SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
definitive
adjective
Conclusive or authoritative enough to settle a question.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Settling the question
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topDefinite means clearly determined; definitive more strongly indicates a final or authoritative resolution.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See definitive in use
The signed agreement provided a definitive answer about ownership.
I thought there were unequivocal, definitive, and explicit assurances that the managerial factions would coalesce.
1 more example
The guide made the tool-return rule explicit: all borrowed tools belonged in the marked cabinet before closing. After the coordinators resolved the remaining questions, Mei labeled the approved document the definitive guide for that season.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license