most reliable or complete, as of a text, author, criticism, study, or the like: the definitive biography of Andrew Jackson.
2.
serving to define, fix, or specify definitely: to clarify with a definitive statement.
3.
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.
4.
Biology. fully developed or formed; complete.
–noun
5.
a defining or limiting word, as an article, a demonstrative, or the like.
6.
Philately. a stamp that is a regular issue and is usually on sale for an extended period of time. Compare commemorative(def. 2).
[Origin: 1350–1400; ME < OF < L défīnītīvus, equiv. to défīnīt(us) (see definite) + -īvus-ive]
Def"i*nite\, a. [L. definitis, p. p. of definire: cf. F. d['e]fini. See Define.]1. Having certain or distinct; determinate in extent or greatness; limited; fixed; as, definite dimensions; a definite measure; a definite period or interval. Elements combine in definite proportions. --Whewell. 2. Having certain limits in signification; determinate; certain; precise; fixed; exact; clear; as, a definite word, term, or expression. 3. Determined; resolved. [Obs.] --Shak. 4. Serving to define or restrict; limiting; determining; as, the definite article. Definite article (Gram.), the article the, which is used to designate a particular person or thing, or a particular class of persons or things; -- also called a definitive. See Definitive, n. - Definite inflorescence. (Bot.) See Determinate inflorescence, under Determinate. Law of definite proportions (Chem.), the essential law of chemical combination that every definite compound always contains the same elements in the same proportions by weight; and, if two or more elements form more than one compound with each other, the relative proportions of each are fixed. Compare Law of multiple proportions, under Multiple.
De*fin"i*tive\, a. [L. definitivus: cf. F. d['e]finitif.]1. Determinate; positive; final; conclusive; unconditional; express. A strict and definitive truth. --Sir T. Browne. Some definitive . . . scheme of reconciliation. --Prescott. 2. Limiting; determining; as, a definitive word. 3. Determined; resolved. [Obs.] --Shak.