“That's the definite biography of Lincoln.”
Usage Entry 1039 / 1350 60-second read
Definite vs. Definitive
Clear and fixed versus final and authoritative.
The comparisoni
“That's the definitive biography of Lincoln.”
The ruleii
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DEFINITE = clear. DEFINITIVE = final.
DEFINITE means clearly stated or fixed. DEFINITIVE goes further — the authoritative, final word. Every definitive thing is definite; not every definite thing is definitive.
Memory aidiii
Remember it like this
DefinITIVE = the last word.