definitively

[dih-fin-i-tiv-lee]

adverb

1. in a way that is definite, complete, final, or absolute.

   There is no forensic evidence to definitively identify the attacker.

   The court's ruling is seen as a missed opportunity to resolve the issue definitively.

Other Word Forms

• nondefinitively adverb
• undefinitively adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of definitively¹

definitive ( def. ) + -ly

Example Sentences

But whatever worries keep on trying her, after Sunday night, she can definitively leave them behind.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

It’s hardly surprising that there’s a strong market for books and articles claiming to demystify the painting’s creator, even though not much is definitively known about the Italian polymath.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

No one knows enough about Greek astronomers to be able to definitively identify the creator of the mechanism.

Read more on Literature

"All inappropriate and illegal content is removed, and where necessary we take measures against users, including blocking them definitively from our site," it was cited as saying by the AFP news agency.

Read more on BBC

"Previous findings have inferred that they exist, or hinted at their presence, but haven't actually confirmed that material has definitively escaped out into space. We've now managed to do this for the first time."

Read more on Science Daily

Related Words

• convincingly www.thesaurus.com
• decisively