Definitely not Meaning and Definition

Pronunciation

/dɪˈfaltli nɔt/ 🔊

Part of Speech

Adverb

Definition

In the context of negation, a statement or assertion that is categorically and unequivocally untrue.

Examples

• The politician promised to lower taxes, but it was definitely not true.
• The company claimed to have the best product, but it was definitely not a fact.

Synonyms

• Never
• Not at all
• Categorically false

Antonyms

• Actually
• True
• Factually correct

Etymology

The word “Definitely not” is a negation of the phrase “Definitely”, which has its roots in the Old English words “dēfen” meaning “firmly” and “līc” meaning “like”. The prefix “not” is a negation added to emphasize the falsity of the statement.

Usage Notes

Use “Definitely not” only when you want to explicitly state that something is untrue. Avoid using it in casual conversations as it may come across as confrontational.

Cultural References

“Definitely not” has been used in various films, TV shows, and literature to emphasize the truth or falsity of a statement.

Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases

This phrase is often used in conjunction with other phrases such as “it’s not true that”, “it’s not the case that”, or “it’s not the situation that”.

Related Words or Phrases

Not, Never, Never ever, Not at all, Categorically.

Collocations

It’s often used with other phrases such as, “I am definitely not…”, “He said definitely not…”, “Definitely not the best…”, etc.

Frequency of Use

Definitely not is a relatively less commonly used phrase, but is gaining popularity in formal writing and spoken language.

Common Misspellings

Gerbera, Defiantly, Defenately, Definately.