diff --git a/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Entity/Field/FieldTypePluginManager.php b/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Entity/Field/FieldTypePluginManager.php
index a8c1ef5..96a16d0 100644
--- a/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Entity/Field/FieldTypePluginManager.php
+++ b/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Entity/Field/FieldTypePluginManager.php
@@ -54,4 +54,34 @@ public function __construct(\Traversable $namespaces, CacheBackendInterface $cac
     $this->discovery = new LegacyFieldTypeDiscoveryDecorator($this->discovery, $module_handler);
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Returns the default settings of a field widget.
+   *
+   * @param string $type
+   *   A field type name.
+   *
+   * @return array
+   *   The type's default settings, as provided by the plugin
+   *   definition, or an empty array if type or settings are undefined.
+   */
+  public function getDefaultSettings($type) {
+    $info = $this->getDefinition($type);
+    return isset($info['settings']) ? $info['settings'] : array();
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Returns the default settings of a field widget.
+   *
+   * @param string $type
+   *   A field instance name.
+   *
+   * @return array
+   *   The instance's default settings, as provided by the plugin
+   *   definition, or an empty array if type or settings are undefined.
+   */
+  public function getDefaultInstanceSettings($type) {
+    $info = $this->getDefinition($type);
+    return isset($info['instance_settings']) ? $info['instance_settings'] : array();
+  }
+
 }
diff --git a/core/modules/field/field.info.inc b/core/modules/field/field.info.inc
index 10aecf5..aeef691 100644
--- a/core/modules/field/field.info.inc
+++ b/core/modules/field/field.info.inc
@@ -503,13 +503,11 @@ function field_info_extra_fields($entity_type, $bundle, $context) {
  *   The field type's default settings, or an empty array if type or settings
  *   are not defined.
  *
- * @deprecated as of Drupal 8.0. Use the 'settings' property in the definition
- *   array returned by
- *   Drupal::service('plugin.manager.entity.field.field_type')->getDefinition()
+ * @deprecated as of Drupal 8.0. Use
+ *   Drupal::service('plugin.manager.entity.field.field_type')->getDefaultSettings()
  */
 function field_info_field_settings($type) {
-  $info = \Drupal::service('plugin.manager.entity.field.field_type')->getDefinition($type);
-  return isset($info['settings']) ? $info['settings'] : array();
+  return \Drupal::service('plugin.manager.entity.field.field_type')->getDefaultSettings($type);
 }
 
 /**
@@ -522,13 +520,11 @@ function field_info_field_settings($type) {
  *   The field type's default instance settings, or an empty array if type or
  *   settings are not defined.
  *
- * @deprecated as of Drupal 8.0. Use the 'instance_settings' property in the
- *   definition array returned by
- *   Drupal::service('plugin.manager.entity.field.field_type')->getDefinition()
+ * @deprecated as of Drupal 8.0. Use
+ *   Drupal::service('plugin.manager.entity.field.field_type')->getDefaultInstanceSettings()
  */
 function field_info_instance_settings($type) {
-  $info = \Drupal::service('plugin.manager.entity.field.field_type')->getDefinition($type);
-  return isset($info['instance_settings']) ? $info['instance_settings'] : array();
+  return \Drupal::service('plugin.manager.entity.field.field_type')->getDefaultInstanceSettings($type);
 }
 
 /**
@@ -542,13 +538,11 @@ function field_info_instance_settings($type) {
  *   hook_field_widget_info(), or an empty array if type or settings are
  *   undefined.
  *
- * @deprecated as of Drupal 8.0. Use the 'settings' property in the definition
- *   array returned by
- *   Drupal::service('plugin.manager.field.formatter')->getDefinition()
+ * @deprecated as of Drupal 8.0. Use
+ *   Drupal::service('plugin.manager.field.widget')->getDefaultSettings()
  */
 function field_info_widget_settings($type) {
-  $info = \Drupal::service('plugin.manager.field.widget')->getDefinition($type);
-  return isset($info['settings']) ? $info['settings'] : array();
+  return \Drupal::service('plugin.manager.field.widget')->getDefaultSettings($type);
 }
 
 /**
@@ -562,13 +556,11 @@ function field_info_widget_settings($type) {
  *   hook_field_formatter_info(), or an empty array if type or settings are
  *   undefined.
  *
- * @deprecated as of Drupal 8.0. Use the 'settings' property in the definition
- *   array returned by
- *   Drupal::service('plugin.manager.field.widget')->getDefinition()
+ * @deprecated as of Drupal 8.0. Use
+ *   Drupal::service('plugin.manager.field.formatter')->getDefaultSettings()
  */
 function field_info_formatter_settings($type) {
-  $info = \Drupal::service('plugin.manager.field.formatter')->getDefinition($type);
-  return isset($info['settings']) ? $info['settings'] : array();
+  return \Drupal::service('plugin.manager.field.formatter')->getDefaultSettings($type);
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/core/modules/field/lib/Drupal/field/FieldInfo.php b/core/modules/field/lib/Drupal/field/FieldInfo.php
index cb28aa1..bba6678 100644
--- a/core/modules/field/lib/Drupal/field/FieldInfo.php
+++ b/core/modules/field/lib/Drupal/field/FieldInfo.php
@@ -553,8 +553,7 @@ public function getBundleExtraFields($entity_type, $bundle) {
    */
   public function prepareField($field) {
     // Make sure all expected field settings are present.
-    $field_type = \Drupal::service('plugin.manager.entity.field.field_type')->getDefinition($field['type']);
-    $field['settings'] += $field_type['settings'];
+    $field['settings'] += \Drupal::service('plugin.manager.entity.field.field_type')->getDefaultSettings($field['type']);
     $field['storage']['settings'] += field_info_storage_settings($field['storage']['type']);
 
     return $field;
@@ -573,8 +572,7 @@ public function prepareField($field) {
    */
   public function prepareInstance($instance, $field_type) {
     // Make sure all expected instance settings are present.
-    $field = \Drupal::service('plugin.manager.entity.field.field_type')->getDefinition($field_type);
-    $instance['settings'] += $field['instance_settings'];
+    $instance['settings'] += \Drupal::service('plugin.manager.entity.field.field_type')->getDefaultInstanceSettings($field_type);
 
     // Set a default value for the instance.
     if (field_behaviors_widget('default value', $instance) == FIELD_BEHAVIOR_DEFAULT && !isset($instance['default_value'])) {
diff --git a/core/modules/field/lib/Drupal/field/Plugin/Type/Formatter/FormatterPluginManager.php b/core/modules/field/lib/Drupal/field/Plugin/Type/Formatter/FormatterPluginManager.php
index a50c51a..d0db597 100644
--- a/core/modules/field/lib/Drupal/field/Plugin/Type/Formatter/FormatterPluginManager.php
+++ b/core/modules/field/lib/Drupal/field/Plugin/Type/Formatter/FormatterPluginManager.php
@@ -146,8 +146,7 @@ public function prepareConfiguration($field_type, array $configuration) {
       $configuration['type'] = $field_type['default_formatter'];
     }
     // Fill in default settings values for the formatter.
-    $formatter = \Drupal::service('plugin.manager.field.formatter')->getDefinition($configuration['type']);
-    $configuration['settings'] += $formatter['settings'];
+    $configuration['settings'] += $this->getDefaultSettings($configuration['type']);
 
     return $configuration;
   }
diff --git a/core/modules/field/lib/Drupal/field/Plugin/Type/Widget/WidgetPluginManager.php b/core/modules/field/lib/Drupal/field/Plugin/Type/Widget/WidgetPluginManager.php
index d95e088..588cc67 100644
--- a/core/modules/field/lib/Drupal/field/Plugin/Type/Widget/WidgetPluginManager.php
+++ b/core/modules/field/lib/Drupal/field/Plugin/Type/Widget/WidgetPluginManager.php
@@ -137,14 +137,11 @@ public function prepareConfiguration($field_type, array $configuration) {
     );
     // If no widget is specified, use the default widget.
     if (!isset($configuration['type'])) {
-      $field = \Drupal::service('plugin.manager.entity.field.field_type')->getDefinition($field_type);
-      $configuration['type'] = $field['default_widget'];
+      $field_type = \Drupal::service('plugin.manager.entity.field.field_type')->getDefinition($field_type);
+      $configuration['type'] = $field_type['default_widget'];
     }
     // Fill in default settings values for the widget.
-    $widget = \Drupal::service('plugin.manager.field.widget')->getDefinition($configuration['type']);
-    if (isset($widget['settings'])) {
-      $configuration['settings'] += $widget['settings'];
-    }
+    $configuration['settings'] += $this->getDefaultSettings($configuration['type']);
 
     return $configuration;
   }
diff --git a/core/modules/field/lib/Drupal/field/Plugin/views/field/Field.php b/core/modules/field/lib/Drupal/field/Plugin/views/field/Field.php
index 4fbd588..fdfea10 100644
--- a/core/modules/field/lib/Drupal/field/Plugin/views/field/Field.php
+++ b/core/modules/field/lib/Drupal/field/Plugin/views/field/Field.php
@@ -423,8 +423,8 @@ public function buildOptionsForm(&$form, &$form_state) {
 
     // Get the currently selected formatter.
     $format = $this->options['type'];
-    $formatter = \Drupal::service('plugin.manager.field.formatter')->getDefinition($format);
-    $settings = $this->options['settings'] + $formatter['settings'];
+
+    $settings = $this->options['settings'] + \Drupal::service('plugin.manager.field.formatter')->getDefaultSettings($format);
 
     $options = array(
       'field_definition' => $field,
diff --git a/core/modules/field/lib/Drupal/field/Tests/DisplayApiTest.php b/core/modules/field/lib/Drupal/field/Tests/DisplayApiTest.php
index 06b996d..e2fb2f9 100644
--- a/core/modules/field/lib/Drupal/field/Tests/DisplayApiTest.php
+++ b/core/modules/field/lib/Drupal/field/Tests/DisplayApiTest.php
@@ -121,8 +121,7 @@ function testFieldViewField() {
     // No display settings: check that default display settings are used.
     $output = field_view_field($this->entity, $this->field_name);
     $this->content = drupal_render($output);
-    $formatter = \Drupal::service('plugin.manager.field.formatter')->getDefinition('field_test_default');
-    $settings = $formatter['settings'];
+    $settings = \Drupal::service('plugin.manager.field.formatter')->getDefaultSettings('field_test_default');
     $setting = $settings['test_formatter_setting'];
     $this->assertText($this->label, 'Label was displayed.');
     foreach ($this->values as $delta => $value) {
@@ -194,8 +193,7 @@ function testFieldViewField() {
    */
   function testFieldViewValue() {
     // No display settings: check that default display settings are used.
-    $formatter = \Drupal::service('plugin.manager.field.formatter')->getDefinition('field_test_default');
-    $settings = $formatter['settings'];
+    $settings = \Drupal::service('plugin.manager.field.formatter')->getDefaultSettings('field_test_default');
     $setting = $settings['test_formatter_setting'];
     foreach ($this->values as $delta => $value) {
       $item = $this->entity->{$this->field_name}[$delta]->getValue();
diff --git a/core/modules/field/lib/Drupal/field/Tests/FieldInfoTest.php b/core/modules/field/lib/Drupal/field/Tests/FieldInfoTest.php
index 0affffe..ca5ce68 100644
--- a/core/modules/field/lib/Drupal/field/Tests/FieldInfoTest.php
+++ b/core/modules/field/lib/Drupal/field/Tests/FieldInfoTest.php
@@ -279,9 +279,8 @@ function testFieldMap() {
   function testSettingsInfo() {
     $info = field_test_field_info();
     foreach ($info as $type => $data) {
-      $field_type = \Drupal::service('plugin.manager.entity.field.field_type')->getDefinition($type);
-      $this->assertIdentical($field_type['settings'], $data['settings'], format_string("plugin.manager.entity.field.field_type service returns %type's field settings", array('%type' => $type)));
-      $this->assertIdentical($field_type['instance_settings'], $data['instance_settings'], format_string("plugin.manager.entity.field.field_type service returns %type's field instance settings", array('%type' => $type)));
+      $this->assertIdentical(\Drupal::service('plugin.manager.entity.field.field_type')->getDefaultSettings($type), $data['settings'], format_string("field settings service returns %type's field settings", array('%type' => $type)));
+      $this->assertIdentical(\Drupal::service('plugin.manager.entity.field.field_type')->getDefaultInstanceSettings($type), $data['instance_settings'], format_string("field instance settings service returns %type's field instance settings", array('%type' => $type)));
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/core/modules/field_ui/lib/Drupal/field_ui/Tests/ManageDisplayTest.php b/core/modules/field_ui/lib/Drupal/field_ui/Tests/ManageDisplayTest.php
index f44e3e6..d1edd6d 100644
--- a/core/modules/field_ui/lib/Drupal/field_ui/Tests/ManageDisplayTest.php
+++ b/core/modules/field_ui/lib/Drupal/field_ui/Tests/ManageDisplayTest.php
@@ -47,8 +47,7 @@ function testFormatterUI() {
     $display = entity_get_display('node', $this->type, 'default');
     $display_options = $display->getComponent('field_test');
     $format = $display_options['type'];
-    $formatter = \Drupal::service('plugin.manager.field.formatter')->getDefinition($format);
-    $default_settings = $formatter['settings'];
+    $default_settings = \Drupal::service('plugin.manager.field.formatter')->getDefaultSettings($format);
     $setting_name = key($default_settings);
     $setting_value = $display_options['settings'][$setting_name];
 
@@ -62,8 +61,7 @@ function testFormatterUI() {
     $edit = array('fields[field_test][type]' => 'field_test_multiple', 'refresh_rows' => 'field_test');
     $this->drupalPostAJAX(NULL, $edit, array('op' => t('Refresh')));
     $format = 'field_test_multiple';
-    $formatter = \Drupal::service('plugin.manager.field.formatter')->getDefinition($format);
-    $default_settings = $formatter['settings'];
+    $default_settings = \Drupal::service('plugin.manager.field.formatter')->getDefaultSettings($format);
     $setting_name = key($default_settings);
     $setting_value = $default_settings[$setting_name];
     $this->assertFieldByName('fields[field_test][type]', $format, 'The expected formatter is selected.');
@@ -115,8 +113,7 @@ public function testWidgetUI() {
     $display = entity_get_form_display('node', $this->type, 'default');
     $display_options = $display->getComponent('field_test');
     $widget_type = $display_options['type'];
-    $widget = \Drupal::service('plugin.manager.field.widget')->getDefinition($widget_type);
-    $default_settings = $widget['settings'];
+    $default_settings = \Drupal::service('plugin.manager.field.widget')->getDefaultSettings($widget_type);
     $setting_name = key($default_settings);
     $setting_value = $display_options['settings'][$setting_name];
 
@@ -130,8 +127,7 @@ public function testWidgetUI() {
     $edit = array('fields[field_test][type]' => 'test_field_widget_multiple', 'refresh_rows' => 'field_test');
     $this->drupalPostAJAX(NULL, $edit, array('op' => t('Refresh')));
     $widget_type = 'test_field_widget_multiple';
-    $widget = \Drupal::service('plugin.manager.field.widget')->getDefinition($widget_type);
-    $default_settings = $widget['settings'];
+    $default_settings = \Drupal::service('plugin.manager.field.widget')->getDefaultSettings($widget_type);
     $setting_name = key($default_settings);
     $setting_value = $default_settings[$setting_name];
     $this->assertFieldByName('fields[field_test][type]', $widget_type, 'The expected widget is selected.');
diff --git a/core/modules/file/file.field.inc b/core/modules/file/file.field.inc
index d61e0f6..bb7d601 100644
--- a/core/modules/file/file.field.inc
+++ b/core/modules/file/file.field.inc
@@ -38,8 +38,7 @@ function file_field_info() {
  * Implements hook_field_settings_form().
  */
 function file_field_settings_form($field, $instance) {
-  $field_type = \Drupal::service('plugin.manager.entity.field.field_type')->getDefinition($field['type']);
-  $defaults = $field_type['settings'];
+  $defaults = \Drupal::service('plugin.manager.entity.field.field_type')->getDefaultSettings($field['type']);
   $settings = array_merge($defaults, $field['settings']);
 
   $form['#attached']['library'][] = array('file', 'drupal.file');
diff --git a/core/modules/image/image.field.inc b/core/modules/image/image.field.inc
index baa2e51..250f905 100644
--- a/core/modules/image/image.field.inc
+++ b/core/modules/image/image.field.inc
@@ -57,8 +57,7 @@ function image_field_info() {
  * Implements hook_field_settings_form().
  */
 function image_field_settings_form($field, $instance) {
-  $field_type = \Drupal::service('plugin.manager.entity.field.field_type')->getDefinition($field['type']);
-  $defaults = $field_type['settings'];
+  $defaults = \Drupal::service('plugin.manager.entity.field.field_type')->getDefaultSettings($field['type']);
   $settings = array_merge($defaults, $field['settings']);
 
   $scheme_options = array();
diff --git a/core/modules/node/node.tokens.inc b/core/modules/node/node.tokens.inc
index ec44d0d..da149f0 100644
--- a/core/modules/node/node.tokens.inc
+++ b/core/modules/node/node.tokens.inc
@@ -159,8 +159,7 @@ function node_tokens($type, $tokens, array $data = array(), array $options = arr
                   $length = $display_options['settings']['trim_length'];
                 }
                 else {
-                  $formatter = \Drupal::service('plugin.manager.field.formatter')->getDefinition('text_summary_or_trimmed');
-                  $settings = $formatter['settings'];
+                  $settings = \Drupal::service('plugin.manager.field.formatter')->getDefaultSettings('text_summary_or_trimmed');
                   $length = $settings['trim_length'];
                 }