definitive
most reliable or complete, as of a text, author, criticism, study, or the like: the definitive biography of Andrew Jackson.
serving to define, fix, or specify definitely: to clarify with a definitive statement.
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.
Biology. providing the environment in which a fully developed parasite is able to reproduce, as is provided by a definitive host.
a defining or limiting word, as an article, a demonstrative, or the like.
Philately. a stamp that is a regular issue and is usually on sale for an extended period of time.: Compare commemorative (def. 2).
Origin of definitive
1Other words for definitive
Other words from definitive
- de·fin·i·tive·ly, adverb
- de·fin·i·tive·ness, noun
- non·de·fin·i·tive, adjective
- non·de·fin·i·tive·ness, noun
- un·de·fin·i·tive, adjective
- un·de·fin·i·tive·ness, noun
Words that may be confused with definitive
- definite, definitive
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use definitive in a sentence
These were small groups, so the results are far from definitive.
SEOs say bias, discrimination are bigger problem within the industry than their companies [Report] | Ginny Marvin | October 8, 2020 | Search Engine LandIt is intended to paint the beginnings of a picture rather than be definitive.
“Anyone who thinks they have a definitive number, including the state of Florida, are probably fooling themselves,” Smith said.
In Florida, the Gutting of a Landmark Law Leaves Few Felons Likely to Vote | by Lawrence Mower and Langston Taylor, Miami Herald and Tampa Bay Times | October 7, 2020 | ProPublicaThe fact that Google has no definitive plans to remove the offensive images speaks to how search engines are designed to work.
Antisemitic memes in image results highlight vulnerabilities in search | George Nguyen | September 30, 2020 | Search Engine LandIf you wait for more definitive efficacy results in adults, it puts you a year behind in kids.
China’s Sinovac plans to test COVID vaccine on children before the company is sure the inoculation works in adults | Grady McGregor | September 18, 2020 | Fortune
Such contrasts are often obvious; at other times they take definitiveness only when looked at from a particular point of view.
Shakespeare as a Dramatic Artist | Richard G. MoultonWhy she was in it she could not have told, at least with any degree of definitiveness.
Aletta | Bertram MitfordThe whole occurrence, charged with all the definitiveness of fate, was scant ten minutes in transition.
The Moonshiners At Hoho-Hebee Falls | Charles Egbert Craddock (AKA Mary Noailles Murfree)
British Dictionary definitions for definitive
/ (dɪˈfɪnɪtɪv) /
serving to decide or settle finally; conclusive
most reliable, complete, or authoritative: the definitive reading of a text
serving to define or outline
zoology fully developed; complete: the definitive form of a parasite
(of postage stamps) permanently on sale
(as noun) a definitive postage stamp
grammar a word indicating specificity of reference, such as the definite article or a demonstrative adjective or pronoun
Derived forms of definitive
- definitively, adverb
- definitiveness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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