Meanings
adjectivedefinite (comparative more definite, superlative most definite)
comparative more definite · superlative most definite
- Having distinct limits.
definite dimensions; a definite measure; a definite period or interval
1 more example
[…] elements combine in definite proportions […]
1837, William Whewell, chapter 8, in History of the Inductive Sciences, volume 3, book 14, London: John W. Parker, page 145 - Determined; resolved; decided.
[…] idiots in this case of favour would Be wisely definite
1611 April (first recorded performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Cymbeline”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene vi] - human sciencesDesignating an identified or immediately identifiable person or thing, or group of persons or things
the definite article
noundefinite (plural definites)
plural definites
- grammarA word or phrase that designates a specified or identified person or entity.
- obsoleteAnything that is defined or determined.
Synonyms & antonyms
adjectiveFree from any doubt.
Similar
Opposite
More synonyms by meaning
adjectiveprecise; explicit and clearly defined
Opposite
adjectiveknown for certain
Similar
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Latindēfīnītus
- Englishdefinite
From Latin dēfīnītus, past participle of dēfīniō, whence also English define.
More words from Latin
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Arabic مَعْرِفَة
- مَعْرِفَة (maʕrifa)(linguistics) designating an identified or immediately identifiable person or thing
Bulgarian определен, сигурен
- определен (opredelen)having distinct limits
- сигурен (siguren)free from any doubt
Catalan definit, definit
- definithaving distinct limits
- definit(linguistics) designating an identified or immediately identifiable person or thing
Czech určitý
- určitýhaving distinct limits
Danish bestemt
- bestemt(linguistics) designating an identified or immediately identifiable person or thing
Dutch eenduidig
- eenduidigfree from any doubt
Esperanto difinita, difinita
- difinitahaving distinct limits
- difinita(linguistics) designating an identified or immediately identifiable person or thing
Finnish rajattu, määrätty
- rajattuhaving distinct limits
- määrättyhaving distinct limits
- varmafree from any doubt
- määräinen(linguistics) designating an identified or immediately identifiable person or thing
French défini
- définihaving distinct limits
German bestimmt, absolut
- bestimmthaving distinct limits
- absoluthaving distinct limits
- eindeutigfree from any doubt
- bestimmt(linguistics) designating an identified or immediately identifiable person or thing
- determiniert(linguistics) designating an identified or immediately identifiable person or thing
Greek σαφής, καθορισμένος
- σαφής (safís)having distinct limits
- καθορισμένος (kathorisménos)having distinct limits
- ξεκάθαρος (xekátharos)free from any doubt
- οριστικός (oristikós)(linguistics) designating an identified or immediately identifiable person or thing
Hebrew מוגדר, בטוח
- מוגדר (mugdár)having distinct limits
- בטוח (batúakh)free from any doubt
- מיודע (meyudá)(linguistics) designating an identified or immediately identifiable person or thing
Hungarian határozott
- határozott(linguistics) designating an identified or immediately identifiable person or thing
Indonesian definit, definit
- definithaving distinct limits
- definitfree from any doubt
Japanese 明確
- 明確 (meikaku)having distinct limits
Norwegian Bokmål bestemt
- bestemt(linguistics) designating an identified or immediately identifiable person or thing
Persian شناسا, شناس
- شناسا (šenâsâ)(linguistics) designating an identified or immediately identifiable person or thing
- شناس (šenâs)(linguistics) designating an identified or immediately identifiable person or thing
Polish określony, jasny
- określonyhaving distinct limits
- jasnyfree from any doubt
- sprecyzowanyfree from any doubt
- określony(linguistics) designating an identified or immediately identifiable person or thing
Romanian definit, sigur
- definithaving distinct limits
- sigurfree from any doubt
- neîndoielnicfree from any doubt
- hotărât(linguistics) designating an identified or immediately identifiable person or thing
Russian определённый, определённый
- определённый (opredeljónnyj)having distinct limits
- определённый (opredeljónnyj)free from any doubt
- я́сный (jásnyj)free from any doubt
- определённый (opredeljónnyj)(linguistics) designating an identified or immediately identifiable person or thing
Scottish Gaelic cinnteach, deimhinn
- cinnteachhaving distinct limits
- deimhinnhaving distinct limits
- cinnteachfree from any doubt
- deimhinnfree from any doubt
- cinnteach(linguistics) designating an identified or immediately identifiable person or thing
Spanish definido, indudable
- definidohaving distinct limits
- indudablefree from any doubt
- definido(linguistics) designating an identified or immediately identifiable person or thing
Swedish bestämd, bestämd
- bestämdhaving distinct limits
- bestämdfree from any doubt
- bestämd(linguistics) designating an identified or immediately identifiable person or thing
Ukrainian ви́значений, пе́вний
- ви́значений (význačenyj)having distinct limits
- пе́вний (pévnyj)having distinct limits
- ви́значений (význačenyj)free from any doubt
Welsh pendant
- pendantfree from any doubt
Cite this entry
APA
definite. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/definite
MLA
“definite.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/definite. Accessed November 3, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “definite,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/definite.
Source: definite on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.