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
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.
“Waiting for a definitive inflection point before acting is not a viable risk management posture,” he said.
From Barron's • May 22, 2026
The NCI notes that PAHs and related high temperature cooking compounds have caused cancer in animal studies, although human population studies have not established a definitive link between exposure from cooked meats and cancer.
From Science Daily • May 22, 2026
My economics research published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Law and Economics demonstrates that the answer is a definitive no.
From Slate • May 22, 2026
Will he provide a definitive answer or point to "one more year" as he has done throughout this season?
From BBC • May 18, 2026
This was the first definitive film stock collection of the life of Malcolm X and it traveled extensively throughout the nation’s university circuit as well as to civil rights and Afro-American nationalist events.
From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey
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.
