nondefinitive

Nondefinitive is an adjective describing something that is not final or conclusive; it denotes outcomes, statements, or conclusions that leave questions unresolved and typically require further information or analysis.

Etymology: It combines the prefix non- with definitive, from Latin definitus “settled, decided.” The term has long been used in scientific, medical, and legal contexts to signal uncertainty or provisional status.

In medicine, a nondefinitive diagnosis or nondefinitive biopsy means that the results do not conclusively identify a condition, and additional testing or observation is usually needed. In research and journalism, nondefinitive findings describe results that are suggestive but not sufficient to establish a firm conclusion. In policymaking or law, a nondefinitive decision may occur when evidence is incomplete or when a ruling is postponed pending further review.

Related terms include provisional, tentative, and inconclusive; while all imply some degree of uncertainty, nondefinitive emphasizes the absence of a final, settled determination rather than a complete inability to decide. A definitive result, by contrast, resolves the question beyond reasonable doubt.

See also: definitive; inconclusive; provisional; tentative; preliminary.