Definite means clear, fixed and certain — a definite answer, a definite date. Definitive means conclusive and authoritative: the version that settles the matter. A definite answer is unambiguous; a definitive one cannot be improved on.
The core difference
Both mean settled, but at different levels of authority.
- definite — clear, certain, not vague: a definite improvement.
- definitive — authoritative and final: the definitive biography.
Where the distinction shows
A definite answer is simply not vague — it might still be wrong. A definitive answer claims to end the discussion. Calling something the definitive account claims a great deal more than calling it a definite one, which is why the words are worth keeping apart.
The grammar term
Definite article means "the" — as opposed to the indefinite "a" or "an". Nothing to do with certainty in the ordinary sense; it marks whether the noun is a specific known one.
Frequently asked questions
Which word means the final authoritative version?
Definitive. Definite just means clear and certain.
Can something be definite but not definitive?
Yes. A definite answer is unambiguous but may still be superseded; a definitive one claims to settle the matter.
What is the definite article?
The word "the", which marks a specific known noun, as opposed to the indefinite "a" or "an".