definitive

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

Definition of definitive

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

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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

There is no definitive exhibit of his broad work – until now.

— sue kiesewetter, Cincinnati.com, "Voice of America fundraiser celebrates radio pioneer," 30 Aug. 2017
No one has definitive data on the percentage of police officers in the United States who have shot people in the line of duty.

— mensah m. dean, Philly.com, "Fired Philly cop who shot 3 men is back on the beat," 25 Aug. 2017
Individual forecasters have been more hesitant to make definitive rainfall predications.

— jennifer larino, NOLA.com, "Will Hurricane Harvey hit Louisiana directly? Why we're in for major rain regardless," 25 Aug. 2017
Mr. Lesh and the other surviving members of the Grateful Dead brought that band’s story to a fairly definitive end in 2015 with the Fare Thee Well concert series, billed as their final shows.

— New York Times, "Pop, Rock and Jazz in NYC This Week," 24 Aug. 2017
If that’s the case, the goal for congressional Democrats is pretty clear: inflicting a definitive legislative defeat on Trump while depicting him as irresponsibly pursuing a demagogic and divisive policy.

— ed kilgore, Daily Intelligencer, "If Trump Keeps Threatening Government Shutdown, Democrats Will Have Some Leverage — and Some Options," 24 Aug. 2017
A Final, Definitive Answer: Will Drinking a Sh*t Ton of Water Give You Perfect Skin?

— chloe metzger, Marie Claire, "A Final, Definitive Answer: Will Drinking a Sh*t Ton of Water Give You Perfect Skin?," 23 Aug. 2017
Yes, so long as NCDOT provides a definitive answer on what caps, if any, will be placed on tolls.

— charlotteobserver, "Charlotte’s District 5 City Council candidates give their views on 4 key issues," 23 Aug. 2017
So far, the only council member who has taken a definitive position on the outsourcing has been Olga Diaz, who has been at the forefront of the opposition.

— j. harry jones, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Report urges outsourcing library while the mayor pays for a poll," 22 Aug. 2017

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

definitive Synonyms

Synonyms

authoritative, classic, classical, magisterial

Antonyms

inconclusive, indecisive, unclear

Related Words

conclusive, decisive; approved, official, sanctioned; accurate, correct; complete, comprehensive, exhaustive, thorough

Near Antonyms

debatable, disputable, doubtable, doubtful, moot, problematic (also problematical), questionable, refutable; ambiguous, equivocal; controversial, debated, disputed

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

Definition of definitive

: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