adj. 1. a. Clearly defined; explicitly precise: a definite statement of the terms of the will. See Synonyms at explicit. b. Forthright and unambiguous: The doctor was very definite about what foods you should avoid. 2. Clearly developed or firmly decided: no definite idea of what to do for a career. 3. Readily distinguished or certain: at a definite disadvantage. 4. Grammar Limiting or particularizing. 5. Botany a. Of a fixed number usually less than 20, as certain floral organs, especially stamens. b. Cymose; determinate. [Middle English diffinite, defined, from Latin dēfīnītus, past participle of dēfīnīre, to define; see DEFINE.] defi·nite·ly adv. defi·nite·ness n. Usage Note: Definite and definitive both apply to what is precisely defined or explicitly set forth. But definitive most often refers specifically to a judgment or description that serves as a standard or reference point for others, as in the definitive decision of the court (which sets forth a final resolution of a judicial matter) or the definitive biography of Nelson (that is, the biography that sets the standard against which all other accounts of Nelson's life must be measured). |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.