definitive

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

US /dɪˈfɪnɪtɪv/ UK /dɪˈfɪnɪtɪv/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

adj
most authoritative and conclusive; final

This is the definitive biography of the composer.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · most authoritative and... conclusive authoritative final decisive absolute categorical ultimate

Opposites

provisional tentative inconclusive interim preliminary

Word family

Derived forms definitivelydefinitiveness

Related forms define definition definite

Appears in

Phrases (2)

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Proverbs (1)

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There is no such thing as a definitive

Etymology

From Old French definitif, from Latin definitivus ('explanatory, definitive'), from definitus, past participle of definire ('to limit, determine'), from de- + finis ('end, limit').

definitivus Latin definire Latin finis Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# definitive

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /dɪˈfɪnɪtɪv/
**IPA (UK):** /dɪˈfɪnɪtɪv/

## Meanings
1. most authoritative and conclusive; final

## Examples
- This is the definitive biography of the composer.

## Synonyms
- conclusive
- authoritative
- final
- decisive
- absolute
- categorical
- ultimate

## Antonyms
- provisional
- tentative
- inconclusive
- interim
- preliminary

## Derived Forms
- definitively
- definitiveness

## Related Forms
- define
- definition
- definite

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: definitivus
- Root: definire
- Root: finis

## Etymology
From Old French definitif, from Latin definitivus ('explanatory, definitive'), from definitus, past participle of definire ('to limit, determine'), from de- + finis ('end, limit').

## AI Etymology
Definitive comes from Old French definitif, from Latin definitivus ('explanatory, definitive'), from definitus, past participle of definire ('to limit, determine'), from de- + finis ('end, limit'). The historical trail runs through Latin definitivus, Latin definire and Latin finis. Morphologically, the surface form is analyzable into prefixes, suffixes, compounds, or participial endings that carry part of the history. In modern use it means most authoritative and conclusive; final. Derived formations include definitively, definitiveness; related forms include define, definition, definite.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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