Definitive

Serving to define, fix, or specify precisely; decisive and conclusive. A Definitive account, answer, or edition provides the last word, leaving no room for doubt or further improvement. It represents the highest standard of authority and completeness on a particular subject, often arrived at after exhaustive investigation or debate. It implies a sense of finality and is considered reliable and authoritative. However, it should be noted that even a definition that can seem to cover all points is open to debate and nuance.

Definitive meaning with examples

• The court's ruling was Definitive, settling the legal dispute and providing a clear precedent for future cases involving similar circumstances, making further appeals unlikely and setting a new standard.
• After years of research, the scientist published a Definitive study on the migratory patterns of monarch butterflies, tracing them over thousands of miles and confirming their reliance on specific habitats.
• This edition of Shakespeare's complete works is considered the Definitive version, meticulously edited with extensive annotations and variant readings that allow scholars to dive into the text.
• The team needed a Definitive answer on whether to invest in the new technology or stick with the old ways; this decision would influence the success of the company moving forward.