e_SWDL is the workflow definition language of a prototype WfMS-e_ScopeWork, which is designed to support complex cross-enterprises workflow applications among heterogeneous sites by using XML approach. On this basis, e_SWDL follows WfMC’s XML-based process definition language standard (XPDL), and makes necessary extensions for semantics-rich modeling ability in three major aspects: (1) the complicated transitions between tasks for workflow process modeling; (2) the workflow relevant data and workflow environment data for data modeling; and (3) the role, participant and participant group for organization modeling. Furthermore, Compensation entities (CDSet) are provided for failure handling of distributed workflow scheduling, and Concurrency entities (ConSet) are provided for correctness of concurrent workflow concurrency execution. e_SWDL provides strong modeling ability for complicated workflow logic and suits distributed and heterogeneous Web environments.