When you type quickly, definately can look perfectly reasonable. It sounds close to the way many people pronounce the word, and the letters seem to fall into a familiar pattern. There’s just one problem: definately is not the correct spelling.
The correct spelling is definitely.
This small spelling difference matters because definitely appears everywhere, from everyday texts and emails to school assignments and professional writing. A single missing i can make an otherwise polished sentence look careless.
The good news? Once you understand where the spelling comes from, it becomes much easier to remember. The word contains finite, which gives you a simple and reliable spelling trick.
Quick Answer
Definitely is the correct spelling. Definately is a common misspelling.
| Word | Correct? | Meaning |
| Definitely | Yes | Certainly; without doubt |
| Definately | No | Common misspelling of definitely |
| Definitively | Yes | In a final, conclusive, or authoritative way |
Example:
I will definitely be there tomorrow.
Not:
I will definately be there tomorrow.
The easiest way to remember the correct spelling is to notice the word finite inside definitely:
de + finite + ly = definitely
Is “Definately” a Word?
Definately is not the standard English spelling of a word. It commonly appears because people misspell definitely, especially when typing quickly.
That distinction is important. You may see definately in social media posts, comments, text messages, forums, or even informal documents. Its appearance doesn’t make it an accepted spelling.
English contains thousands of words whose spelling isn’t obvious from pronunciation. Definitely is one of them. Because the middle part of the word can sound less distinct in everyday speech, writers sometimes insert an a where the spelling requires an i.
Consider these examples:
- Correct: I definitely want to go.
- Incorrect: I definately want to go.
- Correct: She definitely knows the answer.
- Incorrect: She definately knows the answer.
If you’re writing something for school, work, publication, or a formal message, use definitely.
What Does Definitely Mean?
Definitely is an adverb that expresses certainty. When you use it, you’re saying that something is true, certain, or very likely without expressing doubt.
For example:
I will definitely call you tonight.
The speaker isn’t merely saying that calling is possible. They’re expressing a firm intention.
You can also use definitely to give a strong affirmative answer:
“Are you coming with us?”
“Definitely!”
In this situation, the word works almost like a complete response. It communicates a confident yes.
Here are several common meanings and uses:
| Use | Example | What it communicates |
| Expressing certainty | She definitely passed. | There is no real doubt. |
| Confirming an intention | I’ll definitely attend. | The speaker strongly intends to attend. |
| Strong agreement | “That’s the best option.” “Definitely.” | Strong agreement |
| Emphasizing a statement | This is definitely important. | Strong emphasis |
| Rejecting doubt | He definitely didn’t do it. | Strong certainty about a negative claim |
The word can add confidence to a sentence without making the sentence unnecessarily formal.
How Do You Spell Definitely?
The correct spelling is:
D-E-F-I-N-I-T-E-L-Y
The easiest spelling pattern to remember is:
DEFINITE + LY = DEFINITELY
Even better, look at the middle of the word:
DE-FINITE-LY
You can clearly see finite inside it.
That gives you a useful memory trick:
definitely contains finite.
This is more reliable than trying to memorize the entire word as one long sequence of letters.
The “Finite” Spelling Trick
Think of the related word definite:
definite → definitely
Now identify the shared core:
finite
So when you’re unsure whether the word contains an a or an i, remember:
de-FINITE-ly
Not:
de-FINATE-ly
The correct spelling therefore becomes much easier to reconstruct.
Why Do People Spell Definitely as Definately?
The spelling error doesn’t happen randomly. Definitely has several features that make it easy to mistype.
First, pronunciation doesn’t always reveal every letter clearly. In normal conversation, unstressed sounds often become less distinct. That can make the written form harder to reconstruct from memory.
Second, English spelling doesn’t always follow pronunciation perfectly. If every word were spelled exactly as it sounded, English would be much simpler. Unfortunately, that’s not how the language developed.
Third, people often rely on visual patterns they’ve encountered in other words. The incorrect form definately can look plausible because English contains many words with -ate patterns.
Typing speed adds another layer. When you write quickly, your brain may retrieve a familiar-looking spelling rather than carefully checking every letter.
The Most Common Spelling Errors
You may encounter several variations:
- definately
- definetly
- definatly
- definetely
- definitly
None of these is the standard spelling.
The correct form is:
definitely
The important letters to preserve are the two i’s in the middle:
def + i + n + i + tely
Definitely Pronunciation
The pronunciation of definitely helps explain why its spelling causes trouble.
In American English, it is commonly pronounced approximately as:
DEF-uh-nit-lee
Notice something interesting: the spelling contains several letters that don’t stand out strongly when the word is spoken quickly.
That’s why using pronunciation alone as a spelling guide can lead you astray.
Compare:
Spelling: definitely
Common pronunciation: DEF-uh-nit-lee
The written word has more visual information than you might hear in casual speech.
This is a useful lesson beyond this one word: pronunciation can help with spelling, but it shouldn’t always be your only guide.
Definitely in a Sentence
Once the spelling is settled, using definitely is straightforward.
The word usually adds certainty or emphasis to another statement.
Here are examples from everyday situations.
Everyday Examples
- I definitely need some coffee this morning.
- She definitely wants to come with us.
- That movie is definitely worth watching.
- I’ll definitely remember your advice.
- He definitely knows what happened.
- We definitely have enough food.
- You should definitely try this restaurant.
Work and School Examples
- We definitely need more time to finish the project.
- She definitely understood the assignment.
- The team definitely improved this quarter.
- You should definitely review the report before submitting it.
- He definitely deserves recognition for his work.
Conversation Examples
- “Do you want to come?” “Definitely!”
- “Was that the right decision?” “Definitely.”
- “Would you recommend it?” “Definitely.”
Negative Statements
You can also use definitely with negative constructions:
- I definitely don’t want to miss the meeting.
- She definitely isn’t ready yet.
- He definitely won’t forget.
- We definitely shouldn’t ignore the warning.
- That’s definitely not what I meant.
These examples show that definitely isn’t limited to positive statements. It can strengthen certainty in either direction.
Definitely vs. Definately Examples
Seeing the two forms side by side makes the distinction easier to remember.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| I will definately go. | I will definitely go. |
| She definately knows. | She definitely knows. |
| We definately need help. | We definitely need help. |
| That’s definately true. | That’s definitely true. |
| I definately agree. | I definitely agree. |
| Definately! | Definitely! |
| He will definately call. | He will definitely call. |
| You should definately try it. | You should definitely try it. |
The mistake usually involves replacing one of the i’s with a or dropping an i entirely.
The cure is simple: remember finite.
The Easiest Trick to Remember Definitely
Here’s the spelling trick worth keeping:
There is “finite” inside “definitely.”
Break the word apart:
DE + FINITE + LY
Now compare it with the common mistake:
DE + FINATE + LY
The second version changes finite into finate, which isn’t the form you need.
Another useful chain is:
definite → definitely
If you can spell definite, you already know most of the word.
A Quick Memory Sentence
Try remembering this:
“Definitely has finite in it.”
It may sound a little odd. That’s exactly why it can stick.
When you’re typing and suddenly wonder whether the word is definately or definitely, stop and look for finite.
de-FINITE-ly
Problem solved.
Definitely vs. Definitively
Definitely and definitively are both correct words, but they don’t mean exactly the same thing.
Definitely expresses certainty.
I definitely want to go.
Here, the speaker feels certain about wanting to go.
Definitively generally suggests something final, conclusive, or authoritative.
The investigation did not definitively establish the cause.
Here, the meaning isn’t simply “certainly.” It concerns whether the investigation reached a final or conclusive determination.
| Word | Basic meaning | Example |
| Definitely | Certainly; without doubt | She definitely agreed. |
| Definitively | In a final or conclusive way | The evidence did not definitively prove the theory. |
This distinction matters because replacing one with the other can change the meaning.
Consider:
He definitely won.
This expresses certainty that he won.
Now:
He won definitively.
This suggests that his victory was clear, decisive, or conclusive.
The two words share the definite root, but they perform different jobs.
Definitely vs. Certainly
Definitely and certainly are close synonyms. Both can express confidence or certainty.
For example:
I will definitely attend.
and:
I will certainly attend.
Both sentences communicate a strong commitment to attending.
However, the tone can differ slightly depending on context.
Definitely often sounds natural and conversational:
“Want to grab lunch?”
“Definitely.”
Certainly can sound somewhat more formal or polished:
“Would you be available for a meeting?”
“Certainly.”
Neither word is inherently better. The best choice depends on the sentence and tone.
Other related words include:
- certainly
- surely
- undoubtedly
- unquestionably
- absolutely
- clearly
- for sure
Still, don’t treat synonyms as interchangeable in every situation. For sure, for instance, is more conversational than definitely in many contexts.
Is Definitely Formal or Informal?
Definitely works in both casual and formal writing.
You can use it in a text message:
Definitely! I’ll be there.
You can also use it in professional writing:
The company will definitely need additional resources before the launch.
And it works naturally in academic or explanatory writing:
This result definitely requires further investigation.
The word itself isn’t slang or overly casual. Its tone comes largely from the surrounding sentence.
Compare:
“Yeah, definitely!”
with:
“The findings definitely support the proposed conclusion.”
The first sounds conversational because of the surrounding language. The second sounds professional because of its context.
Read More: Chief vs Cheif: Which Spelling Is Correct?
Common Mistakes With Definitely
Knowing the common errors makes proofreading much faster.
Definately
This is probably the most recognizable misspelling.
Wrong:
I definately agree.
Correct:
I definitely agree.
The error replaces the correct i with a.
Definetly
Here, one i disappears.
Wrong:
She will definetly come.
Correct:
She will definitely come.
Definatly
This version loses the e as well as changing the internal spelling.
Wrong:
That’s definatly true.
Correct:
That’s definitely true.
Definetely
This spelling can happen when writers remember the beginning of the word but reconstruct the ending incorrectly.
Wrong:
We definetely need more time.
Correct:
We definitely need more time.
Definitly
This version drops the e before ly.
Wrong:
I definitly remember.
Correct:
I definitely remember.
The best defense against all these variations remains the same:
definite + ly = definitely
Definitely Grammar: How to Use It Correctly
Because definitely is an adverb, it commonly modifies a verb, adjective, or entire statement.
You don’t need complicated grammar rules to use it correctly. Instead, pay attention to what you want to emphasize.
Definitely Before a Verb
I definitely agree.
She definitely understands.
They definitely need help.
This is one of the most common patterns.
Definitely With an Adjective
That is definitely better.
The result is definitely impressive.
This option is definitely safer.
Here, definitely strengthens the adjective.
Definitely Not
The phrase definitely not is extremely common.
I’m definitely not leaving early.
That’s definitely not the answer.
She definitely isn’t responsible.
It gives a strong sense of certainty about the negative statement.
Definitely as a Standalone Response
You can use it alone in conversation:
“Would you recommend this book?”
“Definitely.”
Here, the word functions as a concise affirmative response.
FAQs:
Is “definately” correct?
No. Definately is a common misspelling. The correct spelling is definitely.
How do you spell definitely?
Spell it:
D-E-F-I-N-I-T-E-L-Y
A useful breakdown is:
de + finite + ly
What is the easiest way to remember definitely?
Remember that finite appears inside the word:
de-FINITE-ly
This helps you avoid replacing the i with an a.
What does definitely mean?
Definitely means certainly, without doubt, or in a definite manner. It expresses confidence or certainty.
Is definitely an adverb?
Yes. Definitely is an adverb. It commonly modifies verbs, adjectives, or an entire statement.
For example:
I definitely agree.
Conclusion:
The difference between definitely vs. definately is simple once you know what to look for. Definitely is correct. Definately is a misspelling. The correct spelling is useful because definitely is one of those everyday words that appears constantly in conversation and writing. Whether you’re saying “Definitely!” to a friend, writing a work email, or finishing a school assignment, definitely is the form to use.
