conclusive

[ kuhn-kloo-siv ]

adjective

1. serving to settle or decide a question; decisive; convincing:

   conclusive evidence.

   Synonyms: definitive

2. tending to terminate; closing.

conclusive

/ kənˈkluːsɪv /

adjective

1. putting an end to doubt; decisive; final
2. approaching or involving an end or conclusion

Derived Forms

• conˈclusiveness, noun
• conˈclusively, adverb

Other Words From

• con·clusive·ly adverb
• con·clusive·ness noun
• noncon·clusive adjective
• noncon·clusive·ly adverb
• noncon·clusive·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of conclusive¹

1580–90; < Late Latin conclūsīvus, equivalent to Latin conclūs ( us ) (past participle of conclūdere to conclude; conclusion ) + -īvus -ive

Example Sentences

Now, a conclusive proof posted in November has certifiably identified all the special tetrahedra there are to find.

From Quanta Magazine

Still, it is hard to make conclusive statements about the relationship between higher temperatures and snow because of how infrequently snowstorms occur.

From Washington Post

That data is not fully conclusive because it is not based on comprehensive genomic sequencing.

From Washington Post

They recently saw hints of a discovery in the first dozen years of data and hope for a conclusive result soon when they process the entire 16-year run, which will become part of Arecibo’s scientific legacy.

From Popular-Science

The new study doesn’t provide conclusive answers, but it does expose a possibly telling imbalance in the cichlids’ evolutionary tree.

From Quanta Magazine

Finding that conclusive link, however, seems unlikely given the track record of these studies.

From The Daily Beast

There is conclusive proof that Russia has been shelling Ukraine since at least July 16th, the day before MH17 was shot down.

From The Daily Beast

There remains no conclusive evidence as to what happened on or to the plane.

From The Daily Beast

For three weeks, the government continuously failed to act publicly or release conclusive information on the emergency.

From The Daily Beast

The contrast is stark and the case conclusive when you examine the records of the second Bush and Barack Obama.

From The Daily Beast

By statute the stock record of ownership is usually made the conclusive test of the right to vote.

From Project Gutenberg

This last seems to me to present the greatest difficulty, and the evidence at present appears scarcely conclusive.

From Project Gutenberg

This examination is made by an examiner, whose decision, however, is not conclusive and may be set aside by the commissioner.

From Project Gutenberg

Finally, in 1829, Bouvard wrote Minoret asking him to come to Paris to assist in some conclusive tests of magnetism.

From Project Gutenberg

The question of dependence is one of fact; contributions by the deceased tend to establish this, but are not conclusive.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• compelling
• convincing
• decisive
• indisputable
• irrefutable
• irrevocable
• precise
• unambiguous
• undeniable
• unmistakable