Definition
A definite purpose is one specific goal a person decides to pursue above all others. It is definite in two senses: it is singular rather than a scattered list of wishes, and it is precise rather than vague — stated clearly enough that progress toward it can be recognized.
The contrast is with drifting. A person without a definite purpose responds to whatever circumstance presents and rarely accumulates momentum. A person with one has a fixed reference point that organizes daily choices and gives effort a direction.
Why it matters
How it works
Setting a definite purpose begins with choosing one goal and defining it concretely — what it is, what reaching it would look like, and ideally by when. The purpose is then kept visible through repetition and review, so it stays at the front of the mind. With a fixed target in place, the person can build a plan, identify the next action, and judge whether any given opportunity moves them closer or further away. The clarity itself does much of the work, because attention naturally follows a well-defined aim.