definitive

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

|Updated on: 6 Aug 2018

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Examples: definitive in a Sentence

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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

See definitive defined for English-language learners

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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

Recent papers from other researchers have added texture to the data around the effectiveness of lethal control but as yet provide no definitive answer.

— New York Times, "Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf Scientist?," 5 July 2018
Modern Greeks had levels of vitamin D deficiency that were four times higher than their ancient ancestors, perhaps due to spending more time indoors or changes in clothing, though researchers have yet to find a definitive answer.

— lorraine boissoneault, Smithsonian, "How Ancient Teeth Reveal The Roots of Humankind," 2 July 2018
The InSight mission is designed to provide definitive answers about whether Mars is alive or dead in the geologic sense.

— NBC News, "7 ways NASA's InSight mission will go where no Mars explorer has before," 4 May 2018
William, of course, gave no definitive answer on the subject.

— megan mccluskey, Time, "Prince William May Have Just Dropped Another Hint About the Royal Baby's Name," 25 Apr. 2018
There is no definitive answer to that question, because only one Missouri executive official has ever been ousted from office following impeachment — and her offense was directly related to her job.

— BostonGlobe.com, "Potential impeachment of Missouri’s governor clouded by legal ambiguities," 18 Apr. 2018
The big question may be just how much Texas voters like Ted Cruz, which at the moment is a question without a definitive answer.

— benjamin hart, Daily Intelligencer, "Beto O’Rourke Announces Eye-popping Fundraising Numbers," 3 Apr. 2018
But because Chinese texts refer to the Mosuo by many different names, and the government has mistakenly classified them as belonging to the Naxi ethnic minority group, a definitive account of their genesis does not exist.

— jason motlagh, Marie Claire, "Kingdom of Women," 18 Jan. 2018
Less a definitive portrait than a rare opportunity to hang out with one of jazz's most intriguing living personalities, Jake Meginsky's Milford Graves: Full Mantis may look to some viewers like a case study in eccentricity.

— john defore, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Milford Graves: Full Mantis': Film Review," 11 July 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 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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

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