It is a well-known fact that $\mathbb{Z}$ is not definable in the structure $\mathcal{R}=(\mathbb{R}, +, ., < , 0, 1)$. This follows from Tarski's quantifier elimination, and in fact, we can conclude that the structure $\mathcal{R}$ is an o-minimal structure. Another proof, suggested in the answer by Mikhail Katz, is to use the Godel's incompleteness theorem and the fact that the theory of the structure is complete. >**Question.** Is there a more direct proof of the above undefinability result? I essentially mean a proof which does not use the above results of Tarski or Godel or its variants. In general, what other different proofs of the above result exist? Providing references is appreciated. --- In the paper [A dichotomy for expansions of the real field](http://www.ams.org/journals/proc/2013-141-02/S0002-9939-2012-11369-3/) a criteria is given for the undefinability of $\mathbb{Z}$ in expansions of the real field. A natural question is if we can use this criteria and prove the theorem directly?