diff --git a/meta/applicator.json b/meta/applicator.json
index ff2cfc2f..ca699230 100644
--- a/meta/applicator.json
+++ b/meta/applicator.json
@@ -12,10 +12,7 @@
         "prefixItems": { "$ref": "#/$defs/schemaArray" },
         "items": { "$dynamicRef": "#meta" },
         "contains": { "$dynamicRef": "#meta" },
-        "additionalProperties": {
-            "$dynamicRef": "#meta",
-            "default": {}
-        },
+        "additionalProperties": { "$dynamicRef": "#meta" },
         "properties": {
             "type": "object",
             "additionalProperties": { "$dynamicRef": "#meta" },
@@ -32,10 +29,7 @@
             "additionalProperties": { "$dynamicRef": "#meta" },
             "default": {}
         },
-        "propertyNames": { 
-            "$dynamicRef": "#meta",
-            "default": {}
-        },
+        "propertyNames": { "$dynamicRef": "#meta" },
         "if": { "$dynamicRef": "#meta" },
         "then": { "$dynamicRef": "#meta" },
         "else": { "$dynamicRef": "#meta" },
diff --git a/meta/core.json b/meta/core.json
index 7b5758b1..dfc092d9 100644
--- a/meta/core.json
+++ b/meta/core.json
@@ -31,8 +31,7 @@
         },
         "$defs": {
             "type": "object",
-            "additionalProperties": { "$dynamicRef": "#meta" },
-            "default": {}
+            "additionalProperties": { "$dynamicRef": "#meta" }
         }
     },
     "$defs": {
diff --git a/schema.json b/schema.json
index a88709f7..d5e2d31c 100644
--- a/schema.json
+++ b/schema.json
@@ -29,8 +29,8 @@
             "$comment": "\"definitions\" has been replaced by \"$defs\".",
             "type": "object",
             "additionalProperties": { "$dynamicRef": "#meta" },
-            "default": {},
-            "deprecated": true
+            "deprecated": true,
+            "default": {}
         },
         "dependencies": {
             "$comment": "\"dependencies\" has been split and replaced by \"dependentSchemas\" and \"dependentRequired\" in order to serve their differing semantics.",
@@ -41,7 +41,8 @@
                     { "$ref": "meta/validation#/$defs/stringArray" }
                 ]
             },
-            "deprecated": true
+            "deprecated": true,
+            "default": {}
         },
         "$recursiveAnchor": {
             "$comment": "\"$recursiveAnchor\" has been replaced by \"$dynamicAnchor\".",