definitive
Americanadjective
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most reliable or complete, as of a text, author, criticism, study, or the like.
the definitive biography of Andrew Jackson.
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serving to define, fix, or specify definitely.
to clarify with a definitive statement.
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having its fixed and final form; providing a solution or final answer; satisfying all criteria.
the definitive treatment for an infection; a definitive answer to a dilemma.
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Biology. providing the environment in which a fully developed parasite is able to reproduce, as is provided by a definitive host.
noun
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a defining or limiting word, as an article, a demonstrative, or the like.
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Philately. a stamp that is a regular issue and is usually on sale for an extended period of time.
adjective
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serving to decide or settle finally; conclusive
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most reliable, complete, or authoritative
the definitive reading of a text
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serving to define or outline
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zoology fully developed; complete
the definitive form of a parasite
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(of postage stamps) permanently on sale
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(as noun) a definitive postage stamp
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noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of definitive
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Old French, from Latin dēfīnītīvus, equivalent to dēfīnīt(us) ( see definite) + -īvus adjective suffix ( see -ive)
Explanation
A definitive answer is a final one. A definitive decision by a court of law is one that will not be changed. A definitive translation is one everyone turns to as correct. Definitive means authoritative, conclusive, final. Be careful not to confuse definitive with definite. Definite means clearly defined. You can have a definite opinion that JFK could not have been assassinated by a lone gunman, but the definitive interpretation remains that of the Warren Commission Report, which held there was only one.
Vocabulary lists containing definitive
New Shakespeare Lines Discovered?
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G.1: Principles of Geography (Sources 1–14)
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Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Extreme efforts to “stage-manage” a student’s narrative can backfire, said Eric Tipler, author of “Write Yourself In: The Definitive Guide to Writing Successful College Admissions Essays.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 16, 2026
Naman Ramachandran, author of Rajinikanth: A Definitive Biography, notes that Rajinikanth's fans range from Wall Street bankers to washerwomen in Tamil Nadu.
From BBC • Aug. 14, 2025
“The delirium peaked during Sly & the Family Stone’s set,” journalist Ellen Sander wrote in the liner notes of the 2019 box set “Woodstock — Back to the Garden: The Definitive 50th Anniversary Archive.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2025
Mr. Haynes, of Portland, debuted in the W.W.F., which is today called World Wrestling Entertainment, in 1986, according to the book “WWE Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to World Wrestling Entertainment.”
From New York Times • Feb. 11, 2024
Definitive list of things I want to do: 1.
From "Feed" by M.T. Anderson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
