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En définitive or définitivement: a final judgement or a lasting change
Distinguish en définitive from définitivement in French conclusions. Compare an on-balance judgement with a lasting closure or final settlement.
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In short
En définitive introduces an ultimate or on-balance judgement; définitivement often means permanently or for good. En définitive, le projet est utile sums up an assessment. Le service ferme définitivement describes lasting closure.
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The two expressions share a family resemblance but can change a claim substantially. An evaluation can remain open to future evidence even when it ends with en définitive. A closure described as définitive concerns the intended lasting status of the closure.
- en définitiveautomatically permanentlyultimately / on balance
En définitive, l’essai paraît utile malgré ses limites.On balance, the trial seems useful despite its limits.
Use it to introduce the conclusion of an assessment.
- définitivement ferméon balance closedpermanently closed
Le guichet sera définitivement fermé à partir de juin.The counter will be permanently closed from June.
The adverb concerns the lasting status of closure.
- régler définitivement un problèmemerely summarise itsettle a problem once and for all
Cette réparation doit régler définitivement le problème.This repair is intended to settle the problem once and for all.
The wording makes a strong lasting-resolution claim.
- en définitive, retenir une optionprove the option can never changeultimately choose an option
En définitive, le comité retient un essai limité.Ultimately, the committee chooses a limited trial.
The phrase locates the outcome of deliberation, not an eternal guarantee.
Look at what the expression modifies
En définitive commonly frames a whole concluding sentence. Définitivement modifies a verb or qualifying expression: fermer définitivement, définitivement acquis. The difference is not simply formal versus informal. Both can appear in serious prose, but they state different relations.
En définitive, le comité refuse de fermer définitivement l’accueil.
Ultimately, the committee refuses to close reception permanently.
When paraphrasing, preserve lasting-change claims rather than adding them for emphasis. Le problème semble réglé is weaker than le problème est définitivement réglé. The adverb can be attractive in a conclusion, but it needs the support appropriate to the strength it adds.