: a postage stamp issued as a regular stamp for the country or territory in which it is to be used : a definitive (see definitiveentry 1 sense 5) postage stamp compare provisional
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Something definitive is complete and final. A definitive example is the perfect example. A definitive answer is usually a strong yes or no. A definitive biography contains everything we'll ever need to know about someone. Ella Fitzgerald's famous 1950s recordings of American songs have even been called definitive--but no one ever wanted them to be the last.
conclusive applies to reasoning or logical proof that puts an end to debate or questioning.
conclusive evidence
decisive may apply to something that ends a controversy, a contest, or any uncertainty.
a decisive battle
determinative adds an implication of giving a fixed character or direction.
the determinative factor in the court's decision
definitive applies to what is put forth as final and permanent.
the definitive biography
Example Sentences
Adjective We need a definitive answer to this question. The court has issued a definitive ruling. a definitive collection of the band's albums
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Mike Rosenthal doesn’t know if there’s one definitive Charles Wright story. Nick Moyle, San Antonio Express-News, 14 Sep. 2022 Mary Kay Cabot has the definitive story on the decision, which the NFL can appeal. Cliff Pinckard, cleveland, 2 Aug. 2022 The animated sci-fi adventure shares the definitive origin story of Buzz Lightyear, the hero who inspired the Toy Story action figure character, which was voiced by Tim Allen. Amethyst Tate, PEOPLE.com, 19 July 2022 The animated sci-fi action-adventure is the definitive origin story of Buzz Lightyear (voiced by Chris Evans), the hero who inspired the toy. Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 July 2022 What the definitive story of an individual is is hard to say. Mary Cadden, USA TODAY, 7 July 2022 Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli is The definitive story of how The Godfather was made, and how the film had to deal with the real-life mob during production. Emily Burack, Town & Country, 26 May 2022 The series tells the definitive story of the Malaysian Airlines flight’s disappearance through the eyes of those closest to the tragedy: the victims’ families. Manori Ravindran, Variety, 6 Apr. 2022 This is the definitive story of Hamid Hayat, a man wrongfully convicted of terrorism, sentenced to prison on his 25th birthday, and finally set free after 14 years behind bars.Longreads, 2 Mar. 2022
Noun
The road toward answering this question with a definitive yes doesn’t end with one game. Stephen Means, cleveland, 3 Sep. 2022 Now, Lauper is taking that iconic line and lending it to Sony Music Entertainment as the title of her forthcoming definitive, career-spanning documentary. Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 3 May 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English diffynytif, borrowed from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French diffinitif "final, decisive," borrowed from Medieval Latin dēfīnītīvus, diffīnītīvus, going back to Latin dēfīnītīvus "involving definition," from dēfīnītus "limited, clearly defined" (past participle of dēfīnīre "to mark the limits of, determine, define") + -īvus-ive