adj.1 (of an answer, treaty, verdict, etc.) decisive, unconditional, final.
Usage:
Often confused in this sense with definite, which does not have connotations of authority and conclusiveness: a definite no is a firm refusal, whereas a definitive no is an authoritative judgement or decision that something is not the case.
2 (of an edition of a book etc.) most authoritative.
3 Philately (of a series of stamps) for permanent use, not commemorative etc.
Derivatives:
definitively adv.
Etymology: ME f. OF definitif -ive f. L definitivus (as DEFINE)