Ligand field theory is a modified
crystal field theory that assigns
certain parameters as variables rather than taking them as equal to the
values found for free ions, thereby taking into account the potential
covalent character of the metal-ligand bond.
Source:
PAC, 1997, 69, 1251
(Glossary of terms used in bioinorganic chemistry (IUPAC Recommendations 1997))
on page 1283