There are 41,500 search results on Bing for the misspelling 'Definitly'. 'Definitly' ranks in the top 50 of most common errors caught by TripleChecker, with at least 612 websites containing this mistake.¹
The word "definitely" is an adverb. It is used to express certainty or clarity about something. The definition of "definitely" is to indicate that something is without doubt or clearly established.
Definitely
The word 'definitely' originates from the Latin word 'definitus,' which means 'limited, determined.' It evolved through Old French as 'définitif' and later emerged in Middle English as 'definit.' The current form, 'definitely,' began to be used in English around the late 19th century.
The word 'definitely' is pronounced as /ˈdɛfɪnətli/. It can be broken down phonetically as "def-in-it-lee."
The word 'definitely' can be used in a sentence such as, "I will definitely attend the meeting tomorrow." Caveats for correct spelling and usage include ensuring that 'definitely' is not confused with similar-sounding words like 'defiantly' or misspelled as 'definately,' which is a common error. It's important to remember that 'definitely' conveys certainty, so it should be used in contexts where you want to express assurance.