symbol_id_by_name("x").unwrap())
+        let binding = use_def
+            .first_public_binding(global_table.symbol_id_by_name("x").unwrap())
             .unwrap();
 
-        assert!(matches!(definition.node(&db), DefinitionKind::For(_)));
+        assert!(matches!(binding.kind(&db), DefinitionKind::For(_)));
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -1197,15 +1173,15 @@ match 1:
         assert_eq!(&names(&global_table), &["a", "x", "y"]);
 
         let use_def = use_def_map(&db, scope);
-        let x_definition = use_def
-            .first_public_definition(global_table.symbol_id_by_name("x").unwrap())
+        let x_binding = use_def
+            .first_public_binding(global_table.symbol_id_by_name("x").unwrap())
             .unwrap();
-        let y_definition = use_def
-            .first_public_definition(global_table.symbol_id_by_name("y").unwrap())
+        let y_binding = use_def
+            .first_public_binding(global_table.symbol_id_by_name("y").unwrap())
             .unwrap();
 
-        assert!(matches!(x_definition.node(&db), DefinitionKind::For(_)));
-        assert!(matches!(y_definition.node(&db), DefinitionKind::For(_)));
+        assert!(matches!(x_binding.kind(&db), DefinitionKind::For(_)));
+        assert!(matches!(y_binding.kind(&db), DefinitionKind::For(_)));
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -1217,10 +1193,10 @@ match 1:
         assert_eq!(&names(&global_table), &["e", "a", "b", "c", "d"]);
 
         let use_def = use_def_map(&db, scope);
-        let definition = use_def
-            .first_public_definition(global_table.symbol_id_by_name("a").unwrap())
+        let binding = use_def
+            .first_public_binding(global_table.symbol_id_by_name("a").unwrap())
             .unwrap();
 
-        assert!(matches!(definition.node(&db), DefinitionKind::For(_)));
+        assert!(matches!(binding.kind(&db), DefinitionKind::For(_)));
     }
 }
diff --git a/crates/red_knot_python_semantic/src/semantic_index/builder.rs b/crates/red_knot_python_semantic/src/semantic_index/builder.rs
index 25d9b9159ba3b..1a90c8a6e48c0 100644
--- a/crates/red_knot_python_semantic/src/semantic_index/builder.rs
+++ b/crates/red_knot_python_semantic/src/semantic_index/builder.rs
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ use crate::semantic_index::definition::{
 };
 use crate::semantic_index::expression::Expression;
 use crate::semantic_index::symbol::{
-    FileScopeId, NodeWithScopeKey, NodeWithScopeRef, Scope, ScopeId, ScopedSymbolId, SymbolFlags,
+    FileScopeId, NodeWithScopeKey, NodeWithScopeRef, Scope, ScopeId, ScopedSymbolId,
     SymbolTableBuilder,
 };
 use crate::semantic_index::use_def::{FlowSnapshot, UseDefMapBuilder};
@@ -28,7 +28,8 @@ use crate::Db;
 
 use super::constraint::{Constraint, PatternConstraint};
 use super::definition::{
-    ExceptHandlerDefinitionNodeRef, MatchPatternDefinitionNodeRef, WithItemDefinitionNodeRef,
+    DefinitionCategory, ExceptHandlerDefinitionNodeRef, MatchPatternDefinitionNodeRef,
+    WithItemDefinitionNodeRef,
 };
 
 pub(super) struct SemanticIndexBuilder<'db> {
@@ -168,31 +169,38 @@ impl<'db> SemanticIndexBuilder<'db> {
         self.current_use_def_map_mut().merge(state);
     }
 
-    fn add_or_update_symbol(&mut self, name: Name, flags: SymbolFlags) -> ScopedSymbolId {
-        let symbol_table = self.current_symbol_table();
-        let (symbol_id, added) = symbol_table.add_or_update_symbol(name, flags);
+    fn add_symbol(&mut self, name: Name) -> ScopedSymbolId {
+        let (symbol_id, added) = self.current_symbol_table().add_symbol(name);
         if added {
-            let use_def_map = self.current_use_def_map_mut();
-            use_def_map.add_symbol(symbol_id);
+            self.current_use_def_map_mut().add_symbol(symbol_id);
         }
         symbol_id
     }
 
+    fn mark_symbol_bound(&mut self, id: ScopedSymbolId) {
+        self.current_symbol_table().mark_symbol_bound(id);
+    }
+
+    fn mark_symbol_used(&mut self, id: ScopedSymbolId) {
+        self.current_symbol_table().mark_symbol_used(id);
+    }
+
     fn add_definition<'a>(
         &mut self,
         symbol: ScopedSymbolId,
         definition_node: impl Into<DefinitionNodeRef<'a>>,
     ) -> Definition<'db> {
         let definition_node: DefinitionNodeRef<'_> = definition_node.into();
+        #[allow(unsafe_code)]
+        // SAFETY: `definition_node` is guaranteed to be a child of `self.module`
+        let kind = unsafe { definition_node.into_owned(self.module.clone()) };
+        let category = kind.category();
         let definition = Definition::new(
             self.db,
             self.file,
             self.current_scope(),
             symbol,
-            #[allow(unsafe_code)]
-            unsafe {
-                definition_node.into_owned(self.module.clone())
-            },
+            kind,
             countme::Count::default(),
         );
 
@@ -201,8 +209,18 @@ impl<'db> SemanticIndexBuilder<'db> {
             .insert(definition_node.key(), definition);
         debug_assert_eq!(existing_definition, None);
 
-        self.current_use_def_map_mut()
-            .record_definition(symbol, definition);
+        if category.is_binding() {
+            self.mark_symbol_bound(symbol);
+        }
+
+        let use_def = self.current_use_def_map_mut();
+        match category {
+            DefinitionCategory::DeclarationAndBinding => {
+                use_def.record_declaration_and_binding(symbol, definition);
+            }
+            DefinitionCategory::Declaration => use_def.record_declaration(symbol, definition),
+            DefinitionCategory::Binding => use_def.record_binding(symbol, definition),
+        }
 
         definition
     }
@@ -284,10 +302,13 @@ impl<'db> SemanticIndexBuilder<'db> {
                         ..
                     }) => (name, &None, default),
                 };
-                // TODO create Definition for typevars
-                self.add_or_update_symbol(name.id.clone(), SymbolFlags::IS_DEFINED);
-                if let Some(bound) = bound {
-                    self.visit_expr(bound);
+                let symbol = self.add_symbol(name.id.clone());
+                // TODO create Definition for PEP 695 typevars
+                // note that the "bound" on the typevar is a totally different thing than whether
+                // or not a name is "bound" by a typevar declaration; the latter is always true.
+                self.mark_symbol_bound(symbol);
+                if let Some(bounds) = bound {
+                    self.visit_expr(bounds);
                 }
                 if let Some(default) = default {
                     self.visit_expr(default);
@@ -350,8 +371,7 @@ impl<'db> SemanticIndexBuilder<'db> {
     }
 
     fn declare_parameter(&mut self, parameter: AnyParameterRef) {
-        let symbol =
-            self.add_or_update_symbol(parameter.name().id().clone(), SymbolFlags::IS_DEFINED);
+        let symbol = self.add_symbol(parameter.name().id().clone());
 
         let definition = self.add_definition(symbol, parameter);
 
@@ -462,8 +482,7 @@ where
                 // The symbol for the function name itself has to be evaluated
                 // at the end to match the runtime evaluation of parameter defaults
                 // and return-type annotations.
-                let symbol = self
-                    .add_or_update_symbol(function_def.name.id.clone(), SymbolFlags::IS_DEFINED);
+                let symbol = self.add_symbol(function_def.name.id.clone());
                 self.add_definition(symbol, function_def);
             }
             ast::Stmt::ClassDef(class) => {
@@ -471,8 +490,7 @@ where
                     self.visit_decorator(decorator);
                 }
 
-                let symbol =
-                    self.add_or_update_symbol(class.name.id.clone(), SymbolFlags::IS_DEFINED);
+                let symbol = self.add_symbol(class.name.id.clone());
                 self.add_definition(symbol, class);
 
                 self.with_type_params(
@@ -498,7 +516,7 @@ where
                         Name::new(alias.name.id.split('.').next().unwrap())
                     };
 
-                    let symbol = self.add_or_update_symbol(symbol_name, SymbolFlags::IS_DEFINED);
+                    let symbol = self.add_symbol(symbol_name);
                     self.add_definition(symbol, alias);
                 }
             }
@@ -510,8 +528,7 @@ where
                         &alias.name.id
                     };
 
-                    let symbol =
-                        self.add_or_update_symbol(symbol_name.clone(), SymbolFlags::IS_DEFINED);
+                    let symbol = self.add_symbol(symbol_name.clone());
                     self.add_definition(symbol, ImportFromDefinitionNodeRef { node, alias_index });
                 }
             }
@@ -725,8 +742,7 @@ where
                     // which is invalid syntax. However, it's still pretty obvious here that the user
                     // *wanted* `e` to be bound, so we should still create a definition here nonetheless.
                     if let Some(symbol_name) = symbol_name {
-                        let symbol = self
-                            .add_or_update_symbol(symbol_name.id.clone(), SymbolFlags::IS_DEFINED);
+                        let symbol = self.add_symbol(symbol_name.id.clone());
 
                         self.add_definition(
                             symbol,
@@ -756,24 +772,18 @@ where
 
         match expr {
             ast::Expr::Name(name_node @ ast::ExprName { id, ctx, .. }) => {
-                let flags = match (ctx, self.current_assignment) {
+                let (is_use, is_definition) = match (ctx, self.current_assignment) {
                     (ast::ExprContext::Store, Some(CurrentAssignment::AugAssign(_))) => {
                         // For augmented assignment, the target expression is also used.
-                        SymbolFlags::IS_DEFINED | SymbolFlags::IS_USED
-                    }
-                    (ast::ExprContext::Store, Some(CurrentAssignment::AnnAssign(ann_assign)))
-                        if ann_assign.value.is_none() =>
-                    {
-                        // An annotated assignment that doesn't assign a value is not a Definition
-                        SymbolFlags::empty()
+                        (true, true)
                     }
-                    (ast::ExprContext::Load, _) => SymbolFlags::IS_USED,
-                    (ast::ExprContext::Store, _) => SymbolFlags::IS_DEFINED,
-                    (ast::ExprContext::Del, _) => SymbolFlags::IS_DEFINED,
-                    (ast::ExprContext::Invalid, _) => SymbolFlags::empty(),
+                    (ast::ExprContext::Load, _) => (true, false),
+                    (ast::ExprContext::Store, _) => (false, true),
+                    (ast::ExprContext::Del, _) => (false, true),
+                    (ast::ExprContext::Invalid, _) => (false, false),
                 };
-                let symbol = self.add_or_update_symbol(id.clone(), flags);
-                if flags.contains(SymbolFlags::IS_DEFINED) {
+                let symbol = self.add_symbol(id.clone());
+                if is_definition {
                     match self.current_assignment {
                         Some(CurrentAssignment::Assign(assignment)) => {
                             self.add_definition(
@@ -830,7 +840,8 @@ where
                     }
                 }
 
-                if flags.contains(SymbolFlags::IS_USED) {
+                if is_use {
+                    self.mark_symbol_used(symbol);
                     let use_id = self.current_ast_ids().record_use(expr);
                     self.current_use_def_map_mut().record_use(symbol, use_id);
                 }
@@ -970,7 +981,7 @@ where
             range: _,
         }) = pattern
         {
-            let symbol = self.add_or_update_symbol(name.id().clone(), SymbolFlags::IS_DEFINED);
+            let symbol = self.add_symbol(name.id().clone());
             let state = self.current_match_case.as_ref().unwrap();
             self.add_definition(
                 symbol,
@@ -991,7 +1002,7 @@ where
             rest: Some(name), ..
         }) = pattern
         {
-            let symbol = self.add_or_update_symbol(name.id().clone(), SymbolFlags::IS_DEFINED);
+            let symbol = self.add_symbol(name.id().clone());
             let state = self.current_match_case.as_ref().unwrap();
             self.add_definition(
                 symbol,
diff --git a/crates/red_knot_python_semantic/src/semantic_index/definition.rs b/crates/red_knot_python_semantic/src/semantic_index/definition.rs
index 0f7f1a5b15066..fd4c4b15c600b 100644
--- a/crates/red_knot_python_semantic/src/semantic_index/definition.rs
+++ b/crates/red_knot_python_semantic/src/semantic_index/definition.rs
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ pub struct Definition<'db> {
 
     #[no_eq]
     #[return_ref]
-    pub(crate) node: DefinitionKind,
+    pub(crate) kind: DefinitionKind,
 
     #[no_eq]
     count: countme::Count<Definition<'static>>,
@@ -33,6 +33,21 @@ impl<'db> Definition<'db> {
     pub(crate) fn scope(self, db: &'db dyn Db) -> ScopeId<'db> {
         self.file_scope(db).to_scope_id(db, self.file(db))
     }
+
+    #[allow(unused)]
+    pub(crate) fn category(self, db: &'db dyn Db) -> DefinitionCategory {
+        self.kind(db).category()
+    }
+
+    #[allow(unused)]
+    pub(crate) fn is_declaration(self, db: &'db dyn Db) -> bool {
+        self.kind(db).category().is_declaration()
+    }
+
+    #[allow(unused)]
+    pub(crate) fn is_binding(self, db: &'db dyn Db) -> bool {
+        self.kind(db).category().is_binding()
+    }
 }
 
 #[derive(Copy, Clone, Debug)]
@@ -302,6 +317,41 @@ impl DefinitionNodeRef<'_> {
     }
 }
 
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug)]
+pub(crate) enum DefinitionCategory {
+    /// A Definition which binds a value to a name (e.g. `x = 1`).
+    Binding,
+    /// A Definition which declares the upper-bound of acceptable types for this name (`x: int`).
+    Declaration,
+    /// A Definition which both declares a type and binds a value (e.g. `x: int = 1`).
+    DeclarationAndBinding,
+}
+
+impl DefinitionCategory {
+    /// True if this definition establishes a "declared type" for the symbol.
+    ///
+    /// If so, any assignments reached by this definition are in error if they assign a value of a
+    /// type not assignable to the declared type.
+    ///
+    /// Annotations establish a declared type. So do function and class definition.
+    pub(crate) fn is_declaration(self) -> bool {
+        matches!(
+            self,
+            DefinitionCategory::Declaration | DefinitionCategory::DeclarationAndBinding
+        )
+    }
+
+    /// True if this definition assigns a value to the symbol.
+    ///
+    /// False only for annotated assignments without a RHS.
+    pub(crate) fn is_binding(self) -> bool {
+        matches!(
+            self,
+            DefinitionCategory::Binding | DefinitionCategory::DeclarationAndBinding
+        )
+    }
+}
+
 #[derive(Clone, Debug)]
 pub enum DefinitionKind {
     Import(AstNodeRef<ast::Alias>),
@@ -321,6 +371,52 @@ pub enum DefinitionKind {
     ExceptHandler(ExceptHandlerDefinitionKind),
 }
 
+impl DefinitionKind {
+    pub(crate) fn category(&self) -> DefinitionCategory {
+        match self {
+            // functions and classes always bind a value, and we always consider them declarations
+            DefinitionKind::Function(_) | DefinitionKind::Class(_) => {
+                DefinitionCategory::DeclarationAndBinding
+            }
+            // a parameter always binds a value, but is only a declaration if annotated
+            DefinitionKind::Parameter(parameter) => {
+                if parameter.annotation.is_some() {
+                    DefinitionCategory::DeclarationAndBinding
+                } else {
+                    DefinitionCategory::Binding
+                }
+            }
+            // presence of a default is irrelevant, same logic as for a no-default parameter
+            DefinitionKind::ParameterWithDefault(parameter_with_default) => {
+                if parameter_with_default.parameter.annotation.is_some() {
+                    DefinitionCategory::DeclarationAndBinding
+                } else {
+                    DefinitionCategory::Binding
+                }
+            }
+            // annotated assignment is always a declaration, only a binding if there is a RHS
+            DefinitionKind::AnnotatedAssignment(ann_assign) => {
+                if ann_assign.value.is_some() {
+                    DefinitionCategory::DeclarationAndBinding
+                } else {
+                    DefinitionCategory::Declaration
+                }
+            }
+            // all of these bind values without declaring a type
+            DefinitionKind::Import(_)
+            | DefinitionKind::ImportFrom(_)
+            | DefinitionKind::NamedExpression(_)
+            | DefinitionKind::Assignment(_)
+            | DefinitionKind::AugmentedAssignment(_)
+            | DefinitionKind::For(_)
+            | DefinitionKind::Comprehension(_)
+            | DefinitionKind::WithItem(_)
+            | DefinitionKind::MatchPattern(_)
+            | DefinitionKind::ExceptHandler(_) => DefinitionCategory::Binding,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 #[derive(Clone, Debug)]
 #[allow(dead_code)]
 pub struct MatchPatternDefinitionKind {
@@ -441,8 +537,12 @@ pub struct ExceptHandlerDefinitionKind {
 }
 
 impl ExceptHandlerDefinitionKind {
+    pub(crate) fn node(&self) -> &ast::ExceptHandlerExceptHandler {
+        self.handler.node()
+    }
+
     pub(crate) fn handled_exceptions(&self) -> Option<&ast::Expr> {
-        self.handler.node().type_.as_deref()
+        self.node().type_.as_deref()
     }
 
     pub(crate) fn is_star(&self) -> bool {
diff --git a/crates/red_knot_python_semantic/src/semantic_index/symbol.rs b/crates/red_knot_python_semantic/src/semantic_index/symbol.rs
index 432c956f69d96..eeab9bf16907d 100644
--- a/crates/red_knot_python_semantic/src/semantic_index/symbol.rs
+++ b/crates/red_knot_python_semantic/src/semantic_index/symbol.rs
@@ -44,16 +44,16 @@ impl Symbol {
     }
 
     /// Is the symbol defined in its containing scope?
-    pub fn is_defined(&self) -> bool {
-        self.flags.contains(SymbolFlags::IS_DEFINED)
+    pub fn is_bound(&self) -> bool {
+        self.flags.contains(SymbolFlags::IS_BOUND)
     }
 }
 
 bitflags! {
     #[derive(Copy, Clone, Debug, Eq, PartialEq)]
-    pub(super) struct SymbolFlags: u8 {
+    struct SymbolFlags: u8 {
         const IS_USED         = 1 << 0;
-        const IS_DEFINED      = 1 << 1;
+        const IS_BOUND      = 1 << 1;
         /// TODO: This flag is not yet set by anything
         const MARKED_GLOBAL   = 1 << 2;
         /// TODO: This flag is not yet set by anything
@@ -272,11 +272,7 @@ impl SymbolTableBuilder {
         }
     }
 
-    pub(super) fn add_or_update_symbol(
-        &mut self,
-        name: Name,
-        flags: SymbolFlags,
-    ) -> (ScopedSymbolId, bool) {
+    pub(super) fn add_symbol(&mut self, name: Name) -> (ScopedSymbolId, bool) {
         let hash = SymbolTable::hash_name(&name);
         let entry = self
             .table
@@ -285,15 +281,9 @@ impl SymbolTableBuilder {
             .from_hash(hash, |id| self.table.symbols[*id].name() == &name);
 
         match entry {
-            RawEntryMut::Occupied(entry) => {
-                let symbol = &mut self.table.symbols[*entry.key()];
-                symbol.insert_flags(flags);
-
-                (*entry.key(), false)
-            }
+            RawEntryMut::Occupied(entry) => (*entry.key(), false),
             RawEntryMut::Vacant(entry) => {
-                let mut symbol = Symbol::new(name);
-                symbol.insert_flags(flags);
+                let symbol = Symbol::new(name);
 
                 let id = self.table.symbols.push(symbol);
                 entry.insert_with_hasher(hash, id, (), |id| {
@@ -304,6 +294,14 @@ impl SymbolTableBuilder {
         }
     }
 
+    pub(super) fn mark_symbol_bound(&mut self, id: ScopedSymbolId) {
+        self.table.symbols[id].insert_flags(SymbolFlags::IS_BOUND);
+    }
+
+    pub(super) fn mark_symbol_used(&mut self, id: ScopedSymbolId) {
+        self.table.symbols[id].insert_flags(SymbolFlags::IS_USED);
+    }
+
     pub(super) fn finish(mut self) -> SymbolTable {
         self.table.shrink_to_fit();
         self.table
diff --git a/crates/red_knot_python_semantic/src/semantic_index/use_def.rs b/crates/red_knot_python_semantic/src/semantic_index/use_def.rs
index 682ee32a41d03..a4b2a3e3cc07f 100644
--- a/crates/red_knot_python_semantic/src/semantic_index/use_def.rs
+++ b/crates/red_knot_python_semantic/src/semantic_index/use_def.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,79 @@
-//! Build a map from each use of a symbol to the definitions visible from that use, and the
-//! type-narrowing constraints that apply to each definition.
+//! First, some terminology:
+//!
+//! * A "binding" gives a new value to a variable. This includes many different Python statements
+//!   (assignment statements of course, but also imports, `def` and `class` statements, `as`
+//!   clauses in `with` and `except` statements, match patterns, and others) and even one
+//!   expression kind (named expressions). It notably does not include annotated assignment
+//!   statements without a right-hand side value; these do not assign any new value to the
+//!   variable. We consider function parameters to be bindings as well, since (from the perspective
+//!   of the function's internal scope), a function parameter begins the scope bound to a value.
+//!
+//! * A "declaration" establishes an upper bound type for the values that a variable may be
+//!   permitted to take on. Annotated assignment statements (with or without an RHS value) are
+//!   declarations; annotated function parameters are also declarations. We consider `def` and
+//!   `class` statements to also be declarations, so as to prohibit accidentally shadowing them.
+//!
+//! Annotated assignments with a right-hand side, and annotated function parameters, are both
+//! bindings and declarations.
+//!
+//! We use [`Definition`] as the universal term (and Salsa tracked struct) encompassing both
+//! bindings and declarations. (This sacrifices a bit of type safety in exchange for improved
+//! performance via fewer Salsa tracked structs and queries, since most declarations -- typed
+//! parameters and annotated assignments with RHS -- are both bindings and declarations.)
+//!
+//! At any given use of a variable, we can ask about both its "declared type" and its "inferred
+//! type". These may be different, but the inferred type must always be assignable to the declared
+//! type; that is, the declared type is always wider, and the inferred type may be more precise. If
+//! we see an invalid assignment, we emit a diagnostic and abandon our inferred type, deferring to
+//! the declared type (this allows an explicit annotation to override bad inference, without a
+//! cast), maintaining the invariant.
+//!
+//! The **inferred type** represents the most precise type we believe encompasses all possible
+//! values for the variable at a given use. It is based on a union of the bindings which can reach
+//! that use through some control flow path, and the narrowing constraints that control flow must
+//! have passed through between the binding and the use. For example, in this code:
+//!
+//! ```python
+//! x = 1 if flag else None
+//! if x is not None:
+//!     use(x)
+//! ```
+//!
+//! For the use of `x` on the third line, the inferred type should be `Literal[1]`. This is based
+//! on the binding on the first line, which assigns the type `Literal[1] | None`, and the narrowing
+//! constraint on the second line, which rules out the type `None`, since control flow must pass
+//! through this constraint to reach the use in question.
+//!
+//! The **declared type** represents the code author's declaration (usually through a type
+//! annotation) that a given variable should not be assigned any type outside the declared type. In
+//! our model, declared types are also control-flow-sensitive; we allow the code author to
+//! explicitly re-declare the same variable with a different type. So for a given binding of a
+//! variable, we will want to ask which declarations of that variable can reach that binding, in
+//! order to determine whether the binding is permitted, or should be a type error. For example:
+//!
+//! ```python
+//! from pathlib import Path
+//! def f(path: str):
+//!     path: Path = Path(path)
+//! ```
+//!
+//! In this function, the initial declared type of `path` is `str`, meaning that the assignment
+//! `path = Path(path)` would be a type error, since it assigns to `path` a value whose type is not
+//! assignable to `str`. This is the purpose of declared types: they prevent accidental assignment
+//! of the wrong type to a variable.
+//!
+//! But in some cases it is useful to "shadow" or "re-declare" a variable with a new type, and we
+//! permit this, as long as it is done with an explicit re-annotation. So `path: Path =
+//! Path(path)`, with the explicit `: Path` annotation, is permitted.
+//!
+//! The general rule is that whatever declaration(s) can reach a given binding determine the
+//! validity of that binding. If there is a path in which the symbol is not declared, that is a
+//! declaration of `Unknown`. If multiple declarations can reach a binding, we union them, but by
+//! default we also issue a type error, since this implicit union of declared types may hide an
+//! error.
+//!
+//! To support type inference, we build a map from each use of a symbol to the bindings live at
+//! that use, and the type narrowing constraints that apply to each binding.
 //!
 //! Let's take this code sample:
 //!
@@ -7,147 +81,155 @@
 //! x = 1
 //! x = 2
 //! y = x
-//! if y is not None:
+//! if flag:
 //!     x = 3
 //! else:
 //!     x = 4
 //! z = x
 //! ```
 //!
-//! In this snippet, we have four definitions of `x` (the statements assigning `1`, `2`, `3`,
-//! and `4` to it), and two uses of `x` (the `y = x` and `z = x` assignments). The first
-//! [`Definition`] of `x` is never visible to any use, because it's immediately replaced by the
-//! second definition, before any use happens. (A linter could thus flag the statement `x = 1`
-//! as likely superfluous.)
+//! In this snippet, we have four bindings of `x` (the statements assigning `1`, `2`, `3`, and `4`
+//! to it), and two uses of `x` (the `y = x` and `z = x` assignments). The first binding of `x`
+//! does not reach any use, because it's immediately replaced by the second binding, before any use
+//! happens. (A linter could thus flag the statement `x = 1` as likely superfluous.)
 //!
-//! The first use of `x` has one definition visible to it: the assignment `x = 2`.
+//! The first use of `x` has one live binding: the assignment `x = 2`.
 //!
 //! Things get a bit more complex when we have branches. We will definitely take either the `if` or
-//! the `else` branch. Thus, the second use of `x` has two definitions visible to it: `x = 3` and
-//! `x = 4`. The `x = 2` definition is no longer visible, because it must be replaced by either `x
-//! = 3` or `x = 4`, no matter which branch was taken. We don't know which branch was taken, so we
-//! must consider both definitions as visible, which means eventually we would (in type inference)
-//! look at these two definitions and infer a type of `Literal[3, 4]` -- the union of `Literal[3]`
-//! and `Literal[4]` -- for the second use of `x`.
+//! the `else` branch. Thus, the second use of `x` has two live bindings: `x = 3` and `x = 4`. The
+//! `x = 2` assignment is no longer visible, because it must be replaced by either `x = 3` or `x =
+//! 4`, no matter which branch was taken. We don't know which branch was taken, so we must consider
+//! both bindings as live, which means eventually we would (in type inference) look at these two
+//! bindings and infer a type of `Literal[3, 4]` -- the union of `Literal[3]` and `Literal[4]` --
+//! for the second use of `x`.
 //!
 //! So that's one question our use-def map needs to answer: given a specific use of a symbol, which
-//! definition(s) is/are visible from that use. In
-//! [`AstIds`](crate::semantic_index::ast_ids::AstIds) we number all uses (that means a `Name` node
-//! with `Load` context) so we have a `ScopedUseId` to efficiently represent each use.
-//!
-//! Another case we need to handle is when a symbol is referenced from a different scope (the most
-//! obvious example of this is an import). We call this "public" use of a symbol. So the other
-//! question we need to be able to answer is, what are the publicly-visible definitions of each
-//! symbol?
-//!
-//! Technically, public use of a symbol could also occur from any point in control flow of the
-//! scope where the symbol is defined (via inline imports and import cycles, in the case of an
-//! import, or via a function call partway through the local scope that ends up using a symbol from
-//! the scope via a global or nonlocal reference.) But modeling this fully accurately requires
-//! whole-program analysis that isn't tractable for an efficient incremental compiler, since it
-//! means a given symbol could have a different type every place it's referenced throughout the
-//! program, depending on the shape of arbitrarily-sized call/import graphs. So we follow other
-//! Python type-checkers in making the simplifying assumption that usually the scope will finish
-//! execution before its symbols are made visible to other scopes; for instance, most imports will
-//! import from a complete module, not a partially-executed module. (We may want to get a little
-//! smarter than this in the future, in particular for closures, but for now this is where we
-//! start.)
-//!
-//! So this means that the publicly-visible definitions of a symbol are the definitions still
-//! visible at the end of the scope; effectively we have an implicit "use" of every symbol at the
-//! end of the scope.
-//!
-//! We also need to know, for a given definition of a symbol, what type-narrowing constraints apply
+//! binding(s) can reach that use. In [`AstIds`](crate::semantic_index::ast_ids::AstIds) we number
+//! all uses (that means a `Name` node with `Load` context) so we have a `ScopedUseId` to
+//! efficiently represent each use.
+//!
+//! We also need to know, for a given definition of a symbol, what type narrowing constraints apply
 //! to it. For instance, in this code sample:
 //!
 //! ```python
 //! x = 1 if flag else None
 //! if x is not None:
-//!     y = x
+//!     use(x)
 //! ```
 //!
-//! At the use of `x` in `y = x`, the visible definition of `x` is `1 if flag else None`, which
-//! would infer as the type `Literal[1] | None`. But the constraint `x is not None` dominates this
-//! use, which means we can rule out the possibility that `x` is `None` here, which should give us
-//! the type `Literal[1]` for this use.
+//! At the use of `x`, the live binding of `x` is `1 if flag else None`, which would infer as the
+//! type `Literal[1] | None`. But the constraint `x is not None` dominates this use, which means we
+//! can rule out the possibility that `x` is `None` here, which should give us the type
+//! `Literal[1]` for this use.
+//!
+//! For declared types, we need to be able to answer the question "given a binding to a symbol,
+//! which declarations of that symbol can reach the binding?" This allows us to emit a diagnostic
+//! if the binding is attempting to bind a value of a type that is not assignable to the declared
+//! type for that symbol, at that point in control flow.
+//!
+//! We also need to know, given a declaration of a symbol, what the inferred type of that symbol is
+//! at that point. This allows us to emit a diagnostic in a case like `x = "foo"; x: int`. The
+//! binding `x = "foo"` occurs before the declaration `x: int`, so according to our
+//! control-flow-sensitive interpretation of declarations, the assignment is not an error. But the
+//! declaration is an error, since it would violate the "inferred type must be assignable to
+//! declared type" rule.
+//!
+//! Another case we need to handle is when a symbol is referenced from a different scope (for
+//! example, an import or a nonlocal reference). We call this "public" use of a symbol. For public
+//! use of a symbol, we prefer the declared type, if there are any declarations of that symbol; if
+//! not, we fall back to the inferred type. So we also need to know which declarations and bindings
+//! can reach the end of the scope.
+//!
+//! Technically, public use of a symbol could occur from any point in control flow of the scope
+//! where the symbol is defined (via inline imports and import cycles, in the case of an import, or
+//! via a function call partway through the local scope that ends up using a symbol from the scope
+//! via a global or nonlocal reference.) But modeling this fully accurately requires whole-program
+//! analysis that isn't tractable for an efficient analysis, since it means a given symbol could
+//! have a different type every place it's referenced throughout the program, depending on the
+//! shape of arbitrarily-sized call/import graphs. So we follow other Python type checkers in
+//! making the simplifying assumption that usually the scope will finish execution before its
+//! symbols are made visible to other scopes; for instance, most imports will import from a
+//! complete module, not a partially-executed module. (We may want to get a little smarter than
+//! this in the future for some closures, but for now this is where we start.)
 //!
 //! The data structure we build to answer these questions is the `UseDefMap`. It has a
-//! `definitions_by_use` vector indexed by [`ScopedUseId`] and a `public_definitions` vector
-//! indexed by [`ScopedSymbolId`]. The values in each of these vectors are (in principle) a list of
-//! visible definitions at that use, or at the end of the scope for that symbol, with a list of the
-//! dominating constraints for each of those definitions.
+//! `bindings_by_use` vector of [`SymbolBindings`] indexed by [`ScopedUseId`], a
+//! `declarations_by_binding` vector of [`SymbolDeclarations`] indexed by [`ScopedDefinitionId`], a
+//! `bindings_by_declaration` vector of [`SymbolBindings`] indexed by [`ScopedDefinitionId`], and
+//! `public_bindings` and `public_definitions` vectors indexed by [`ScopedSymbolId`]. The values in
+//! each of these vectors are (in principle) a list of live bindings at that use/definition, or at
+//! the end of the scope for that symbol, with a list of the dominating constraints for each
+//! binding.
 //!
 //! In order to avoid vectors-of-vectors-of-vectors and all the allocations that would entail, we
 //! don't actually store these "list of visible definitions" as a vector of [`Definition`].
-//! Instead, the values in `definitions_by_use` and `public_definitions` are a [`SymbolState`]
-//! struct which uses bit-sets to track definitions and constraints in terms of
-//! [`ScopedDefinitionId`] and [`ScopedConstraintId`], which are indices into the `all_definitions`
-//! and `all_constraints` indexvecs in the [`UseDefMap`].
+//! Instead, [`SymbolBindings`] and [`SymbolDeclarations`] are structs which use bit-sets to track
+//! definitions (and constraints, in the case of bindings) in terms of [`ScopedDefinitionId`] and
+//! [`ScopedConstraintId`], which are indices into the `all_definitions` and `all_constraints`
+//! indexvecs in the [`UseDefMap`].
 //!
 //! There is another special kind of possible "definition" for a symbol: there might be a path from
 //! the scope entry to a given use in which the symbol is never bound.
 //!
-//! The simplest way to model "unbound" would be as an actual [`Definition`] itself: the initial
-//! visible [`Definition`] for each symbol in a scope. But actually modeling it this way would
-//! unnecessarily increase the number of [`Definition`] that Salsa must track. Since "unbound" is a
-//! special definition in that all symbols share it, and it doesn't have any additional per-symbol
-//! state, and constraints are irrelevant to it, we can represent it more efficiently: we use the
-//! `may_be_unbound` boolean on the [`SymbolState`] struct. If this flag is `true`, it means the
-//! symbol/use really has one additional visible "definition", which is the unbound state. If this
-//! flag is `false`, it means we've eliminated the possibility of unbound: every path we've
-//! followed includes a definition for this symbol.
+//! The simplest way to model "unbound" would be as a "binding" itself: the initial "binding" for
+//! each symbol in a scope. But actually modeling it this way would unnecessarily increase the
+//! number of [`Definition`]s that Salsa must track. Since "unbound" is special in that all symbols
+//! share it, and it doesn't have any additional per-symbol state, and constraints are irrelevant
+//! to it, we can represent it more efficiently: we use the `may_be_unbound` boolean on the
+//! [`SymbolBindings`] struct. If this flag is `true` for a use of a symbol, it means the symbol
+//! has a path to the use in which it is never bound. If this flag is `false`, it means we've
+//! eliminated the possibility of unbound: every control flow path to the use includes a binding
+//! for this symbol.
 //!
 //! To build a [`UseDefMap`], the [`UseDefMapBuilder`] is notified of each new use, definition, and
 //! constraint as they are encountered by the
 //! [`SemanticIndexBuilder`](crate::semantic_index::builder::SemanticIndexBuilder) AST visit. For
-//! each symbol, the builder tracks the `SymbolState` for that symbol. When we hit a use of a
-//! symbol, it records the current state for that symbol for that use. When we reach the end of the
-//! scope, it records the state for each symbol as the public definitions of that symbol.
+//! each symbol, the builder tracks the `SymbolState` (`SymbolBindings` and `SymbolDeclarations`)
+//! for that symbol. When we hit a use or definition of a symbol, we record the necessary parts of
+//! the current state for that symbol that we need for that use or definition. When we reach the
+//! end of the scope, it records the state for each symbol as the public definitions of that
+//! symbol.
 //!
-//! Let's walk through the above example. Initially we record for `x` that it has no visible
-//! definitions, and may be unbound. When we see `x = 1`, we record that as the sole visible
-//! definition of `x`, and flip `may_be_unbound` to `false`. Then we see `x = 2`, and it replaces
-//! `x = 1` as the sole visible definition of `x`. When we get to `y = x`, we record that the
-//! visible definitions for that use of `x` are just the `x = 2` definition.
+//! Let's walk through the above example. Initially we record for `x` that it has no bindings, and
+//! may be unbound. When we see `x = 1`, we record that as the sole live binding of `x`, and flip
+//! `may_be_unbound` to `false`. Then we see `x = 2`, and we replace `x = 1` as the sole live
+//! binding of `x`. When we get to `y = x`, we record that the live bindings for that use of `x`
+//! are just the `x = 2` definition.
 //!
 //! Then we hit the `if` branch. We visit the `test` node (`flag` in this case), since that will
-//! happen regardless. Then we take a pre-branch snapshot of the currently visible definitions for
-//! all symbols, which we'll need later. Then we record `flag` as a possible constraint on the
-//! currently visible definition (`x = 2`), and go ahead and visit the `if` body. When we see `x =
-//! 3`, it replaces `x = 2` (constrained by `flag`) as the sole visible definition of `x`. At the
-//! end of the `if` body, we take another snapshot of the currently-visible definitions; we'll call
-//! this the post-if-body snapshot.
+//! happen regardless. Then we take a pre-branch snapshot of the current state for all symbols,
+//! which we'll need later. Then we record `flag` as a possible constraint on the current binding
+//! (`x = 2`), and go ahead and visit the `if` body. When we see `x = 3`, it replaces `x = 2`
+//! (constrained by `flag`) as the sole live binding of `x`. At the end of the `if` body, we take
+//! another snapshot of the current symbol state; we'll call this the post-if-body snapshot.
 //!
 //! Now we need to visit the `else` clause. The conditions when entering the `else` clause should
 //! be the pre-if conditions; if we are entering the `else` clause, we know that the `if` test
 //! failed and we didn't execute the `if` body. So we first reset the builder to the pre-if state,
-//! using the snapshot we took previously (meaning we now have `x = 2` as the sole visible
-//! definition for `x` again), then visit the `else` clause, where `x = 4` replaces `x = 2` as the
-//! sole visible definition of `x`.
+//! using the snapshot we took previously (meaning we now have `x = 2` as the sole binding for `x`
+//! again), then visit the `else` clause, where `x = 4` replaces `x = 2` as the sole live binding
+//! of `x`.
 //!
 //! Now we reach the end of the if/else, and want to visit the following code. The state here needs
 //! to reflect that we might have gone through the `if` branch, or we might have gone through the
 //! `else` branch, and we don't know which. So we need to "merge" our current builder state
-//! (reflecting the end-of-else state, with `x = 4` as the only visible definition) with our
-//! post-if-body snapshot (which has `x = 3` as the only visible definition). The result of this
-//! merge is that we now have two visible definitions of `x`: `x = 3` and `x = 4`.
+//! (reflecting the end-of-else state, with `x = 4` as the only live binding) with our post-if-body
+//! snapshot (which has `x = 3` as the only live binding). The result of this merge is that we now
+//! have two live bindings of `x`: `x = 3` and `x = 4`.
 //!
 //! The [`UseDefMapBuilder`] itself just exposes methods for taking a snapshot, resetting to a
 //! snapshot, and merging a snapshot into the current state. The logic using these methods lives in
 //! [`SemanticIndexBuilder`](crate::semantic_index::builder::SemanticIndexBuilder), e.g. where it
 //! visits a `StmtIf` node.
-//!
-//! (In the future we may have some other questions we want to answer as well, such as "is this
-//! definition used?", which will require tracking a bit more info in our map, e.g. a "used" bit
-//! for each [`Definition`] which is flipped to true when we record that definition for a use.)
 use self::symbol_state::{
-    ConstraintIdIterator, DefinitionIdWithConstraintsIterator, ScopedConstraintId,
-    ScopedDefinitionId, SymbolState,
+    BindingIdWithConstraintsIterator, ConstraintIdIterator, DeclarationIdIterator,
+    ScopedConstraintId, ScopedDefinitionId, SymbolBindings, SymbolDeclarations, SymbolState,
 };
 use crate::semantic_index::ast_ids::ScopedUseId;
 use crate::semantic_index::definition::Definition;
 use crate::semantic_index::symbol::ScopedSymbolId;
 use ruff_index::IndexVec;
+use rustc_hash::FxHashMap;
 
 use super::constraint::Constraint;
 
@@ -163,60 +245,139 @@ pub(crate) struct UseDefMap<'db> {
     /// Array of [`Constraint`] in this scope.
     all_constraints: IndexVec<ScopedConstraintId, Constraint<'db>>,
 
-    /// [`SymbolState`] visible at a [`ScopedUseId`].
-    definitions_by_use: IndexVec<ScopedUseId, SymbolState>,
+    /// [`SymbolBindings`] reaching a [`ScopedUseId`].
+    bindings_by_use: IndexVec<ScopedUseId, SymbolBindings>,
+
+    /// [`SymbolBindings`] or [`SymbolDeclarations`] reaching a given [`Definition`].
+    ///
+    /// If the definition is a binding (only) -- `x = 1` for example -- then we need
+    /// [`SymbolDeclarations`] to know whether this binding is permitted by the live declarations.
+    ///
+    /// If the definition is a declaration (only) -- `x: int` for example -- then we need
+    /// [`SymbolBindings`] to know whether this declaration is consistent with the previously
+    /// inferred type.
+    ///
+    /// If the definition is both a declaration and a binding -- `x: int = 1` for example -- then
+    /// we don't actually need anything here, all we'll need to validate is that our own RHS is a
+    /// valid assignment to our own annotation.
+    definitions_by_definition: FxHashMap<Definition<'db>, SymbolDefinitions>,
 
     /// [`SymbolState`] visible at end of scope for each symbol.
-    public_definitions: IndexVec<ScopedSymbolId, SymbolState>,
+    public_symbols: IndexVec<ScopedSymbolId, SymbolState>,
 }
 
 impl<'db> UseDefMap<'db> {
-    pub(crate) fn use_definitions(
+    pub(crate) fn bindings_at_use(
         &self,
         use_id: ScopedUseId,
-    ) -> DefinitionWithConstraintsIterator<'_, 'db> {
-        DefinitionWithConstraintsIterator {
-            all_definitions: &self.all_definitions,
-            all_constraints: &self.all_constraints,
-            inner: self.definitions_by_use[use_id].visible_definitions(),
-        }
+    ) -> BindingWithConstraintsIterator<'_, 'db> {
+        self.bindings_iterator(&self.bindings_by_use[use_id])
     }
 
     pub(crate) fn use_may_be_unbound(&self, use_id: ScopedUseId) -> bool {
-        self.definitions_by_use[use_id].may_be_unbound()
+        self.bindings_by_use[use_id].may_be_unbound()
     }
 
-    pub(crate) fn public_definitions(
+    pub(crate) fn public_bindings(
         &self,
         symbol: ScopedSymbolId,
-    ) -> DefinitionWithConstraintsIterator<'_, 'db> {
-        DefinitionWithConstraintsIterator {
+    ) -> BindingWithConstraintsIterator<'_, 'db> {
+        self.bindings_iterator(self.public_symbols[symbol].bindings())
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn public_may_be_unbound(&self, symbol: ScopedSymbolId) -> bool {
+        self.public_symbols[symbol].may_be_unbound()
+    }
+
+    #[allow(unused)]
+    pub(crate) fn bindings_at_declaration(
+        &self,
+        declaration: Definition<'db>,
+    ) -> BindingWithConstraintsIterator<'_, 'db> {
+        if let SymbolDefinitions::Bindings(bindings) = &self.definitions_by_definition[&declaration]
+        {
+            self.bindings_iterator(bindings)
+        } else {
+            unreachable!("Declaration has non-Bindings in definitions_by_definition");
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[allow(unused)]
+    pub(crate) fn declarations_at_binding(
+        &self,
+        binding: Definition<'db>,
+    ) -> DeclarationsIterator<'_, 'db> {
+        if let SymbolDefinitions::Declarations(declarations) =
+            &self.definitions_by_definition[&binding]
+        {
+            self.declarations_iterator(declarations)
+        } else {
+            unreachable!("Binding has non-Declarations in definitions_by_definition");
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[allow(unused)]
+    pub(crate) fn public_declarations(
+        &self,
+        symbol: ScopedSymbolId,
+    ) -> DeclarationsIterator<'_, 'db> {
+        self.declarations_iterator(self.public_symbols[symbol].declarations())
+    }
+
+    #[allow(unused)]
+    pub(crate) fn has_public_declarations(&self, symbol: ScopedSymbolId) -> bool {
+        !self.public_symbols[symbol].declarations().is_empty()
+    }
+
+    #[allow(unused)]
+    pub(crate) fn public_may_be_undeclared(&self, symbol: ScopedSymbolId) -> bool {
+        self.public_symbols[symbol].may_be_undeclared()
+    }
+
+    fn bindings_iterator<'a>(
+        &'a self,
+        bindings: &'a SymbolBindings,
+    ) -> BindingWithConstraintsIterator<'a, 'db> {
+        BindingWithConstraintsIterator {
             all_definitions: &self.all_definitions,
             all_constraints: &self.all_constraints,
-            inner: self.public_definitions[symbol].visible_definitions(),
+            inner: bindings.iter(),
         }
     }
 
-    pub(crate) fn public_may_be_unbound(&self, symbol: ScopedSymbolId) -> bool {
-        self.public_definitions[symbol].may_be_unbound()
+    fn declarations_iterator<'a>(
+        &'a self,
+        declarations: &'a SymbolDeclarations,
+    ) -> DeclarationsIterator<'a, 'db> {
+        DeclarationsIterator {
+            all_definitions: &self.all_definitions,
+            inner: declarations.iter(),
+        }
     }
 }
 
+/// Either live bindings or live declarations for a symbol.
+#[derive(Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
+enum SymbolDefinitions {
+    Bindings(SymbolBindings),
+    Declarations(SymbolDeclarations),
+}
+
 #[derive(Debug)]
-pub(crate) struct DefinitionWithConstraintsIterator<'map, 'db> {
+pub(crate) struct BindingWithConstraintsIterator<'map, 'db> {
     all_definitions: &'map IndexVec<ScopedDefinitionId, Definition<'db>>,
     all_constraints: &'map IndexVec<ScopedConstraintId, Constraint<'db>>,
-    inner: DefinitionIdWithConstraintsIterator<'map>,
+    inner: BindingIdWithConstraintsIterator<'map>,
 }
 
-impl<'map, 'db> Iterator for DefinitionWithConstraintsIterator<'map, 'db> {
-    type Item = DefinitionWithConstraints<'map, 'db>;
+impl<'map, 'db> Iterator for BindingWithConstraintsIterator<'map, 'db> {
+    type Item = BindingWithConstraints<'map, 'db>;
 
     fn next(&mut self) -> Option<Self::Item> {
         self.inner
             .next()
-            .map(|def_id_with_constraints| DefinitionWithConstraints {
-                definition: self.all_definitions[def_id_with_constraints.definition],
+            .map(|def_id_with_constraints| BindingWithConstraints {
+                binding: self.all_definitions[def_id_with_constraints.definition],
                 constraints: ConstraintsIterator {
                     all_constraints: self.all_constraints,
                     constraint_ids: def_id_with_constraints.constraint_ids,
@@ -225,10 +386,10 @@ impl<'map, 'db> Iterator for DefinitionWithConstraintsIterator<'map, 'db> {
     }
 }
 
-impl std::iter::FusedIterator for DefinitionWithConstraintsIterator<'_, '_> {}
+impl std::iter::FusedIterator for BindingWithConstraintsIterator<'_, '_> {}
 
-pub(crate) struct DefinitionWithConstraints<'map, 'db> {
-    pub(crate) definition: Definition<'db>,
+pub(crate) struct BindingWithConstraints<'map, 'db> {
+    pub(crate) binding: Definition<'db>,
     pub(crate) constraints: ConstraintsIterator<'map, 'db>,
 }
 
@@ -249,25 +410,43 @@ impl<'map, 'db> Iterator for ConstraintsIterator<'map, 'db> {
 
 impl std::iter::FusedIterator for ConstraintsIterator<'_, '_> {}
 
+pub(crate) struct DeclarationsIterator<'map, 'db> {
+    all_definitions: &'map IndexVec<ScopedDefinitionId, Definition<'db>>,
+    inner: DeclarationIdIterator<'map>,
+}
+
+impl<'map, 'db> Iterator for DeclarationsIterator<'map, 'db> {
+    type Item = Definition<'db>;
+
+    fn next(&mut self) -> Option<Self::Item> {
+        self.inner.next().map(|def_id| self.all_definitions[def_id])
+    }
+}
+
+impl std::iter::FusedIterator for DeclarationsIterator<'_, '_> {}
+
 /// A snapshot of the definitions and constraints state at a particular point in control flow.
 #[derive(Clone, Debug)]
 pub(super) struct FlowSnapshot {
-    definitions_by_symbol: IndexVec<ScopedSymbolId, SymbolState>,
+    symbol_states: IndexVec<ScopedSymbolId, SymbolState>,
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, Default)]
 pub(super) struct UseDefMapBuilder<'db> {
-    /// Append-only array of [`Definition`]; None is unbound.
+    /// Append-only array of [`Definition`].
     all_definitions: IndexVec<ScopedDefinitionId, Definition<'db>>,
 
     /// Append-only array of [`Constraint`].
     all_constraints: IndexVec<ScopedConstraintId, Constraint<'db>>,
 
-    /// Visible definitions at each so-far-recorded use.
-    definitions_by_use: IndexVec<ScopedUseId, SymbolState>,
+    /// Live bindings at each so-far-recorded use.
+    bindings_by_use: IndexVec<ScopedUseId, SymbolBindings>,
+
+    /// Live bindings or declarations for each so-far-recorded definition.
+    definitions_by_definition: FxHashMap<Definition<'db>, SymbolDefinitions>,
 
-    /// Currently visible definitions for each symbol.
-    definitions_by_symbol: IndexVec<ScopedSymbolId, SymbolState>,
+    /// Currently live bindings and declarations for each symbol.
+    symbol_states: IndexVec<ScopedSymbolId, SymbolState>,
 }
 
 impl<'db> UseDefMapBuilder<'db> {
@@ -276,86 +455,103 @@ impl<'db> UseDefMapBuilder<'db> {
     }
 
     pub(super) fn add_symbol(&mut self, symbol: ScopedSymbolId) {
-        let new_symbol = self.definitions_by_symbol.push(SymbolState::unbound());
+        let new_symbol = self.symbol_states.push(SymbolState::undefined());
         debug_assert_eq!(symbol, new_symbol);
     }
 
-    pub(super) fn record_definition(
-        &mut self,
-        symbol: ScopedSymbolId,
-        definition: Definition<'db>,
-    ) {
-        // We have a new definition of a symbol; this replaces any previous definitions in this
-        // path.
-        let def_id = self.all_definitions.push(definition);
-        self.definitions_by_symbol[symbol] = SymbolState::with(def_id);
+    pub(super) fn record_binding(&mut self, symbol: ScopedSymbolId, binding: Definition<'db>) {
+        let def_id = self.all_definitions.push(binding);
+        let symbol_state = &mut self.symbol_states[symbol];
+        self.definitions_by_definition.insert(
+            binding,
+            SymbolDefinitions::Declarations(symbol_state.declarations().clone()),
+        );
+        symbol_state.record_binding(def_id);
     }
 
     pub(super) fn record_constraint(&mut self, constraint: Constraint<'db>) {
         let constraint_id = self.all_constraints.push(constraint);
-        for definitions in &mut self.definitions_by_symbol {
-            definitions.add_constraint(constraint_id);
+        for state in &mut self.symbol_states {
+            state.record_constraint(constraint_id);
         }
     }
 
+    pub(super) fn record_declaration(
+        &mut self,
+        symbol: ScopedSymbolId,
+        declaration: Definition<'db>,
+    ) {
+        let def_id = self.all_definitions.push(declaration);
+        let symbol_state = &mut self.symbol_states[symbol];
+        self.definitions_by_definition.insert(
+            declaration,
+            SymbolDefinitions::Bindings(symbol_state.bindings().clone()),
+        );
+        symbol_state.record_declaration(def_id);
+    }
+
+    pub(super) fn record_declaration_and_binding(
+        &mut self,
+        symbol: ScopedSymbolId,
+        definition: Definition<'db>,
+    ) {
+        // We don't need to store anything in self.definitions_by_definition.
+        let def_id = self.all_definitions.push(definition);
+        let symbol_state = &mut self.symbol_states[symbol];
+        symbol_state.record_declaration(def_id);
+        symbol_state.record_binding(def_id);
+    }
+
     pub(super) fn record_use(&mut self, symbol: ScopedSymbolId, use_id: ScopedUseId) {
-        // We have a use of a symbol; clone the currently visible definitions for that symbol, and
-        // record them as the visible definitions for this use.
+        // We have a use of a symbol; clone the current bindings for that symbol, and record them
+        // as the live bindings for this use.
         let new_use = self
-            .definitions_by_use
-            .push(self.definitions_by_symbol[symbol].clone());
+            .bindings_by_use
+            .push(self.symbol_states[symbol].bindings().clone());
         debug_assert_eq!(use_id, new_use);
     }
 
     /// Take a snapshot of the current visible-symbols state.
     pub(super) fn snapshot(&self) -> FlowSnapshot {
         FlowSnapshot {
-            definitions_by_symbol: self.definitions_by_symbol.clone(),
+            symbol_states: self.symbol_states.clone(),
         }
     }
 
-    /// Restore the current builder visible-definitions state to the given snapshot.
+    /// Restore the current builder symbols state to the given snapshot.
     pub(super) fn restore(&mut self, snapshot: FlowSnapshot) {
-        // We never remove symbols from `definitions_by_symbol` (it's an IndexVec, and the symbol
+        // We never remove symbols from `symbol_states` (it's an IndexVec, and the symbol
         // IDs must line up), so the current number of known symbols must always be equal to or
         // greater than the number of known symbols in a previously-taken snapshot.
-        let num_symbols = self.definitions_by_symbol.len();
-        debug_assert!(num_symbols >= snapshot.definitions_by_symbol.len());
+        let num_symbols = self.symbol_states.len();
+        debug_assert!(num_symbols >= snapshot.symbol_states.len());
 
         // Restore the current visible-definitions state to the given snapshot.
-        self.definitions_by_symbol = snapshot.definitions_by_symbol;
+        self.symbol_states = snapshot.symbol_states;
 
         // If the snapshot we are restoring is missing some symbols we've recorded since, we need
         // to fill them in so the symbol IDs continue to line up. Since they don't exist in the
-        // snapshot, the correct state to fill them in with is "unbound".
-        self.definitions_by_symbol
-            .resize(num_symbols, SymbolState::unbound());
+        // snapshot, the correct state to fill them in with is "undefined".
+        self.symbol_states
+            .resize(num_symbols, SymbolState::undefined());
     }
 
     /// Merge the given snapshot into the current state, reflecting that we might have taken either
-    /// path to get here. The new visible-definitions state for each symbol should include
-    /// definitions from both the prior state and the snapshot.
+    /// path to get here. The new state for each symbol should include definitions from both the
+    /// prior state and the snapshot.
     pub(super) fn merge(&mut self, snapshot: FlowSnapshot) {
-        // The tricky thing about merging two Ranges pointing into `all_definitions` is that if the
-        // two Ranges aren't already adjacent in `all_definitions`, we will have to copy at least
-        // one or the other of the ranges to the end of `all_definitions` so as to make them
-        // adjacent. We can't ever move things around in `all_definitions` because previously
-        // recorded uses may still have ranges pointing to any part of it; all we can do is append.
-        // It's possible we may end up with some old entries in `all_definitions` that nobody is
-        // pointing to, but that's OK.
-
-        // We never remove symbols from `definitions_by_symbol` (it's an IndexVec, and the symbol
+        // We never remove symbols from `symbol_states` (it's an IndexVec, and the symbol
         // IDs must line up), so the current number of known symbols must always be equal to or
         // greater than the number of known symbols in a previously-taken snapshot.
-        debug_assert!(self.definitions_by_symbol.len() >= snapshot.definitions_by_symbol.len());
+        debug_assert!(self.symbol_states.len() >= snapshot.symbol_states.len());
 
-        let mut snapshot_definitions_iter = snapshot.definitions_by_symbol.into_iter();
-        for current in &mut self.definitions_by_symbol {
+        let mut snapshot_definitions_iter = snapshot.symbol_states.into_iter();
+        for current in &mut self.symbol_states {
             if let Some(snapshot) = snapshot_definitions_iter.next() {
                 current.merge(snapshot);
             } else {
                 // Symbol not present in snapshot, so it's unbound from that path.
-                current.add_unbound();
+                current.set_may_be_unbound();
             }
         }
     }
@@ -363,14 +559,16 @@ impl<'db> UseDefMapBuilder<'db> {
     pub(super) fn finish(mut self) -> UseDefMap<'db> {
         self.all_definitions.shrink_to_fit();
         self.all_constraints.shrink_to_fit();
-        self.definitions_by_symbol.shrink_to_fit();
-        self.definitions_by_use.shrink_to_fit();
+        self.symbol_states.shrink_to_fit();
+        self.bindings_by_use.shrink_to_fit();
+        self.definitions_by_definition.shrink_to_fit();
 
         UseDefMap {
             all_definitions: self.all_definitions,
             all_constraints: self.all_constraints,
-            definitions_by_use: self.definitions_by_use,
-            public_definitions: self.definitions_by_symbol,
+            bindings_by_use: self.bindings_by_use,
+            public_symbols: self.symbol_states,
+            definitions_by_definition: self.definitions_by_definition,
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/crates/red_knot_python_semantic/src/semantic_index/use_def/symbol_state.rs b/crates/red_knot_python_semantic/src/semantic_index/use_def/symbol_state.rs
index c465bbe320b1f..bfd231e456c1e 100644
--- a/crates/red_knot_python_semantic/src/semantic_index/use_def/symbol_state.rs
+++ b/crates/red_knot_python_semantic/src/semantic_index/use_def/symbol_state.rs
@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
-//! Track visible definitions of a symbol, and applicable constraints per definition.
+//! Track live bindings per symbol, applicable constraints per binding, and live declarations.
 //!
 //! These data structures operate entirely on scope-local newtype-indices for definitions and
 //! constraints, referring to their location in the `all_definitions` and `all_constraints`
 //! indexvecs in [`super::UseDefMapBuilder`].
 //!
-//! We need to track arbitrary associations between definitions and constraints, not just a single
-//! set of currently dominating constraints (where "dominating" means "control flow must have
-//! passed through it to reach this point"), because we can have dominating constraints that apply
-//! to some definitions but not others, as in this code:
+//! We need to track arbitrary associations between bindings and constraints, not just a single set
+//! of currently dominating constraints (where "dominating" means "control flow must have passed
+//! through it to reach this point"), because we can have dominating constraints that apply to some
+//! bindings but not others, as in this code:
 //!
 //! ```python
 //! x = 1 if flag else None
@@ -18,11 +18,11 @@
 //! ```
 //!
 //! The `x is not None` constraint dominates the final use of `x`, but it applies only to the first
-//! definition of `x`, not the second, so `None` is a possible value for `x`.
+//! binding of `x`, not the second, so `None` is a possible value for `x`.
 //!
-//! And we can't just track, for each definition, an index into a list of dominating constraints,
-//! either, because we can have definitions which are still visible, but subject to constraints
-//! that are no longer dominating, as in this code:
+//! And we can't just track, for each binding, an index into a list of dominating constraints,
+//! either, because we can have bindings which are still visible, but subject to constraints that
+//! are no longer dominating, as in this code:
 //!
 //! ```python
 //! x = 0
@@ -33,13 +33,16 @@
 //! ```
 //!
 //! From the point of view of the final use of `x`, the `x is not None` constraint no longer
-//! dominates, but it does dominate the `x = 1 if flag2 else None` definition, so we have to keep
+//! dominates, but it does dominate the `x = 1 if flag2 else None` binding, so we have to keep
 //! track of that.
 //!
 //! The data structures used here ([`BitSet`] and [`smallvec::SmallVec`]) optimize for keeping all
 //! data inline (avoiding lots of scattered allocations) in small-to-medium cases, and falling back
-//! to heap allocation to be able to scale to arbitrary numbers of definitions and constraints when
-//! needed.
+//! to heap allocation to be able to scale to arbitrary numbers of live bindings and constraints
+//! when needed.
+//!
+//! Tracking live declarations is simpler, since constraints are not involved, but otherwise very
+//! similar to tracking live bindings.
 use super::bitset::{BitSet, BitSetIterator};
 use ruff_index::newtype_index;
 use smallvec::SmallVec;
@@ -53,93 +56,192 @@ pub(super) struct ScopedDefinitionId;
 pub(super) struct ScopedConstraintId;
 
 /// Can reference this * 64 total definitions inline; more will fall back to the heap.
-const INLINE_DEFINITION_BLOCKS: usize = 3;
+const INLINE_BINDING_BLOCKS: usize = 3;
+
+/// A [`BitSet`] of [`ScopedDefinitionId`], representing live bindings of a symbol in a scope.
+type Bindings = BitSet<INLINE_BINDING_BLOCKS>;
+type BindingsIterator<'a> = BitSetIterator<'a, INLINE_BINDING_BLOCKS>;
 
-/// A [`BitSet`] of [`ScopedDefinitionId`], representing visible definitions of a symbol in a scope.
-type Definitions = BitSet<INLINE_DEFINITION_BLOCKS>;
-type DefinitionsIterator<'a> = BitSetIterator<'a, INLINE_DEFINITION_BLOCKS>;
+/// Can reference this * 64 total declarations inline; more will fall back to the heap.
+const INLINE_DECLARATION_BLOCKS: usize = 3;
+
+/// A [`BitSet`] of [`ScopedDefinitionId`], representing live declarations of a symbol in a scope.
+type Declarations = BitSet<INLINE_DECLARATION_BLOCKS>;
+type DeclarationsIterator<'a> = BitSetIterator<'a, INLINE_DECLARATION_BLOCKS>;
 
 /// Can reference this * 64 total constraints inline; more will fall back to the heap.
 const INLINE_CONSTRAINT_BLOCKS: usize = 2;
 
-/// Can keep inline this many visible definitions per symbol at a given time; more will go to heap.
-const INLINE_VISIBLE_DEFINITIONS_PER_SYMBOL: usize = 4;
+/// Can keep inline this many live bindings per symbol at a given time; more will go to heap.
+const INLINE_BINDINGS_PER_SYMBOL: usize = 4;
 
-/// One [`BitSet`] of applicable [`ScopedConstraintId`] per visible definition.
-type InlineConstraintArray =
-    [BitSet<INLINE_CONSTRAINT_BLOCKS>; INLINE_VISIBLE_DEFINITIONS_PER_SYMBOL];
+/// One [`BitSet`] of applicable [`ScopedConstraintId`] per live binding.
+type InlineConstraintArray = [BitSet<INLINE_CONSTRAINT_BLOCKS>; INLINE_BINDINGS_PER_SYMBOL];
 type Constraints = SmallVec<InlineConstraintArray>;
 type ConstraintsIterator<'a> = std::slice::Iter<'a, BitSet<INLINE_CONSTRAINT_BLOCKS>>;
 type ConstraintsIntoIterator = smallvec::IntoIter<InlineConstraintArray>;
 
-/// Visible definitions and narrowing constraints for a single symbol at some point in control flow.
+/// Live declarations for a single symbol at some point in control flow.
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
-pub(super) struct SymbolState {
-    /// [`BitSet`]: which [`ScopedDefinitionId`] are visible for this symbol?
-    visible_definitions: Definitions,
+pub(super) struct SymbolDeclarations {
+    /// [`BitSet`]: which declarations (as [`ScopedDefinitionId`]) can reach the current location?
+    live_declarations: Declarations,
+
+    /// Could the symbol be un-declared at this point?
+    may_be_undeclared: bool,
+}
+
+impl SymbolDeclarations {
+    fn undeclared() -> Self {
+        Self {
+            live_declarations: Declarations::default(),
+            may_be_undeclared: true,
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Record a newly-encountered declaration for this symbol.
+    fn record_declaration(&mut self, declaration_id: ScopedDefinitionId) {
+        self.live_declarations = Declarations::with(declaration_id.into());
+        self.may_be_undeclared = false;
+    }
+
+    /// Return an iterator over live declarations for this symbol.
+    #[allow(unused)]
+    pub(super) fn iter(&self) -> DeclarationIdIterator {
+        DeclarationIdIterator {
+            inner: self.live_declarations.iter(),
+        }
+    }
 
-    /// For each definition, which [`ScopedConstraintId`] apply?
+    #[allow(unused)]
+    pub(super) fn is_empty(&self) -> bool {
+        self.live_declarations.is_empty()
+    }
+
+    pub(super) fn may_be_undeclared(&self) -> bool {
+        self.may_be_undeclared
+    }
+}
+
+/// Live bindings and narrowing constraints for a single symbol at some point in control flow.
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub(super) struct SymbolBindings {
+    /// [`BitSet`]: which bindings (as [`ScopedDefinitionId`]) can reach the current location?
+    live_bindings: Bindings,
+
+    /// For each live binding, which [`ScopedConstraintId`] apply?
     ///
     /// This is a [`smallvec::SmallVec`] which should always have one [`BitSet`] of constraints per
-    /// definition in `visible_definitions`.
+    /// binding in `live_bindings`.
     constraints: Constraints,
 
     /// Could the symbol be unbound at this point?
     may_be_unbound: bool,
 }
 
-/// A single [`ScopedDefinitionId`] with an iterator of its applicable [`ScopedConstraintId`].
-#[derive(Debug)]
-pub(super) struct DefinitionIdWithConstraints<'a> {
-    pub(super) definition: ScopedDefinitionId,
-    pub(super) constraint_ids: ConstraintIdIterator<'a>,
-}
-
-impl SymbolState {
-    /// Return a new [`SymbolState`] representing an unbound symbol.
-    pub(super) fn unbound() -> Self {
+impl SymbolBindings {
+    fn unbound() -> Self {
         Self {
-            visible_definitions: Definitions::default(),
+            live_bindings: Bindings::default(),
             constraints: Constraints::default(),
             may_be_unbound: true,
         }
     }
 
-    /// Return a new [`SymbolState`] representing a symbol with a single visible definition.
-    pub(super) fn with(definition_id: ScopedDefinitionId) -> Self {
-        let mut constraints = Constraints::with_capacity(1);
-        constraints.push(BitSet::default());
-        Self {
-            visible_definitions: Definitions::with(definition_id.into()),
-            constraints,
-            may_be_unbound: false,
-        }
-    }
-
     /// Add Unbound as a possibility for this symbol.
-    pub(super) fn add_unbound(&mut self) {
+    fn set_may_be_unbound(&mut self) {
         self.may_be_unbound = true;
     }
 
-    /// Add given constraint to all currently-visible definitions.
-    pub(super) fn add_constraint(&mut self, constraint_id: ScopedConstraintId) {
+    /// Record a newly-encountered binding for this symbol.
+    pub(super) fn record_binding(&mut self, binding_id: ScopedDefinitionId) {
+        // The new binding replaces all previous live bindings in this path, and has no
+        // constraints.
+        self.live_bindings = Bindings::with(binding_id.into());
+        self.constraints = Constraints::with_capacity(1);
+        self.constraints.push(BitSet::default());
+        self.may_be_unbound = false;
+    }
+
+    /// Add given constraint to all live bindings.
+    pub(super) fn record_constraint(&mut self, constraint_id: ScopedConstraintId) {
         for bitset in &mut self.constraints {
             bitset.insert(constraint_id.into());
         }
     }
 
+    /// Iterate over currently live bindings for this symbol.
+    pub(super) fn iter(&self) -> BindingIdWithConstraintsIterator {
+        BindingIdWithConstraintsIterator {
+            definitions: self.live_bindings.iter(),
+            constraints: self.constraints.iter(),
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub(super) fn may_be_unbound(&self) -> bool {
+        self.may_be_unbound
+    }
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub(super) struct SymbolState {
+    declarations: SymbolDeclarations,
+    bindings: SymbolBindings,
+}
+
+impl SymbolState {
+    /// Return a new [`SymbolState`] representing an unbound, undeclared symbol.
+    pub(super) fn undefined() -> Self {
+        Self {
+            declarations: SymbolDeclarations::undeclared(),
+            bindings: SymbolBindings::unbound(),
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Add Unbound as a possibility for this symbol.
+    pub(super) fn set_may_be_unbound(&mut self) {
+        self.bindings.set_may_be_unbound();
+    }
+
+    /// Record a newly-encountered binding for this symbol.
+    pub(super) fn record_binding(&mut self, binding_id: ScopedDefinitionId) {
+        self.bindings.record_binding(binding_id);
+    }
+
+    /// Add given constraint to all live bindings.
+    pub(super) fn record_constraint(&mut self, constraint_id: ScopedConstraintId) {
+        self.bindings.record_constraint(constraint_id);
+    }
+
+    /// Record a newly-encountered declaration of this symbol.
+    pub(super) fn record_declaration(&mut self, declaration_id: ScopedDefinitionId) {
+        self.declarations.record_declaration(declaration_id);
+    }
+
     /// Merge another [`SymbolState`] into this one.
     pub(super) fn merge(&mut self, b: SymbolState) {
         let mut a = Self {
-            visible_definitions: Definitions::default(),
-            constraints: Constraints::default(),
-            may_be_unbound: self.may_be_unbound || b.may_be_unbound,
+            bindings: SymbolBindings {
+                live_bindings: Bindings::default(),
+                constraints: Constraints::default(),
+                may_be_unbound: self.bindings.may_be_unbound || b.bindings.may_be_unbound,
+            },
+            declarations: SymbolDeclarations {
+                live_declarations: self.declarations.live_declarations.clone(),
+                may_be_undeclared: self.declarations.may_be_undeclared
+                    || b.declarations.may_be_undeclared,
+            },
         };
+
         std::mem::swap(&mut a, self);
-        let mut a_defs_iter = a.visible_definitions.iter();
-        let mut b_defs_iter = b.visible_definitions.iter();
-        let mut a_constraints_iter = a.constraints.into_iter();
-        let mut b_constraints_iter = b.constraints.into_iter();
+        self.declarations
+            .live_declarations
+            .union(&b.declarations.live_declarations);
+
+        let mut a_defs_iter = a.bindings.live_bindings.iter();
+        let mut b_defs_iter = b.bindings.live_bindings.iter();
+        let mut a_constraints_iter = a.bindings.constraints.into_iter();
+        let mut b_constraints_iter = b.bindings.constraints.into_iter();
 
         let mut opt_a_def: Option<u32> = a_defs_iter.next();
         let mut opt_b_def: Option<u32> = b_defs_iter.next();
@@ -152,7 +254,7 @@ impl SymbolState {
 
         // Helper to push `def`, with constraints in `constraints_iter`, onto `self`.
         let push = |def, constraints_iter: &mut ConstraintsIntoIterator, merged: &mut Self| {
-            merged.visible_definitions.insert(def);
+            merged.bindings.live_bindings.insert(def);
             // SAFETY: we only ever create SymbolState with either no definitions and no constraint
             // bitsets (`::unbound`) or one definition and one constraint bitset (`::with`), and
             // `::merge` always pushes one definition and one constraint bitset together (just
@@ -161,7 +263,7 @@ impl SymbolState {
             let constraints = constraints_iter
                 .next()
                 .expect("definitions and constraints length mismatch");
-            merged.constraints.push(constraints);
+            merged.bindings.constraints.push(constraints);
         };
 
         loop {
@@ -191,7 +293,8 @@ impl SymbolState {
                         // If the same definition is visible through both paths, any constraint
                         // that applies on only one path is irrelevant to the resulting type from
                         // unioning the two paths, so we intersect the constraints.
-                        self.constraints
+                        self.bindings
+                            .constraints
                             .last_mut()
                             .unwrap()
                             .intersect(&a_constraints);
@@ -214,40 +317,54 @@ impl SymbolState {
         }
     }
 
-    /// Get iterator over visible definitions with constraints.
-    pub(super) fn visible_definitions(&self) -> DefinitionIdWithConstraintsIterator {
-        DefinitionIdWithConstraintsIterator {
-            definitions: self.visible_definitions.iter(),
-            constraints: self.constraints.iter(),
-        }
+    pub(super) fn bindings(&self) -> &SymbolBindings {
+        &self.bindings
+    }
+
+    pub(super) fn declarations(&self) -> &SymbolDeclarations {
+        &self.declarations
     }
 
     /// Could the symbol be unbound?
     pub(super) fn may_be_unbound(&self) -> bool {
-        self.may_be_unbound
+        self.bindings.may_be_unbound()
+    }
+
+    /// Could the symbol be undeclared?
+    pub(super) fn may_be_undeclared(&self) -> bool {
+        self.declarations.may_be_undeclared()
     }
 }
 
-/// The default state of a symbol (if we've seen no definitions of it) is unbound.
+/// The default state of a symbol, if we've seen no definitions of it, is undefined (that is,
+/// both unbound and undeclared).
 impl Default for SymbolState {
     fn default() -> Self {
-        SymbolState::unbound()
+        SymbolState::undefined()
     }
 }
 
+/// A single binding (as [`ScopedDefinitionId`]) with an iterator of its applicable
+/// [`ScopedConstraintId`].
 #[derive(Debug)]
-pub(super) struct DefinitionIdWithConstraintsIterator<'a> {
-    definitions: DefinitionsIterator<'a>,
+pub(super) struct BindingIdWithConstraints<'a> {
+    pub(super) definition: ScopedDefinitionId,
+    pub(super) constraint_ids: ConstraintIdIterator<'a>,
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug)]
+pub(super) struct BindingIdWithConstraintsIterator<'a> {
+    definitions: BindingsIterator<'a>,
     constraints: ConstraintsIterator<'a>,
 }
 
-impl<'a> Iterator for DefinitionIdWithConstraintsIterator<'a> {
-    type Item = DefinitionIdWithConstraints<'a>;
+impl<'a> Iterator for BindingIdWithConstraintsIterator<'a> {
+    type Item = BindingIdWithConstraints<'a>;
 
     fn next(&mut self) -> Option<Self::Item> {
         match (self.definitions.next(), self.constraints.next()) {
             (None, None) => None,
-            (Some(def), Some(constraints)) => Some(DefinitionIdWithConstraints {
+            (Some(def), Some(constraints)) => Some(BindingIdWithConstraints {
                 definition: ScopedDefinitionId::from_u32(def),
                 constraint_ids: ConstraintIdIterator {
                     wrapped: constraints.iter(),
@@ -259,7 +376,7 @@ impl<'a> Iterator for DefinitionIdWithConstraintsIterator<'a> {
     }
 }
 
-impl std::iter::FusedIterator for DefinitionIdWithConstraintsIterator<'_> {}
+impl std::iter::FusedIterator for BindingIdWithConstraintsIterator<'_> {}
 
 #[derive(Debug)]
 pub(super) struct ConstraintIdIterator<'a> {
@@ -276,15 +393,32 @@ impl Iterator for ConstraintIdIterator<'_> {
 
 impl std::iter::FusedIterator for ConstraintIdIterator<'_> {}
 
+#[allow(unused)]
+#[derive(Debug)]
+pub(super) struct DeclarationIdIterator<'a> {
+    inner: DeclarationsIterator<'a>,
+}
+
+impl<'a> Iterator for DeclarationIdIterator<'a> {
+    type Item = ScopedDefinitionId;
+
+    fn next(&mut self) -> Option<Self::Item> {
+        self.inner.next().map(ScopedDefinitionId::from_u32)
+    }
+}
+
+impl std::iter::FusedIterator for DeclarationIdIterator<'_> {}
+
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
     use super::{ScopedConstraintId, ScopedDefinitionId, SymbolState};
 
     impl SymbolState {
-        pub(crate) fn assert(&self, may_be_unbound: bool, expected: &[&str]) {
+        pub(crate) fn assert_bindings(&self, may_be_unbound: bool, expected: &[&str]) {
             assert_eq!(self.may_be_unbound(), may_be_unbound);
             let actual = self
-                .visible_definitions()
+                .bindings()
+                .iter()
                 .map(|def_id_with_constraints| {
                     format!(
                         "{}<{}>",
@@ -300,75 +434,142 @@ mod tests {
                 .collect::<Vec<_>>();
             assert_eq!(actual, expected);
         }
+
+        pub(crate) fn assert_declarations(&self, may_be_undeclared: bool, expected: &[u32]) {
+            assert_eq!(self.may_be_undeclared(), may_be_undeclared);
+            let actual = self
+                .declarations()
+                .iter()
+                .map(ScopedDefinitionId::as_u32)
+                .collect::<Vec<_>>();
+            assert_eq!(actual, expected);
+        }
     }
 
     #[test]
     fn unbound() {
-        let cd = SymbolState::unbound();
+        let sym = SymbolState::undefined();
 
-        cd.assert(true, &[]);
+        sym.assert_bindings(true, &[]);
     }
 
     #[test]
     fn with() {
-        let cd = SymbolState::with(ScopedDefinitionId::from_u32(0));
+        let mut sym = SymbolState::undefined();
+        sym.record_binding(ScopedDefinitionId::from_u32(0));
 
-        cd.assert(false, &["0<>"]);
+        sym.assert_bindings(false, &["0<>"]);
     }
 
     #[test]
-    fn add_unbound() {
-        let mut cd = SymbolState::with(ScopedDefinitionId::from_u32(0));
-        cd.add_unbound();
+    fn set_may_be_unbound() {
+        let mut sym = SymbolState::undefined();
+        sym.record_binding(ScopedDefinitionId::from_u32(0));
+        sym.set_may_be_unbound();
 
-        cd.assert(true, &["0<>"]);
+        sym.assert_bindings(true, &["0<>"]);
     }
 
     #[test]
-    fn add_constraint() {
-        let mut cd = SymbolState::with(ScopedDefinitionId::from_u32(0));
-        cd.add_constraint(ScopedConstraintId::from_u32(0));
+    fn record_constraint() {
+        let mut sym = SymbolState::undefined();
+        sym.record_binding(ScopedDefinitionId::from_u32(0));
+        sym.record_constraint(ScopedConstraintId::from_u32(0));
 
-        cd.assert(false, &["0<0>"]);
+        sym.assert_bindings(false, &["0<0>"]);
     }
 
     #[test]
     fn merge() {
         // merging the same definition with the same constraint keeps the constraint
-        let mut cd0a = SymbolState::with(ScopedDefinitionId::from_u32(0));
-        cd0a.add_constraint(ScopedConstraintId::from_u32(0));
+        let mut sym0a = SymbolState::undefined();
+        sym0a.record_binding(ScopedDefinitionId::from_u32(0));
+        sym0a.record_constraint(ScopedConstraintId::from_u32(0));
 
-        let mut cd0b = SymbolState::with(ScopedDefinitionId::from_u32(0));
-        cd0b.add_constraint(ScopedConstraintId::from_u32(0));
+        let mut sym0b = SymbolState::undefined();
+        sym0b.record_binding(ScopedDefinitionId::from_u32(0));
+        sym0b.record_constraint(ScopedConstraintId::from_u32(0));
 
-        cd0a.merge(cd0b);
-        let mut cd0 = cd0a;
-        cd0.assert(false, &["0<0>"]);
+        sym0a.merge(sym0b);
+        let mut sym0 = sym0a;
+        sym0.assert_bindings(false, &["0<0>"]);
 
         // merging the same definition with differing constraints drops all constraints
-        let mut cd1a = SymbolState::with(ScopedDefinitionId::from_u32(1));
-        cd1a.add_constraint(ScopedConstraintId::from_u32(1));
+        let mut sym1a = SymbolState::undefined();
+        sym1a.record_binding(ScopedDefinitionId::from_u32(1));
+        sym1a.record_constraint(ScopedConstraintId::from_u32(1));
 
-        let mut cd1b = SymbolState::with(ScopedDefinitionId::from_u32(1));
-        cd1b.add_constraint(ScopedConstraintId::from_u32(2));
+        let mut sym1b = SymbolState::undefined();
+        sym1b.record_binding(ScopedDefinitionId::from_u32(1));
+        sym1b.record_constraint(ScopedConstraintId::from_u32(2));
 
-        cd1a.merge(cd1b);
-        let cd1 = cd1a;
-        cd1.assert(false, &["1<>"]);
+        sym1a.merge(sym1b);
+        let sym1 = sym1a;
+        sym1.assert_bindings(false, &["1<>"]);
 
         // merging a constrained definition with unbound keeps both
-        let mut cd2a = SymbolState::with(ScopedDefinitionId::from_u32(2));
-        cd2a.add_constraint(ScopedConstraintId::from_u32(3));
+        let mut sym2a = SymbolState::undefined();
+        sym2a.record_binding(ScopedDefinitionId::from_u32(2));
+        sym2a.record_constraint(ScopedConstraintId::from_u32(3));
 
-        let cd2b = SymbolState::unbound();
+        let sym2b = SymbolState::undefined();
 
-        cd2a.merge(cd2b);
-        let cd2 = cd2a;
-        cd2.assert(true, &["2<3>"]);
+        sym2a.merge(sym2b);
+        let sym2 = sym2a;
+        sym2.assert_bindings(true, &["2<3>"]);
 
         // merging different definitions keeps them each with their existing constraints
-        cd0.merge(cd2);
-        let cd = cd0;
-        cd.assert(true, &["0<0>", "2<3>"]);
+        sym0.merge(sym2);
+        let sym = sym0;
+        sym.assert_bindings(true, &["0<0>", "2<3>"]);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn no_declaration() {
+        let sym = SymbolState::undefined();
+
+        sym.assert_declarations(true, &[]);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn record_declaration() {
+        let mut sym = SymbolState::undefined();
+        sym.record_declaration(ScopedDefinitionId::from_u32(1));
+
+        sym.assert_declarations(false, &[1]);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn record_declaration_override() {
+        let mut sym = SymbolState::undefined();
+        sym.record_declaration(ScopedDefinitionId::from_u32(1));
+        sym.record_declaration(ScopedDefinitionId::from_u32(2));
+
+        sym.assert_declarations(false, &[2]);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn record_declaration_merge() {
+        let mut sym = SymbolState::undefined();
+        sym.record_declaration(ScopedDefinitionId::from_u32(1));
+
+        let mut sym2 = SymbolState::undefined();
+        sym2.record_declaration(ScopedDefinitionId::from_u32(2));
+
+        sym.merge(sym2);
+
+        sym.assert_declarations(false, &[1, 2]);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn record_declaration_merge_partial_undeclared() {
+        let mut sym = SymbolState::undefined();
+        sym.record_declaration(ScopedDefinitionId::from_u32(1));
+
+        let sym2 = SymbolState::undefined();
+
+        sym.merge(sym2);
+
+        sym.assert_declarations(true, &[1]);
     }
 }
diff --git a/crates/red_knot_python_semantic/src/types.rs b/crates/red_knot_python_semantic/src/types.rs
index d37b3c9ce7b08..0224524ea5544 100644
--- a/crates/red_knot_python_semantic/src/types.rs
+++ b/crates/red_knot_python_semantic/src/types.rs
@@ -7,8 +7,8 @@ use crate::semantic_index::ast_ids::HasScopedAstId;
 use crate::semantic_index::definition::{Definition, DefinitionKind};
 use crate::semantic_index::symbol::{ScopeId, ScopedSymbolId};
 use crate::semantic_index::{
-    global_scope, semantic_index, symbol_table, use_def_map, DefinitionWithConstraints,
-    DefinitionWithConstraintsIterator,
+    global_scope, semantic_index, symbol_table, use_def_map, BindingWithConstraints,
+    BindingWithConstraintsIterator,
 };
 use crate::stdlib::{builtins_symbol_ty, types_symbol_ty, typeshed_symbol_ty};
 use crate::types::narrow::narrowing_constraint;
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ pub(crate) fn symbol_ty_by_id<'db>(
     let use_def = use_def_map(db, scope);
     definitions_ty(
         db,
-        use_def.public_definitions(symbol),
+        use_def.public_bindings(symbol),
         use_def
             .public_may_be_unbound(symbol)
             .then_some(Type::Unbound),
@@ -113,28 +113,28 @@ pub(crate) fn definition_expression_ty<'db>(
 /// provide an `unbound_ty`.
 pub(crate) fn definitions_ty<'db>(
     db: &'db dyn Db,
-    definitions_with_constraints: DefinitionWithConstraintsIterator<'_, 'db>,
+    bindings_with_constraints: BindingWithConstraintsIterator<'_, 'db>,
     unbound_ty: Option<Type<'db>>,
 ) -> Type<'db> {
-    let def_types = definitions_with_constraints.map(
-        |DefinitionWithConstraints {
-             definition,
+    let def_types = bindings_with_constraints.map(
+        |BindingWithConstraints {
+             binding,
              constraints,
          }| {
-            let mut constraint_tys = constraints
-                .filter_map(|constraint| narrowing_constraint(db, constraint, definition));
-            let definition_ty = definition_ty(db, definition);
+            let mut constraint_tys =
+                constraints.filter_map(|constraint| narrowing_constraint(db, constraint, binding));
+            let binding_ty = definition_ty(db, binding);
             if let Some(first_constraint_ty) = constraint_tys.next() {
                 let mut builder = IntersectionBuilder::new(db);
                 builder = builder
-                    .add_positive(definition_ty)
+                    .add_positive(binding_ty)
                     .add_positive(first_constraint_ty);
                 for constraint_ty in constraint_tys {
                     builder = builder.add_positive(constraint_ty);
                 }
                 builder.build()
             } else {
-                definition_ty
+                binding_ty
             }
         },
     );
@@ -589,7 +589,7 @@ impl<'db> FunctionType<'db> {
     /// inferred return type for this function
     pub fn return_type(&self, db: &'db dyn Db) -> Type<'db> {
         let definition = self.definition(db);
-        let DefinitionKind::Function(function_stmt_node) = definition.node(db) else {
+        let DefinitionKind::Function(function_stmt_node) = definition.kind(db) else {
             panic!("Function type definition must have `DefinitionKind::Function`")
         };
 
@@ -644,7 +644,7 @@ impl<'db> ClassType<'db> {
     /// If `definition` is not a `DefinitionKind::Class`.
     pub fn bases(&self, db: &'db dyn Db) -> impl Iterator<Item = Type<'db>> {
         let definition = self.definition(db);
-        let DefinitionKind::Class(class_stmt_node) = definition.node(db) else {
+        let DefinitionKind::Class(class_stmt_node) = definition.kind(db) else {
             panic!("Class type definition must have DefinitionKind::Class");
         };
         class_stmt_node
diff --git a/crates/red_knot_python_semantic/src/types/infer.rs b/crates/red_knot_python_semantic/src/types/infer.rs
index e5415a8b868d2..ba153d727606c 100644
--- a/crates/red_knot_python_semantic/src/types/infer.rs
+++ b/crates/red_knot_python_semantic/src/types/infer.rs
@@ -364,7 +364,7 @@ impl<'db> TypeInferenceBuilder<'db> {
     }
 
     fn infer_region_definition(&mut self, definition: Definition<'db>) {
-        match definition.node(self.db) {
+        match definition.kind(self.db) {
             DefinitionKind::Function(function) => {
                 self.infer_function_definition(function.node(), definition);
             }
@@ -435,7 +435,7 @@ impl<'db> TypeInferenceBuilder<'db> {
     }
 
     fn infer_region_deferred(&mut self, definition: Definition<'db>) {
-        match definition.node(self.db) {
+        match definition.kind(self.db) {
             DefinitionKind::Function(function) => self.infer_function_deferred(function.node()),
             DefinitionKind::Class(class) => self.infer_class_deferred(class.node()),
             DefinitionKind::AnnotatedAssignment(_annotated_assignment) => {
@@ -1938,17 +1938,17 @@ impl<'db> TypeInferenceBuilder<'db> {
     /// Look up a name reference that isn't bound in the local scope.
     fn lookup_name(&self, name: &ast::name::Name) -> Type<'db> {
         let file_scope_id = self.scope.file_scope_id(self.db);
-        let is_defined = self
+        let is_bound = self
             .index
             .symbol_table(file_scope_id)
             .symbol_by_name(name)
             .expect("Symbol table should create a symbol for every Name node")
-            .is_defined();
+            .is_bound();
 
-        // In function-like scopes, any local variable (symbol that is defined in this
-        // scope) can only have a definition in this scope, or be undefined; it never references
-        // another scope. (At runtime, it would use the `LOAD_FAST` opcode.)
-        if !is_defined || !self.scope.is_function_like(self.db) {
+        // In function-like scopes, any local variable (symbol that is bound in this scope) can
+        // only have a definition in this scope, or error; it never references another scope.
+        // (At runtime, it would use the `LOAD_FAST` opcode.)
+        if !is_bound || !self.scope.is_function_like(self.db) {
             // Walk up parent scopes looking for a possible enclosing scope that may have a
             // definition of this name visible to us (would be `LOAD_DEREF` at runtime.)
             for (enclosing_scope_file_id, _) in self.index.ancestor_scopes(file_scope_id) {
@@ -1963,7 +1963,7 @@ impl<'db> TypeInferenceBuilder<'db> {
                 let Some(enclosing_symbol) = enclosing_symbol_table.symbol_by_name(name) else {
                     continue;
                 };
-                if enclosing_symbol.is_defined() {
+                if enclosing_symbol.is_bound() {
                     // We can return early here, because the nearest function-like scope that
                     // defines a name must be the only source for the nonlocal reference (at
                     // runtime, it is the scope that creates the cell for our closure.) If the name
@@ -2005,13 +2005,13 @@ impl<'db> TypeInferenceBuilder<'db> {
                 // if we're inferring types of deferred expressions, always treat them as public symbols
                 let (definitions, may_be_unbound) = if self.is_deferred() {
                     (
-                        use_def.public_definitions(symbol),
+                        use_def.public_bindings(symbol),
                         use_def.public_may_be_unbound(symbol),
                     )
                 } else {
                     let use_id = name.scoped_use_id(self.db, self.scope);
                     (
-                        use_def.use_definitions(use_id),
+                        use_def.bindings_at_use(use_id),
                         use_def.use_may_be_unbound(use_id),
                     )
                 };
@@ -5087,13 +5087,13 @@ mod tests {
 
     // Incremental inference tests
 
-    fn first_public_def<'db>(db: &'db TestDb, file: File, name: &str) -> Definition<'db> {
+    fn first_public_binding<'db>(db: &'db TestDb, file: File, name: &str) -> Definition<'db> {
         let scope = global_scope(db, file);
         use_def_map(db, scope)
-            .public_definitions(symbol_table(db, scope).symbol_id_by_name(name).unwrap())
+            .public_bindings(symbol_table(db, scope).symbol_id_by_name(name).unwrap())
             .next()
             .unwrap()
-            .definition
+            .binding
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -5151,7 +5151,7 @@ mod tests {
         assert_function_query_was_not_run(
             &db,
             infer_definition_types,
-            first_public_def(&db, a, "x"),
+            first_public_binding(&db, a, "x"),
             &events,
         );
 
@@ -5187,7 +5187,7 @@ mod tests {
         assert_function_query_was_not_run(
             &db,
             infer_definition_types,
-            first_public_def(&db, a, "x"),
+            first_public_binding(&db, a, "x"),
             &events,
         );
         Ok(())