
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).
adjective
- serving to decide or settle finally; conclusive
- most reliable, complete, or authoritativethe definitive reading of a text
- serving to define or outline
- zoology fully developed; completethe definitive form of a parasite
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- (of postage stamps) permanently on sale
- (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
adj.late 14c., from Old French definitif (12c.), from Latin definitivus “explanatory, definitive,” from past participle stem of definire (see define). Related: Definitively.