Is It Definitely or Definately? Difference, Examples, and Easy Rule

Definitely means certainly or without doubt. Definately means a common misspelling of definitely. The safest choice depends on whether you need the standard spelling, a regional spelling, or a different word entirely.

I will definitely call you tomorrow.
Definately is not the standard spelling.

These forms are easy to confuse because they look close on the page. In careful writing, spelling matters because readers notice mistakes quickly. Use definitely when the sentence needs certainly or without doubt. Use definately only when it truly fits: a common misspelling of definitely.

Definitely vs. Definately at a glance

Form	Type	Meaning or status	Example
definitely	adverb	certainly or without doubt	I will definitely call you tomorrow.
definately	misspelling	a common misspelling of definitely	Definately is not the standard spelling.

Quick rule:

Definitely = certainly or without doubt.
Definately = a common misspelling of definitely.
If the second form is a misspelling, avoid it in edited writing.

When to use definitely

Use definitely when your sentence is about certainly or without doubt. This is the safer form for most standard English contexts.

Examples:

I will definitely call you tomorrow.
The sentence uses definitely because it matches the intended meaning.
A reader would expect definitely in this context.
Replacing it with definately may create a spelling or meaning problem.

A helpful editing test is to slow down and spell the word in parts. Long English words are easier to remember when you connect the spelling to a simple rule or familiar pattern.

When to use definately

Use definately only when the form is correct for your meaning, spelling style, or regional audience. In many cases, definately is simply a common mistake, so it should not appear in final writing.

Examples:

Definately is not the standard spelling.
The sentence uses definately because it means or represents a common misspelling of definitely.
If definately is a misspelling in your context, replace it with definitely.
In formal writing, check the spelling before you publish or submit.

This distinction matters in school writing, business emails, resumes, academic work, and public content. A small spelling error can make a strong sentence look rushed.

The easiest memory trick

Definitely has “finite” inside it: de-finite-ly.

You can also ask:

> Is this a correct word for my meaning and audience, or is it a spelling mistake?

If the standard spelling fits, choose definitely. If the second form is a valid regional or different-word choice, use it only when the context supports it.

Common phrases with definitely

definitely yes
definitely not
definitely worth it
definitely agree

Examples:

The phrase definitely yes uses definitely because it connects to certainly or without doubt.
The phrase definitely not follows the same spelling pattern.
Memorizing common phrases helps you write faster and with fewer errors.

Common phrases or notes with definately

definately wrong
definately misspelled
avoid definately
not definately

Examples:

The phrase definately wrong shows how definately may appear in searches or examples.
The phrase definately misspelled is another useful reminder.
If the form is marked as a mistake, replace it before publishing.

Common mistakes and corrections

Problem	Better choice	Why
I will definately call you tomorrow.	I will definitely call you tomorrow.	The sentence needs definitely because it means certainly or without doubt.
Definitely is not the standard spelling.	Definately is not the standard spelling.	The sentence needs definately only when it means a common misspelling of definitely.

More corrections:

Incorrect: I trusted the spelling because it looked familiar.
Correct: I checked the word against its meaning and standard spelling.
Incorrect: I treated both forms as equal in every context.
Correct: I chose the form that fits the audience and sentence.

The same spelling-first habit helps across the Spelling Confusions archive as more guides are added.

More example sentences

Examples with definitely:

I will definitely call you tomorrow.
The editor chose definitely because it matched the intended spelling.
In this sentence, definitely is clear and natural.
The sentence would look less polished with the wrong form.

Examples with definately:

Definately is not the standard spelling.
The teacher checked whether definately was correct in this context.
In many cases, definately should be replaced by definitely.
The right spelling depends on meaning, region, and style.

Why this difference matters

Spelling errors are small, but they are highly visible. Readers may understand the sentence, yet still notice that the word is wrong. That can reduce trust in an email, article, essay, application, or professional document.

The best fix is a simple habit: check the word slowly, connect it to a memory trick, and choose the spelling that matches the meaning. That habit works for definitely and definately, and it also works for many other confusing English words.

Extra editing check

Before you submit or publish important writing, search the word in your sentence and ask whether the form is standard for your audience. US readers often expect US spelling; UK readers may accept a different variant for some words.

For extra safety, keep a personal list of spellings you often miss. Review that list before sending school work, business writing, or public content.

Quick quiz

Choose the correct form.

I will definitely call you tomorrow.
_____ is not the standard spelling.
Which form means certainly or without doubt: definitely or definately?
Which form means a common misspelling of definitely: definitely or definately?

Answers:

definitely
definately
definitely
definately

FAQ

Is definitely the same as definately?

Not always. definitely means certainly or without doubt, while definately means or represents a common misspelling of definitely. In many cases, one form is simply a spelling mistake.

How do I remember definitely vs. definately?

Use the memory trick and the meaning test. Ask what the sentence needs, then choose the spelling that fits that meaning and audience.

Which form should I use for US readers?

For a US audience, use the standard American spelling unless you are quoting a source, comparing regional spellings, or discussing a different word.

Can both forms ever be correct?

Sometimes, yes. Some pairs include regional variants or different words. But if one form is a misspelling, avoid it in edited writing.

Final tip

Do not choose between definitely and definately by appearance alone. If the sentence needs certainly or without doubt, use definitely. Use definately only when it is correct for the meaning, spelling style, and audience.