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# definitive

«definitive» in Mova's school dictionary: **Final and settled, so that nobody can argue with or…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples.

### part of speech

adjective (definitive; more definitive)

### meaning for a pupil

1) Final and settled, so that nobody can argue with or change it: «a definitive answer». [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/definitive/#m1)

2) The best, most complete or most trusted version of something: «the definitive guide to sharks». [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/definitive/#m2)

3) (stamps) Definitive stamps are the ordinary, long-running stamps, not special issues. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/definitive/#m3)

### sense in the lessons

In school and science, a «definitive answer» or «definitive proof» is one that settles a question beyond doubt; scientists are often careful to say results are «not yet definitive». In book and film reviews, «the definitive version» is the best one. Phrases: «a definitive answer», «definitive proof», «the definitive guide», «definitive list».

### examples

- We still have no definitive answer to how big the universe is. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/definitive/#x1)
- This is the definitive guide to British birds. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/definitive/#x2)
- The test gave definitive proof that the water was safe. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/definitive/#x3)
- Mum's answer was a definitive «No». [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/definitive/#x4)
- Is this the definitive list of winners? [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/definitive/#x5)
- The scientists said the result was exciting but not definitive. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/definitive/#x6)

### note

Do not confuse with «definite» (clear and sure: «a definite yes»). «Definitive» is stronger: final and authoritative. Adverb: «definitively». Said «dih-FIN-uh-tiv».

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «definitive» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/definitive/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.