definitive

adjective de·fin·i·tive \ di-ˈfi-nə-tiv \

Updated on: 17 Apr 2018

1 : serving to provide a final solution or to end a situation

a definitive victory

could not give a definitive diagnosis

2 : authoritative and apparently exhaustive

a definitive critical biography

3 a : serving to define or specify precisely

established definitive guidelines for sentencing criminals

b : serving as a perfect example : quintessential

a definitive bourgeois

A slow race is the definitive Leechfield competition. You win it by coming in last.
—Mary Karr

4 biology : fully differentiated or developed

a definitive organ

5 of a postage stamp : issued as a regular stamp for the country or territory in which it is to be used

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definitively

adverb

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definitiveness

noun

See definitive defined for English-language learners

See definitive defined for kids

Examples of definitive in a Sentence

We need a definitive answer to this question.
The court has issued a definitive ruling.
a definitive collection of the band's albums

Recent Examples of definitive from the Web

Because team activities start next week, many expect a definitive answer this weekend.

— peter dawson, star-telegram, "If Jerry Jones opts to trade Dez Bryant, here's where he should look | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 12 Apr. 2018
Michael Retsky, an oncology researcher at The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and University College London, said his own research in people isn’t definitive, but has convinced him that the benefits are probably real.

— karen weintraub, USA TODAY, "Healing process after breast cancer surgery may trigger cancer spread, study says," 11 Apr. 2018
Here’s the definitive guide to doing it up with kids.

— katie arnold, Outside Online, "Banff's Top Family Adventures," 11 Apr. 2018
Coach John Stevens was slightly more definitive when asked about the possibility of getting his top-line left wing back.

— curtis zupke, latimes.com, "Alex Iafallo is optimistic about being ready for Kings' playoff opener with Golden Knights on Wednesday," 10 Apr. 2018
After scoring their first entry December 2015 with The Most Beautiful Moment In Life, Part 2, BTS now extend their reign as the K-pop act with the most album entries on America's definitive albums chart to six.

— jeff benjamin, Billboard, "BTS Send Japanese Album 'Face Yourself' to the Billboard 200," 9 Apr. 2018
Although forensic science changed crime solving, not all DNA evidence is definitive.

— cindy atoji keene, BostonGlobe.com, "This forensic science expert has testified in some notorious cases," 6 Apr. 2018
None of the protective associations between coffee and cancer are definitive, Rebbeck cautioned.

— ben guarino and eli rosenberg, chicagotribune.com, "Coffee drinkers, don't fret over California cancer warning," 4 Apr. 2018
None of the protective associations between coffee and cancer are definitive, Rebbeck cautioned.

— ben guarino, Washington Post, "California ordered to add cancer warning to coffee, but the science doesn’t hold up," 30 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'definitive.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

Something definitive is complete and final. A definitive example is the perfect example. A definitive answer is usually a strong yes or no. A definitive biography contains everything we'll ever need to know about someone. Ella Fitzgerald's famous 1950s recordings of American songs have even been called definitive--but no one ever wanted them to be the last.

Origin and Etymology of definitive

Middle English diffinityf, from Anglo-French diffinitive, from Latin definitivus, from definitus — see definite

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First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

definitive Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of definitive

conclusive, decisive, determinative, definitive mean bringing to an end. conclusive applies to reasoning or logical proof that puts an end to debate or questioning.

- conclusive evidence

decisive may apply to something that ends a controversy, a contest, or any uncertainty.

- a decisive battle

determinative adds an implication of giving a fixed character or direction.

- the determinative factor in the court's decision

definitive applies to what is put forth as final and permanent.

- the definitive biography

definitive

noun

: a postage stamp issued as a regular stamp for the country or territory in which it is to be used : a definitive (see ¹definitive 5) postage stamp — compare provisional