• "Definately" is an incorrect spelling of the word "definitely."
  • "Definitely" is an adverb that means without a doubt or certainly.
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Definately vs. Definitely: Which is the Correct Spelling?

For example...

❌​​ She will definately attend the meeting tomorrow.

✅ She will definitely attend the meeting tomorrow.

"Definitely" is used to emphasize the certainty of attending the meeting.

What does "definitely" mean?

"Definitely" means without any doubt or uncertainty. It emphasizes the assurance or conviction of a statement, indicating that something is unquestionably true or will certainly happen. When used in conversation or writing, "definitely" adds emphasis and clarity to a statement, leaving no room for ambiguity or interpretation. For example, if someone says, "I will definitely be there," it conveys a strong commitment and confidence that they will attend.

Additionally, "definitely" can serve as a marker of affirmation or agreement, indicating strong approval or confirmation of something. For instance, if someone says, "That movie was definitely worth watching," it implies a high level of satisfaction or enjoyment.

Overall, "definitely" is a versatile word that enhances the clarity and conviction of a statement, conveying certainty, assurance, or strong affirmation.

Definately vs. Definitely: Which is the Correct Spelling?

The use of "definately" and "definitely" over time

The Ngram graph below shows how often "definately" and "definitely" have been used from the 1800s to the 2000s. "Definitely" has seen steady use throughout time, peaking in the 1920s before declining, while its misspelling "definately" has always seen nearly zero use.

Definately vs. Definitely: Which is the Correct Spelling?
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Definately vs. Definitely: Which is the Correct Spelling?

How to pronounce "definitely"

In both British and American English, "definitely" is pronounced like "deh·fuh·nuht·lee".

Additional notes:
This is just the standard pronunciation, and there may be slight variations depending on regional accents and individual speech patterns.

Why would we misspell "definitely" as "definately"?

  1. Typographical error: "Definately" is essentially "definitely" with an "a" instead of an "i", and it may be easy to mistype "definitely" as "definately" when typing quickly or carelessly.
  2. Phonetics: The pronunciation of "definitely" may lead some to misspell it as "definately" since the final syllable "nitely" could be mistakenly perceived as "nately".

Other common misspellings of "definitely"

  1. definatly
  2. definately
  3. definitly
  4. definetly
  5. definitaley

Example sentences of the misspelling of "definitely" as "definate"

  1. "Misspelling" is the incorrect spelling of the word "definitely".
  2. The word "definately" is commonly misspelled as "definitely".
  3. "Definately" is a common misspelling of the word "definitely".
  4. It's important to remember that "definitely" does not have an "a" after the "i" as in "definately".
  5. Always double-check your spelling to ensure you don't accidentally write "definately" instead of "definitely".

Example sentences of "definitely"

  1. I will definitely call you later.
  2. She definitely deserves a promotion for her hard work.
  3. Are you coming to the party? - Definitely!
  4. This is definitely the best pizza I've ever had.
  5. He definitely needs to improve his time management skills.
  6. We will definitely consider your proposal for the project.
  7. The weather forecast predicts rain tomorrow, so we should definitely bring umbrellas.
  8. I'm definitely looking forward to the weekend.
  9. She definitely saw him enter the building.
  10. I can definitely help you with that problem.

Synonyms for "definitely"

  1. Certainly
  2. Absolutely
  3. Without a doubt
  4. Undoubtedly
  5. Positively

Definately vs. Definitely: Which is the Correct Spelling?

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Definately vs. Definitely: Which is the Correct Spelling?


References:

Definition of DESCRIPTION
an act of describing; specifically : discourse intended to give a mental image of something experienced; a statement or account giving the characteristics of someone or something : a descriptive statement or account… See the full definition
Definately vs. Definitely: Which is the Correct Spelling?