Word for Wednesday: Definitely

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Our Word for Wednesday theme for 2023 is tricky spelling words. This year, after sharing the definition and etymology of each week’s word, we will end every blog post with some tips and tricks to help you spell it.

So far in March, we've looked at words beautiful, because, and business.Our fouth tricky spelling word of the month is definitely.

The word definitely is used to describe something that will happen without doubt or question. 

Here is definitely used in some example sentences:

  • It will definitely rain later. 
  • Are you definitely coming to my party?
  • My spelling has definitely improved since I started practising every day.

Definitely dates to the 1580s and comes from the word definite and the suffix ­-ly. Definite has been used since around 1500 to mean ‘certain’ and since to 1550s to mean ‘having fixed limits’. The word comes from the Latin ‘definitus’.

To help you remember how to spell this word, think of the word fin at the end of a film – it shows that film is definitely over. Definitely also contains the word finite.

Test yourself in one of our spelling games using the word definitely. 


22 Mar 2023
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"Thank goodness for Spellzone during this remote learning phase. The site is easy for students to navigate independently and they're really enjoying the activities and spelling games. You get an awful lot for your money with Spellzone. Really reassuring is the very prompt response with helpdesk queries. I've very rarely needed the helpdesk, but when I have, the issue has been addressed and sorted within a very short time."

Sarah Taggart, Oasis Academy Lord's Hill