Standard Lemma guide

definiteness

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • UK: /ˈdɛfɪnɪtnəs/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The state or quality of being definite.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable, usually

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: indefiniteness

2

noun

Meaning 2

the quality of being predictable with great confidence

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: determinateness

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: predictability

Narrower terms: finality, conclusiveness, decisiveness

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English definite Proto-Germanic *-in- Proto-Indo-European *-h2 Proto-Indo-European *-éh2 Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh2yéti Proto-Indo-European *-h2ti Proto-Germanic *-ōną Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English definiteness From definite + -ness.

Across languages

Translations

15 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Esperanto: difiniteco — the state or quality of being definite
  • Finnish: definiittisyys — the state or quality of being definite
  • Finnish: määräisyys — the state or quality of being definite
  • French: définitude — the state or quality of being definite
  • German: Bestimmtheit — the state or quality of being definite
  • German: Definitheit — the state or quality of being definite
  • German: Determiniertheit — the state or quality of being definite
  • German: Determination — the state or quality of being definite
  • Hindi: निश्चितता (niścittā) — the state or quality of being definite
  • Icelandic: ákveðni — the state or quality of being definite
  • Korean: 한정성 — the state or quality of being definite
  • Polish: określoność — the state or quality of being definite
  • Spanish: definitud — the state or quality of being definite
  • Swedish: bestämdhet — the state or quality of being definite
  • Swedish: species — the state or quality of being definite