definAtely

Definately is a common misspelling of definitely. In standard English, there is no word definAtely; the correct form is definitely.

The correct spelling, definitely, is an adverb derived from the adjective definite, with the suffix -ly added. The adjective definite comes from Latin definitus, meaning settled or certain. In use, definitely means without doubt or with certainty, as in “This is definitely the right answer.”

The misspelling often arises from confusion about the root and suffix, or from misremembering how definite becomes an adverb. It is frequently encountered in informal writing, on social media, and in quick typing. Some readers treat it as a harmless typographical error, but it is generally considered incorrect in formal writing and publications.

How to avoid the error: memorize the correct form, definitely (d-e-f-i-n-i-t-e-l-y). A helpful mnemonic is that the word comes from definite plus the suffix -ly, and it contains two i’s before the -tely ending. If in doubt, rely on spell-check tools or consider synonyms such as certainly or without a doubt.

In sum, definAtely is not recognized as the standard spelling. For formal or careful writing, use definitely to convey certainty and precision.