definitive

1 of 2

adjective

de·​fin·​i·​tive di-ˈfi-nə-tiv 

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

definitively adverb

definitiveness noun

definitive

2 of 2

noun

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

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.

Synonyms

Adjective

• authoritative

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

Examples of definitive in a Sentence

Adjective

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 on the Web

Adjective

Introducing the 2025 Fortune 500, the definitive ranking of the biggest companies in America. —Preston Fore, Fortune, 23 June 2025

Such discrepancies in Bach’s manuscripts show that no definitive version of the Mass exists and that modern performers are free to follow their intuition. —Alex Ross, New Yorker, 23 June 2025

Noun

Nick Sirianni isn’t one to offer such public definitives on injuries. —Ben Standig, The Athletic, 22 Jan. 2025

This past year was, by any definitive, a rough one for the cryptoasset industry, and ended with what looks like a massive fraud being uncovered in the form of FTX. —Sean Stein Smith, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English diffynytif, borrowed from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French diffinitif "final, decisive," borrowed from Medieval Latin dēfīnītīvus, diffīnītīvus, going back to Latin dēfīnītīvus "involving definition," from dēfīnītus "limited, clearly defined" (past participle of dēfīnīre "to mark the limits of, determine, define") + -īvus -ive

Noun

derivative of definitive entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1951, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing definitive

• definitive host

Rhymes for definitive

• infinitive
• unimaginative

Kids Definition

definitive

adjective

de·​fin·​i·​tive

di-ˈfin-ət-iv

1

: serving to provide a final solution : decisive

a definitive victory

2

: being the most accurate and thorough

the definitive book on the subject

3

: serving to define or specify precisely

definitive laws

definitively adverb

definitiveness noun

Medical Definition

definitive

adjective

de·​fin·​i·​tive di-ˈfin-ət-iv 

: fully differentiated or developed

a definitive organ