definitive

[ dih-fin-i-tiv ]
/ dɪˈfɪn ɪ tɪv /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR definitive ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

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. fully developed or formed; complete.

noun

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

1350–1400; Middle English < Old French < Latin dēfīnītīvus, equivalent to dēfīnīt(us) (see definite) + -īvus -ive

OTHER WORDS FROM definitive

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH definitive

definite definitive

Words nearby definitive

definite integral, definite relative clause, definite relative pronoun, definitely, definition, definitive, definitive host, definitive plumage, definitize, definitude, deflagrate

Words related to definitiveness

rigor, veracity, skill, truthfulness, certainty, efficiency, sharpness, correctness, verity, truth, heed, meticulousness, exactitude, attention, carefulness, nicety, preciseness, sureness, fidelity, exactness

Example sentences from the Web for definitiveness

  • Why she was in it she could not have told, at least with any degree of definitiveness.

    Aletta |Bertram Mitford

  • The 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 definitiveness

definitive
/ (dɪˈfɪnɪtɪv) /

adjective

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
  1. (of postage stamps) permanently on sale
  2. (as noun) a definitive postage stamp

noun

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