# definite

/ˈdɛfənət/ (US) · /dˈɛfɪnət/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/definite
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. certain and clear

adjective · CEFR B1

sure and certain, with no doubt at all.

For teachers: free from doubt or ambiguity; clearly stated or decided.

- We need a definite answer by tomorrow so we can book the flight.
- The manager provided a definite timeline for the project, leaving no room for the previous ambiguity regarding the launch date.

### 2. having fixed limits

adjective · CEFR B2 · Academic

having clear limits or a fixed shape.

For teachers: having distinct or fixed limits; clearly defined in form or scope.

- The square has a definite shape with four equal sides.
- The research study was confined to a definite geographical area to ensure the data remained manageable for the small team.

### 3. identifying a specific thing

adjective · CEFR B1 · Technical

used in grammar to talk about a specific person or thing that we already know about.

For teachers: designating a specific, identifiable entity or group; typically used in reference to the 'definite article'.

- In the sentence 'I saw the dog', 'the' is the definite article.
- The use of the definite article implies that the speaker and listener share a common understanding of which specific object is being discussed.

Usage: Usually precedes the noun it modifies.

### 4. something certain

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

something that is certain to happen or is already decided.

For teachers: a thing that is certain, settled, or beyond question.

- Is the party happening on Saturday? Yes, it's a definite.
- While most of the schedule is still being debated, the keynote speaker is a definite for the opening ceremony.

## Examples

- We need a definite answer by tomorrow morning.
- The manager gave a definite 'no' when asked if the deadline could be moved to next week.
- While the initial results were promising, the researchers cautioned that they lacked definite proof until a larger clinical trial could be completed under controlled conditions.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.