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Planning & Processnoun · /ˌdefɪˈnɪʃən əv ˈdʌn/

definition of done

In simple English

The definition of done is a critical agreement within agile and scrum teams about what work is truly complete. It goes beyond just writing code—it includes code reviews, automated testing, manual testing, documentation updates, and any other activities necessary to ensure quality and maintainability. Teams create a definition of done at the start of a project to prevent misunderstandings and ensure consistency across all work items. In practice, a definition of done might require that code passes unit tests, is peer-reviewed, meets coding standards, has updated documentation, passes integration testing, and is approved by the product owner before merging to the main branch. When someone says "this task meets our definition of done," it means all these criteria have been satisfied, not just that the code has been written. Having a clear definition of done reduces rework, improves quality, and ensures team members know exactly what is expected before declaring work finished. It is discussed during sprint planning and refined as the team learns what works best for their project.

Non-native speakers want to understand what this agile/scrum term means and how it is used in team settings.

At a glanceCEFR B2
Commonness4/5
Versatility4/5
FormalityCasualFormalNeutral
Spoken ↔ WrittenSpokenWrittenBoth
Directness ↔ DiplomaticDirectDiplomaticDirect
RegionUS and UK
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Say it like this

Does this work meet our definition of done?
We cannot merge this PR until it meets the definition of done.
The definition of done requires all tests to pass before deployment.

Real examples

in a standup

"I finished the login feature, but it does not meet our definition of done yet because the tests are still failing."

in a code review

"According to our definition of done, this pull request needs updated documentation before I can approve it."

in a sprint planning meeting

"Before we start this sprint, let us review and update our definition of done to include performance testing."

Don't say this

Handle with care. Often mistaken as simply finishing work; it is actually a specific checklist of criteria that must be met before work is considered complete.

The definition of done means the code is written.
The definition of done means the code is written, tested, reviewed, documented, and approved.Definition of done includes a full checklist of criteria, not just code completion.
We will define done after the project is finished.
We should establish our definition of done before we start the project.Teams must agree on definition of done upfront to ensure consistency and prevent confusion.
This task is almost done; we just need to deploy it.
This task meets our definition of done and is ready to deploy.Use the phrase correctly to indicate all criteria have been met, not that work is merely close to finished.

Other forms

noun

definition of done

"Our team established a clear definition of done for all user stories."

noun phrase

meet the definition of done

"This feature does not yet meet the definition of done because it lacks proper error handling."

Often used with

meet the definition of doneUsed to indicate a task satisfies all required criteria.
establish a definition of doneUsed when a team creates their initial checklist of completion criteria.
update the definition of doneUsed when a team refines or changes their criteria based on new learnings.
our definition of doneUsed to refer to a specific team or organization's set of completion standards.

Similar words

acceptance criteriaMore specific to individual user stories; definition of done applies to the entire team and project.
completion checklistLess formal term; definition of done is the standard agile/scrum terminology.
done criteriaInformal version; definition of done is the preferred term in agile environments.

Opposites

work in progressincompletenot ready for release

Practice

Try it

4 quick exercises

Pick the most natural phrasing

1. Your team needs to agree on what finished work looks like. What do you say?

Complete the sentence

2. This feature does not _______ because it has not been tested yet.

Spot the mistake

3. Which sentence uses 'definition of done' incorrectly?

Rewrite naturally

4. Rewrite this using definition of done: 'Before we say the feature is complete, we must check that the code works, the tests pass, someone reviewed it, and the user documentation is updated.'

Questions

Quick poll

Have you said "definition of done" in a standup this week?

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