definitive

adjective

de·fin·i·tive | \ di-ˈfi-nə-tiv

Definition of definitive

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

3a : 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

definitive

noun

Definition of definitive (Entry 2 of 2)

: 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

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Choose the Right Synonym for definitive

Adjective

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

So much so that Erica Cerulo and Claire Mazur, cofounders of fashion and design website Of a Kind, have written a definitive book on the subject called Work Wife: The Power of Female Friendship to Drive Successful Businesses. — Samantha Leach, Glamour, "The Secret to Having the Best Relationship With Your Work Wife," 7 Mar. 2019 The author of a definitive book on the hot dog is now covering a much bigger topic. — Florence Fabricant, New York Times, "New Book on the History of American Food," 22 Jan. 2018 According to the definitive book on Bean written by Skiles, who did research in Kentucky and California, the life story told in San Antonio is rife with misrepresentations, beginning with where and when he was born. — John Maccormack, San Antonio Express-News, "Judge Roy Bean left a dubious legacy in San Antonio," 20 Jan. 2018 Luckily, that last question does, in fact, have a definitive answer. — Emma Bazilian, House Beautiful, "It's a Sofa, Not a Couch," 9 Mar. 2019 Known collectively as the Short-Baseline Neutrino Program, the new system should be up and running by 2020 and could deliver definitive data in the early part of that decade, says Steve Brice, head of Fermilab’s Neutrino Division. — Clara Moskowitz, Scientific American, "Evidence Builds for a New Kind of Neutrino," 7 June 2018 Still, police agencies will need to recognize that the tool offers probabilities, not definitive answers, and not place undue weight on the results, Kaye added. — Shari Rudavsky, Indianapolis Star, "IUPUI prof develops 'biological witness' test to predict skin, hair & eye color from DNA," 29 May 2018 While there is no definitive data on financial aid fraud involving university dollars, the Education Department’s inspector general routinely investigates school officials accused of misappropriating federal aid. — Danielle Douglas-gabriel, Washington Post, "Howard University reveals that terminated employees misappropriated $369,000," 9 Apr. 2018 The numbers are not definitive, and monthly figures often fluctuate. — Brian Bennett, latimes.com, "White House makes hasty plan to send National Guard to border, leaving mission and duration unclear," 5 Apr. 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.

History and Etymology for definitive

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

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