<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

<!--XBRL Document Created with the Workiva Platform-->
<!--Copyright 2026 Workiva-->
<!--r:019ed6f8-c018-7fbf-8442-09b452ad9913,g:8b39bab6-6f3e-4dff-97c6-d3674b87c398-->
<link:linkbase xmlns:link="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:xbrldt="http://xbrl.org/2005/xbrldt" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase http://www.xbrl.org/2003/xbrl-linkbase-2003-12-31.xsd">
  <link:arcroleRef arcroleURI="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/2005/xbrldt-2005.xsd#all"/>
  <link:arcroleRef arcroleURI="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/2005/xbrldt-2005.xsd#hypercube-dimension"/>
  <link:arcroleRef arcroleURI="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/2005/xbrldt-2005.xsd#dimension-default"/>
  <link:arcroleRef arcroleURI="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/2005/xbrldt-2005.xsd#dimension-domain"/>
  <link:arcroleRef arcroleURI="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/2005/xbrldt-2005.xsd#domain-member"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.rossstores.com/role/CondensedConsolidatedStatementsofStockholdersEquity" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="rost-20260801.xsd#CondensedConsolidatedStatementsofStockholdersEquity"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.rossstores.com/role/CondensedConsolidatedStatementsofStockholdersEquity" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-715d-8ea6-967d4655fd19" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StatementLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementTable_019ed6f8-c0de-7bc5-9f27-62963efbc2ae" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StatementTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-715d-8ea6-967d4655fd19" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementTable_019ed6f8-c0de-7bc5-9f27-62963efbc2ae" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-77bb-bea7-044c68c34001" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementTable_019ed6f8-c0de-7bc5-9f27-62963efbc2ae" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-77bb-bea7-044c68c34001" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-77bb-bea7-044c68c34001_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-77bb-bea7-044c68c34001" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-77bb-bea7-044c68c34001_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7481-a729-ae6b28080cd5" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-77bb-bea7-044c68c34001" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7481-a729-ae6b28080cd5" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7e9c-a39a-27d41386369e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7481-a729-ae6b28080cd5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7e9c-a39a-27d41386369e" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7e6b-8229-5a84bd9fe234" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7481-a729-ae6b28080cd5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7e6b-8229-5a84bd9fe234" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_TreasuryStockCommonMember_019ed6f8-c0de-776b-bc2b-051166b728d7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_TreasuryStockCommonMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7481-a729-ae6b28080cd5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_TreasuryStockCommonMember_019ed6f8-c0de-776b-bc2b-051166b728d7" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7c1b-9e45-eda1056bfc22" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7481-a729-ae6b28080cd5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7c1b-9e45-eda1056bfc22" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019ed6f8-c0de-716d-845c-83b3c39a6834" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-715d-8ea6-967d4655fd19" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019ed6f8-c0de-716d-845c-83b3c39a6834" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding_019ed6f8-c0de-7f92-b1c8-4de371d76272" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019ed6f8-c0de-716d-845c-83b3c39a6834" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding_019ed6f8-c0de-7f92-b1c8-4de371d76272" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquity_019ed6f8-c0de-77d3-bd64-da70982830e9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StockholdersEquity"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019ed6f8-c0de-716d-845c-83b3c39a6834" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquity_019ed6f8-c0de-77d3-bd64-da70982830e9" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss_019ed6f8-c0de-796f-a741-20544c3200f0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019ed6f8-c0de-716d-845c-83b3c39a6834" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss_019ed6f8-c0de-796f-a741-20544c3200f0" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedStockSharesIssuedNetOfSharesForTaxWithholdings_019ed6f8-c0de-7ca3-9e7e-0b9d2c6a4e38" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RestrictedStockSharesIssuedNetOfSharesForTaxWithholdings"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019ed6f8-c0de-716d-845c-83b3c39a6834" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedStockSharesIssuedNetOfSharesForTaxWithholdings_019ed6f8-c0de-7ca3-9e7e-0b9d2c6a4e38" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedStockValueSharesIssuedNetOfTaxWithholdings_019ed6f8-c0de-7914-8b53-44ef2cf8b912" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RestrictedStockValueSharesIssuedNetOfTaxWithholdings"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019ed6f8-c0de-716d-845c-83b3c39a6834" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedStockValueSharesIssuedNetOfTaxWithholdings_019ed6f8-c0de-7914-8b53-44ef2cf8b912" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue_019ed6f8-c0de-70c4-91e9-9ed6c6702603" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019ed6f8-c0de-716d-845c-83b3c39a6834" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue_019ed6f8-c0de-70c4-91e9-9ed6c6702603" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodShares_019ed6f8-c0de-72fb-a9a2-fb781e14ebb7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodShares"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019ed6f8-c0de-716d-845c-83b3c39a6834" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodShares_019ed6f8-c0de-72fb-a9a2-fb781e14ebb7" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_rost_StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodValueInclusiveOfExciseTax_019ed6f8-c0de-76bd-b5f4-14904d0d15c1" xlink:href="rost-20260801.xsd#rost_StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodValueInclusiveOfExciseTax"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019ed6f8-c0de-716d-845c-83b3c39a6834" xlink:to="loc_rost_StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodValueInclusiveOfExciseTax_019ed6f8-c0de-76bd-b5f4-14904d0d15c1" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DividendsCommonStockCash_019ed6f8-c0de-7acc-8ae6-c9dd754dc36b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DividendsCommonStockCash"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019ed6f8-c0de-716d-845c-83b3c39a6834" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DividendsCommonStockCash_019ed6f8-c0de-7acc-8ae6-c9dd754dc36b" xlink:type="arc" order="9"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding_019ed6f8-c0de-7503-959f-28cb2034f54c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquity_019ed6f8-c0de-782a-ba89-6be36d5fbad9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StockholdersEquity"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.rossstores.com/role/SummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="rost-20260801.xsd#SummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesNarrativeDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.rossstores.com/role/SummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-7085-bdea-8e030c5bcb8c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentTable_019ed6f8-c0de-7dbd-a309-60267b0ecb57" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-7085-bdea-8e030c5bcb8c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentTable_019ed6f8-c0de-7dbd-a309-60267b0ecb57" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-70ce-92df-8eecd130acdd" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentTable_019ed6f8-c0de-7dbd-a309-60267b0ecb57" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-70ce-92df-8eecd130acdd" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-70ce-92df-8eecd130acdd_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-70ce-92df-8eecd130acdd" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-70ce-92df-8eecd130acdd_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7a8a-9abb-f5b7a8da68db" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-70ce-92df-8eecd130acdd" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7a8a-9abb-f5b7a8da68db" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentMember_019ed6f8-c0de-728a-802f-9d8f73dbbc33" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7a8a-9abb-f5b7a8da68db" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentMember_019ed6f8-c0de-728a-802f-9d8f73dbbc33" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-729a-aafb-363c6e802cd6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentTable_019ed6f8-c0de-7dbd-a309-60267b0ecb57" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-729a-aafb-363c6e802cd6" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-729a-aafb-363c6e802cd6_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-729a-aafb-363c6e802cd6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-729a-aafb-363c6e802cd6_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-739b-889b-ee88ec30eda9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-729a-aafb-363c6e802cd6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-739b-889b-ee88ec30eda9" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7d53-b7a1-f7efce676d88" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-739b-889b-ee88ec30eda9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7d53-b7a1-f7efce676d88" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DividendsAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7b7e-9eba-e8540ed70634" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DividendsAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentTable_019ed6f8-c0de-7dbd-a309-60267b0ecb57" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DividendsAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7b7e-9eba-e8540ed70634" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DividendsDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7b7e-9eba-e8540ed70634_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DividendsDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DividendsAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7b7e-9eba-e8540ed70634" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DividendsDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7b7e-9eba-e8540ed70634_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DividendsDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-771d-8386-092deed8c3cc" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DividendsDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DividendsAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7b7e-9eba-e8540ed70634" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DividendsDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-771d-8386-092deed8c3cc" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_rost_O2026Q1DividendsMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7fd5-9f3a-dda86d6538ca" xlink:href="rost-20260801.xsd#rost_O2026Q1DividendsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DividendsDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-771d-8386-092deed8c3cc" xlink:to="loc_rost_O2026Q1DividendsMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7fd5-9f3a-dda86d6538ca" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_rost_O2026Q2DividendsMember_019f5e87-c890-71d0-bdd3-7e256b62171b" xlink:href="rost-20260801.xsd#rost_O2026Q2DividendsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DividendsDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-771d-8386-092deed8c3cc" xlink:to="loc_rost_O2026Q2DividendsMember_019f5e87-c890-71d0-bdd3-7e256b62171b" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_rost_O2025Q1DividendsMember_019ed6f8-c0de-79ad-9d99-6ccd2ec9317e" xlink:href="rost-20260801.xsd#rost_O2025Q1DividendsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DividendsDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-771d-8386-092deed8c3cc" xlink:to="loc_rost_O2025Q1DividendsMember_019ed6f8-c0de-79ad-9d99-6ccd2ec9317e" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_rost_O2025Q2DividendsMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7315-91e3-65a7ea0e513b" xlink:href="rost-20260801.xsd#rost_O2025Q2DividendsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DividendsDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-771d-8386-092deed8c3cc" xlink:to="loc_rost_O2025Q2DividendsMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7315-91e3-65a7ea0e513b" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_rost_O2025Q3DividendsMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7c22-8e04-26f1583d0dc8" xlink:href="rost-20260801.xsd#rost_O2025Q3DividendsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DividendsDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-771d-8386-092deed8c3cc" xlink:to="loc_rost_O2025Q3DividendsMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7c22-8e04-26f1583d0dc8" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_rost_O2025Q4DividendsMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7afd-af61-ca79ec9b5983" xlink:href="rost-20260801.xsd#rost_O2025Q4DividendsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DividendsDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-771d-8386-092deed8c3cc" xlink:to="loc_rost_O2025Q4DividendsMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7afd-af61-ca79ec9b5983" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7bff-9771-1f39cc613c9e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentTable_019ed6f8-c0de-7dbd-a309-60267b0ecb57" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7bff-9771-1f39cc613c9e" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7bff-9771-1f39cc613c9e_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7bff-9771-1f39cc613c9e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7bff-9771-1f39cc613c9e_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7132-90bf-13c6bb34c51f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7bff-9771-1f39cc613c9e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7132-90bf-13c6bb34c51f" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember_019ed6f8-c0de-78a7-9559-867eb6c3f3e5" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7132-90bf-13c6bb34c51f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember_019ed6f8-c0de-78a7-9559-867eb6c3f3e5" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7f27-b7b8-9f0b72f51e75" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentTable_019ed6f8-c0de-7dbd-a309-60267b0ecb57" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7f27-b7b8-9f0b72f51e75" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7f27-b7b8-9f0b72f51e75_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7f27-b7b8-9f0b72f51e75" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7f27-b7b8-9f0b72f51e75_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7924-b2e3-72d38af38feb" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7f27-b7b8-9f0b72f51e75" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7924-b2e3-72d38af38feb" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_TreasuryStockCommonMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7392-8dec-7f19c22a4163" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_TreasuryStockCommonMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7924-b2e3-72d38af38feb" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_TreasuryStockCommonMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7392-8dec-7f19c22a4163" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_GainContingenciesByNatureAxis_01a01583-7857-7c87-ba04-ffa781f2e96f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_GainContingenciesByNatureAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentTable_019ed6f8-c0de-7dbd-a309-60267b0ecb57" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_GainContingenciesByNatureAxis_01a01583-7857-7c87-ba04-ffa781f2e96f" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_GainContingencyNatureDomain_01a01583-7857-7c87-ba04-ffa781f2e96f_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_GainContingencyNatureDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_GainContingenciesByNatureAxis_01a01583-7857-7c87-ba04-ffa781f2e96f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_GainContingencyNatureDomain_01a01583-7857-7c87-ba04-ffa781f2e96f_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_GainContingencyNatureDomain_01a01583-7857-7c0a-b4b9-c0220bdbb07a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_GainContingencyNatureDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_GainContingenciesByNatureAxis_01a01583-7857-7c87-ba04-ffa781f2e96f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_GainContingencyNatureDomain_01a01583-7857-7c0a-b4b9-c0220bdbb07a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_rost_IEEPATariffRefundMember_01a01583-95a3-7d0e-8a4f-8d04ae224131" xlink:href="rost-20260801.xsd#rost_IEEPATariffRefundMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_GainContingencyNatureDomain_01a01583-7857-7c0a-b4b9-c0220bdbb07a" xlink:to="loc_rost_IEEPATariffRefundMember_01a01583-95a3-7d0e-8a4f-8d04ae224131" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NumberOfReportableSegments_019ed6f8-c0de-7f46-99d6-e922dda3c135" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_NumberOfReportableSegments"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-7085-bdea-8e030c5bcb8c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NumberOfReportableSegments_019ed6f8-c0de-7f46-99d6-e922dda3c135" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CapitalExpendituresIncurredButNotYetPaid_019ed6f8-c0de-7b6c-83d3-2c5e9bb0449c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CapitalExpendituresIncurredButNotYetPaid"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-7085-bdea-8e030c5bcb8c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CapitalExpendituresIncurredButNotYetPaid_019ed6f8-c0de-7b6c-83d3-2c5e9bb0449c" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RightOfUseAssetObtainedInExchangeForOperatingLeaseLiability_019ed6f8-c0de-7589-b63f-d082a2e0c186" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RightOfUseAssetObtainedInExchangeForOperatingLeaseLiability"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-7085-bdea-8e030c5bcb8c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RightOfUseAssetObtainedInExchangeForOperatingLeaseLiability_019ed6f8-c0de-7589-b63f-d082a2e0c186" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SupplierFinanceProgramObligationCurrent_019ed6f8-c0de-70ba-8984-1e96220a4861" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SupplierFinanceProgramObligationCurrent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-7085-bdea-8e030c5bcb8c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SupplierFinanceProgramObligationCurrent_019ed6f8-c0de-70ba-8984-1e96220a4861" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DividendsPayableAmountPerShare_019ed6f8-c0de-7b99-a37e-98409e1834a2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DividendsPayableAmountPerShare"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-7085-bdea-8e030c5bcb8c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DividendsPayableAmountPerShare_019ed6f8-c0de-7b99-a37e-98409e1834a2" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared_019ed6f8-c0de-7572-8547-bc50f84da7ed" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-7085-bdea-8e030c5bcb8c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared_019ed6f8-c0de-7572-8547-bc50f84da7ed" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramPeriodInForce1_019ed6f8-c0de-7a37-b000-9ad59f38b26d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramPeriodInForce1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-7085-bdea-8e030c5bcb8c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramPeriodInForce1_019ed6f8-c0de-7a37-b000-9ad59f38b26d" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_StockRepurchaseProgramAuthorizedAmount1_019ed6f8-c0de-76ef-bbce-7d65b5f260b3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_StockRepurchaseProgramAuthorizedAmount1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-7085-bdea-8e030c5bcb8c" xlink:to="loc_srt_StockRepurchaseProgramAuthorizedAmount1_019ed6f8-c0de-76ef-bbce-7d65b5f260b3" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodShares_019ed6f8-c0de-7ae0-baa6-b7bbbef71a60" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodShares"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-7085-bdea-8e030c5bcb8c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodShares_019ed6f8-c0de-7ae0-baa6-b7bbbef71a60" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock_019ed6f8-c0de-75ef-831d-af2200e8bb0d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-7085-bdea-8e030c5bcb8c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock_019ed6f8-c0de-75ef-831d-af2200e8bb0d" xlink:type="arc" order="9"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1_019ed6f8-c0de-78fe-818d-79c2a61224a8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-7085-bdea-8e030c5bcb8c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1_019ed6f8-c0de-78fe-818d-79c2a61224a8" xlink:type="arc" order="10"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SharesPaidForTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation_019ed6f8-c0de-7ef6-8696-8d61d7862b75" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SharesPaidForTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-7085-bdea-8e030c5bcb8c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SharesPaidForTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation_019ed6f8-c0de-7ef6-8696-8d61d7862b75" xlink:type="arc" order="11"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RecoveryOfDirectCosts_01a01582-ed6f-7893-ac44-18cf1a68392d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RecoveryOfDirectCosts"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-7085-bdea-8e030c5bcb8c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RecoveryOfDirectCosts_01a01582-ed6f-7893-ac44-18cf1a68392d" xlink:type="arc" order="12"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.rossstores.com/role/SummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesScheduleofDisaggregationofRevenueDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="rost-20260801.xsd#SummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesScheduleofDisaggregationofRevenueDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.rossstores.com/role/SummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesScheduleofDisaggregationofRevenueDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-7a88-bafb-19201de4a71f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueTable_019ed6f8-c0de-7c68-b147-3c72908e6aab" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-7a88-bafb-19201de4a71f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueTable_019ed6f8-c0de-7c68-b147-3c72908e6aab" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7e72-aa7c-a58d5d1a4d5a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ProductOrServiceAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueTable_019ed6f8-c0de-7c68-b147-3c72908e6aab" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7e72-aa7c-a58d5d1a4d5a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7e72-aa7c-a58d5d1a4d5a_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7e72-aa7c-a58d5d1a4d5a" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7e72-aa7c-a58d5d1a4d5a_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-74e4-ad41-311d819dd215" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7e72-aa7c-a58d5d1a4d5a" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-74e4-ad41-311d819dd215" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_rost_HomeAccentsandBedandBathMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7e2c-b0c6-b57f862169e1" xlink:href="rost-20260801.xsd#rost_HomeAccentsandBedandBathMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-74e4-ad41-311d819dd215" xlink:to="loc_rost_HomeAccentsandBedandBathMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7e2c-b0c6-b57f862169e1" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_rost_LadiesMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7a11-95cf-ab222a96503a" xlink:href="rost-20260801.xsd#rost_LadiesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-74e4-ad41-311d819dd215" xlink:to="loc_rost_LadiesMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7a11-95cf-ab222a96503a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_rost_MensMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7c26-975e-37c001106936" xlink:href="rost-20260801.xsd#rost_MensMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-74e4-ad41-311d819dd215" xlink:to="loc_rost_MensMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7c26-975e-37c001106936" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_rost_AccessoriesLingerieFineJewelryAndCosmeticsMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7d5a-8db2-62b09e7ee97a" xlink:href="rost-20260801.xsd#rost_AccessoriesLingerieFineJewelryAndCosmeticsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-74e4-ad41-311d819dd215" xlink:to="loc_rost_AccessoriesLingerieFineJewelryAndCosmeticsMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7d5a-8db2-62b09e7ee97a" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_rost_ShoesMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7db1-b7e0-ceb6d37ab076" xlink:href="rost-20260801.xsd#rost_ShoesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-74e4-ad41-311d819dd215" xlink:to="loc_rost_ShoesMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7db1-b7e0-ceb6d37ab076" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_rost_ChildrensMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7ea9-994f-dbd5edfc8d56" xlink:href="rost-20260801.xsd#rost_ChildrensMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-74e4-ad41-311d819dd215" xlink:to="loc_rost_ChildrensMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7ea9-994f-dbd5edfc8d56" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7dee-ba9f-0a7635d09716" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueTable_019ed6f8-c0de-7c68-b147-3c72908e6aab" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7dee-ba9f-0a7635d09716" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskBenchmarkDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7dee-ba9f-0a7635d09716_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskBenchmarkDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7dee-ba9f-0a7635d09716" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskBenchmarkDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7dee-ba9f-0a7635d09716_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskBenchmarkDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7190-af5c-ac511a2ef4b8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskBenchmarkDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7dee-ba9f-0a7635d09716" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskBenchmarkDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7190-af5c-ac511a2ef4b8" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerProductAndServiceBenchmarkMember_019ed6f8-c0de-72a7-ba9f-4b32db46d7af" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerProductAndServiceBenchmarkMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskBenchmarkDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7190-af5c-ac511a2ef4b8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerProductAndServiceBenchmarkMember_019ed6f8-c0de-72a7-ba9f-4b32db46d7af" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7b31-93fa-0187d7cae0f5" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueTable_019ed6f8-c0de-7c68-b147-3c72908e6aab" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7b31-93fa-0187d7cae0f5" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskTypeDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7b31-93fa-0187d7cae0f5_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7b31-93fa-0187d7cae0f5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskTypeDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7b31-93fa-0187d7cae0f5_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskTypeDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7355-b24c-85bed491ed2d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7b31-93fa-0187d7cae0f5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskTypeDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7355-b24c-85bed491ed2d" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ProductConcentrationRiskMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7e22-9965-a85d8759b03e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ProductConcentrationRiskMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskTypeDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7355-b24c-85bed491ed2d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ProductConcentrationRiskMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7e22-9965-a85d8759b03e" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1_019ed6f8-c0de-72ca-8936-9b0c7e562aeb" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-7a88-bafb-19201de4a71f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1_019ed6f8-c0de-72ca-8936-9b0c7e562aeb" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.rossstores.com/role/FairValueMeasurementsScheduleofFairValueofFinancialInstrumentsDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="rost-20260801.xsd#FairValueMeasurementsScheduleofFairValueofFinancialInstrumentsDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.rossstores.com/role/FairValueMeasurementsScheduleofFairValueofFinancialInstrumentsDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-78e7-b0a0-5163b4219002" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_019ed6f8-c0de-79f5-8029-91d7eec58d75" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-78e7-b0a0-5163b4219002" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_019ed6f8-c0de-79f5-8029-91d7eec58d75" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7461-89b7-ea8a4e8deb00" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_019ed6f8-c0de-79f5-8029-91d7eec58d75" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7461-89b7-ea8a4e8deb00" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7461-89b7-ea8a4e8deb00_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7461-89b7-ea8a4e8deb00" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7461-89b7-ea8a4e8deb00_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7a12-b57c-43d84f95906c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7461-89b7-ea8a4e8deb00" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7a12-b57c-43d84f95906c" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member_019ed6f8-c0de-79c2-a623-8e27ee9c6f18" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7a12-b57c-43d84f95906c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member_019ed6f8-c0de-79c2-a623-8e27ee9c6f18" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure_019ed6f8-c0de-7adc-befe-ebe249a83d5e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-78e7-b0a0-5163b4219002" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure_019ed6f8-c0de-7adc-befe-ebe249a83d5e" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_rost_RestrictedCashandCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure_019ed6f8-c0de-7b91-97a4-988c7dcc4276" xlink:href="rost-20260801.xsd#rost_RestrictedCashandCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-78e7-b0a0-5163b4219002" xlink:to="loc_rost_RestrictedCashandCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure_019ed6f8-c0de-7b91-97a4-988c7dcc4276" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.rossstores.com/role/FairValueMeasurementsScheduleofFairValueofAssetsandLiabilitiesDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="rost-20260801.xsd#FairValueMeasurementsScheduleofFairValueofAssetsandLiabilitiesDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.rossstores.com/role/FairValueMeasurementsScheduleofFairValueofAssetsandLiabilitiesDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-7253-9310-f4187966628e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_019ed6f8-c0de-7e2d-bd4a-6273c736aa38" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-7253-9310-f4187966628e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_019ed6f8-c0de-7e2d-bd4a-6273c736aa38" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7941-aa61-4b81abdaf789" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_019ed6f8-c0de-7e2d-bd4a-6273c736aa38" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7941-aa61-4b81abdaf789" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7941-aa61-4b81abdaf789_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7941-aa61-4b81abdaf789" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7941-aa61-4b81abdaf789_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-761e-93c0-1f39621940c6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7941-aa61-4b81abdaf789" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-761e-93c0-1f39621940c6" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member_019ed6f8-c0de-70bd-b28c-8c13e76f7f75" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-761e-93c0-1f39621940c6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member_019ed6f8-c0de-70bd-b28c-8c13e76f7f75" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member_019ed6f8-c0de-7588-929e-fe8395b3ee0e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-761e-93c0-1f39621940c6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member_019ed6f8-c0de-7588-929e-fe8395b3ee0e" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_rost_DeferredCompensationPlanPlanAssetsCategoryAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7cca-aba4-39042842cd8e" xlink:href="rost-20260801.xsd#rost_DeferredCompensationPlanPlanAssetsCategoryAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_019ed6f8-c0de-7e2d-bd4a-6273c736aa38" xlink:to="loc_rost_DeferredCompensationPlanPlanAssetsCategoryAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7cca-aba4-39042842cd8e" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_rost_DeferredCompensationPlanPlanAssetsCategoryDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7cca-aba4-39042842cd8e_default" xlink:href="rost-20260801.xsd#rost_DeferredCompensationPlanPlanAssetsCategoryDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_rost_DeferredCompensationPlanPlanAssetsCategoryAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7cca-aba4-39042842cd8e" xlink:to="loc_rost_DeferredCompensationPlanPlanAssetsCategoryDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7cca-aba4-39042842cd8e_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_rost_DeferredCompensationPlanPlanAssetsCategoryDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7894-b8d5-3590d0d93928" xlink:href="rost-20260801.xsd#rost_DeferredCompensationPlanPlanAssetsCategoryDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_rost_DeferredCompensationPlanPlanAssetsCategoryAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7cca-aba4-39042842cd8e" xlink:to="loc_rost_DeferredCompensationPlanPlanAssetsCategoryDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7894-b8d5-3590d0d93928" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_MutualFundMember_019ed6f8-c0de-76a8-a186-fda1c099e038" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_MutualFundMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_rost_DeferredCompensationPlanPlanAssetsCategoryDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7894-b8d5-3590d0d93928" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_MutualFundMember_019ed6f8-c0de-76a8-a186-fda1c099e038" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FixedIncomeSecuritiesMember_019ed6f8-c0de-795b-ab72-a3dc70469d65" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FixedIncomeSecuritiesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_rost_DeferredCompensationPlanPlanAssetsCategoryDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7894-b8d5-3590d0d93928" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FixedIncomeSecuritiesMember_019ed6f8-c0de-795b-ab72-a3dc70469d65" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DeferredCompensationPlanAssets_019ed6f8-c0de-773f-a739-a55279ce0f1b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DeferredCompensationPlanAssets"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-7253-9310-f4187966628e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DeferredCompensationPlanAssets_019ed6f8-c0de-773f-a739-a55279ce0f1b" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.rossstores.com/role/StockBasedCompensationNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="rost-20260801.xsd#StockBasedCompensationNarrativeDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.rossstores.com/role/StockBasedCompensationNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-7a1c-8db6-18b22894dd0f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_019ed6f8-c0de-70b5-806a-83f0a6695864" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-7a1c-8db6-18b22894dd0f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_019ed6f8-c0de-70b5-806a-83f0a6695864" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7ca5-928e-dc302b995bb6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_RangeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_019ed6f8-c0de-70b5-806a-83f0a6695864" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7ca5-928e-dc302b995bb6" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7ca5-928e-dc302b995bb6_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_RangeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7ca5-928e-dc302b995bb6" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7ca5-928e-dc302b995bb6_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7490-b90c-a9069425e50d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_RangeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7ca5-928e-dc302b995bb6" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7490-b90c-a9069425e50d" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_MinimumMember_019ed6f8-c0de-75bf-a0ff-6f11893f2c40" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_MinimumMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7490-b90c-a9069425e50d" xlink:to="loc_srt_MinimumMember_019ed6f8-c0de-75bf-a0ff-6f11893f2c40" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_MaximumMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7436-a631-7ac86a62e140" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_MaximumMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7490-b90c-a9069425e50d" xlink:to="loc_srt_MaximumMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7436-a631-7ac86a62e140" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-72e0-b404-12644a703813" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_019ed6f8-c0de-70b5-806a-83f0a6695864" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-72e0-b404-12644a703813" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-72e0-b404-12644a703813_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-72e0-b404-12644a703813" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-72e0-b404-12644a703813_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7080-812f-ef2f69f53b87" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-72e0-b404-12644a703813" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7080-812f-ef2f69f53b87" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember_019ed6f8-c0de-74ef-bffd-1f8e67412f2f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7080-812f-ef2f69f53b87" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember_019ed6f8-c0de-74ef-bffd-1f8e67412f2f" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7b1f-9cc7-74fa44fdd79a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7080-812f-ef2f69f53b87" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7b1f-9cc7-74fa44fdd79a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_rost_StockAwardsMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7f5a-8e4a-b94fe4c30b7d" xlink:href="rost-20260801.xsd#rost_StockAwardsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7080-812f-ef2f69f53b87" xlink:to="loc_rost_StockAwardsMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7f5a-8e4a-b94fe4c30b7d" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7403-8e02-01ac0fa72dbd" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7080-812f-ef2f69f53b87" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7403-8e02-01ac0fa72dbd" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PlanNameAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7be0-be9d-c74fe2043e3e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_PlanNameAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_019ed6f8-c0de-70b5-806a-83f0a6695864" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PlanNameAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7be0-be9d-c74fe2043e3e" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PlanNameDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7be0-be9d-c74fe2043e3e_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_PlanNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PlanNameAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7be0-be9d-c74fe2043e3e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PlanNameDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7be0-be9d-c74fe2043e3e_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PlanNameDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7d18-8763-f56b1366d553" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_PlanNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PlanNameAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7be0-be9d-c74fe2043e3e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PlanNameDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7d18-8763-f56b1366d553" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_rost_A2026EquityIncentivePlanMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7493-a15a-4184b4e00926" xlink:href="rost-20260801.xsd#rost_A2026EquityIncentivePlanMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PlanNameDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7d18-8763-f56b1366d553" xlink:to="loc_rost_A2026EquityIncentivePlanMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7493-a15a-4184b4e00926" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingPeriod1_019ed6f8-c0de-75fb-99b2-a926c4b86a51" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingPeriod1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-7a1c-8db6-18b22894dd0f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingPeriod1_019ed6f8-c0de-75fb-99b2-a926c4b86a51" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardRequisiteServicePeriod1_019ed6f8-c0de-7ef1-b9e7-6ff598d9bf62" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardRequisiteServicePeriod1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-7a1c-8db6-18b22894dd0f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardRequisiteServicePeriod1_019ed6f8-c0de-7ef1-b9e7-6ff598d9bf62" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized_019ed6f8-c0de-74da-bff0-4ac08afb9e2b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-7a1c-8db6-18b22894dd0f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized_019ed6f8-c0de-74da-bff0-4ac08afb9e2b" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedPeriodForRecognition1_019ed6f8-c0de-73c4-bb0f-d3354fca3e91" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedPeriodForRecognition1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-7a1c-8db6-18b22894dd0f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedPeriodForRecognition1_019ed6f8-c0de-73c4-bb0f-d3354fca3e91" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardMaximumEmployeeSubscriptionRate_019ed6f8-c0de-7ff8-9cdc-e7b46c21715a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardMaximumEmployeeSubscriptionRate"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-7a1c-8db6-18b22894dd0f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardMaximumEmployeeSubscriptionRate_019ed6f8-c0de-7ff8-9cdc-e7b46c21715a" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_rost_PlanParticipantsAnnualDollarAmountCeilingForESPP_019ed6f8-c0de-7fd4-8c83-9a2030b5aea1" xlink:href="rost-20260801.xsd#rost_PlanParticipantsAnnualDollarAmountCeilingForESPP"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-7a1c-8db6-18b22894dd0f" xlink:to="loc_rost_PlanParticipantsAnnualDollarAmountCeilingForESPP_019ed6f8-c0de-7fd4-8c83-9a2030b5aea1" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_rost_PurchasePriceForSharesUnderESPP_019ed6f8-c0de-7045-8329-595355abecb0" xlink:href="rost-20260801.xsd#rost_PurchasePriceForSharesUnderESPP"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-7a1c-8db6-18b22894dd0f" xlink:to="loc_rost_PurchasePriceForSharesUnderESPP_019ed6f8-c0de-7045-8329-595355abecb0" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardDiscountFromMarketPricePurchaseDate_019ed6f8-c0de-796f-9d55-868281a3f927" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardDiscountFromMarketPricePurchaseDate"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-7a1c-8db6-18b22894dd0f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardDiscountFromMarketPricePurchaseDate_019ed6f8-c0de-796f-9d55-868281a3f927" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense_019ed6f8-c0de-7ac4-a75c-5a7468d6ccd5" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-7a1c-8db6-18b22894dd0f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense_019ed6f8-c0de-7ac4-a75c-5a7468d6ccd5" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAuthorized_019ed6f8-c0de-7847-890d-fca1a4c61102" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAuthorized"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-7a1c-8db6-18b22894dd0f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAuthorized_019ed6f8-c0de-7847-890d-fca1a4c61102" xlink:type="arc" order="9"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfAdditionalSharesAuthorized_019ed6f8-c0de-7d03-9d64-fc7d8a523692" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfAdditionalSharesAuthorized"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-7a1c-8db6-18b22894dd0f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfAdditionalSharesAuthorized_019ed6f8-c0de-7d03-9d64-fc7d8a523692" xlink:type="arc" order="10"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.rossstores.com/role/StockholdersEquityStockAwardActivityDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="rost-20260801.xsd#StockholdersEquityStockAwardActivityDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.rossstores.com/role/StockholdersEquityStockAwardActivityDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-72e1-9753-7500c12c8597" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_019ed6f8-c0de-7b40-98d8-4b9470e70686" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-72e1-9753-7500c12c8597" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_019ed6f8-c0de-7b40-98d8-4b9470e70686" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-768d-a7f6-44af207515bf" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_019ed6f8-c0de-7b40-98d8-4b9470e70686" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-768d-a7f6-44af207515bf" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-768d-a7f6-44af207515bf_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-768d-a7f6-44af207515bf" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-768d-a7f6-44af207515bf_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-73b4-ab29-240ce0759bbc" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-768d-a7f6-44af207515bf" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-73b4-ab29-240ce0759bbc" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_rost_StockAwardsMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7d01-8a2f-1435c4a94254" xlink:href="rost-20260801.xsd#rost_StockAwardsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-73b4-ab29-240ce0759bbc" xlink:to="loc_rost_StockAwardsMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7d01-8a2f-1435c4a94254" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedRollForward_019ed6f8-c0de-718d-bc64-3910b015a4dd" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedRollForward"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-72e1-9753-7500c12c8597" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedRollForward_019ed6f8-c0de-718d-bc64-3910b015a4dd" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber_019ed6f8-c0de-74b2-93d9-db8e671c1640" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedRollForward_019ed6f8-c0de-718d-bc64-3910b015a4dd" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber_019ed6f8-c0de-74b2-93d9-db8e671c1640" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod_019ed6f8-c0de-7992-9060-8e14cbee03dd" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedRollForward_019ed6f8-c0de-718d-bc64-3910b015a4dd" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod_019ed6f8-c0de-7992-9060-8e14cbee03dd" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod_019ed6f8-c0de-750f-abd0-30fb06497975" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedRollForward_019ed6f8-c0de-718d-bc64-3910b015a4dd" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod_019ed6f8-c0de-750f-abd0-30fb06497975" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeitedInPeriod_019ed6f8-c0de-7483-8646-3659291708ce" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeitedInPeriod"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedRollForward_019ed6f8-c0de-718d-bc64-3910b015a4dd" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeitedInPeriod_019ed6f8-c0de-7483-8646-3659291708ce" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber_019ed6f8-c0de-7afc-ae1d-f5fffea8fa7a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValueRollForward_019ed6f8-c0de-7b8f-b50d-d946fe0fbcd9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValueRollForward"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-72e1-9753-7500c12c8597" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValueRollForward_019ed6f8-c0de-7b8f-b50d-d946fe0fbcd9" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue_019ed6f8-c0de-7d41-b4c4-2e1f4601f442" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValueRollForward_019ed6f8-c0de-7b8f-b50d-d946fe0fbcd9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue_019ed6f8-c0de-7d41-b4c4-2e1f4601f442" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue_019ed6f8-c0de-720f-9927-9dde21617bb3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValueRollForward_019ed6f8-c0de-7b8f-b50d-d946fe0fbcd9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue_019ed6f8-c0de-720f-9927-9dde21617bb3" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue_019ed6f8-c0de-755e-9d92-179fec6ef0ae" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValueRollForward_019ed6f8-c0de-7b8f-b50d-d946fe0fbcd9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue_019ed6f8-c0de-755e-9d92-179fec6ef0ae" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeituresWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue_019ed6f8-c0de-710c-b402-d6fbec8742e3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeituresWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValueRollForward_019ed6f8-c0de-7b8f-b50d-d946fe0fbcd9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeituresWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue_019ed6f8-c0de-710c-b402-d6fbec8742e3" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue_019ed6f8-c0de-7b64-93bd-0858b3ac15fe" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.rossstores.com/role/StockBasedCompensationRecognizedStockbasedCompensationExpenseDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="rost-20260801.xsd#StockBasedCompensationRecognizedStockbasedCompensationExpenseDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.rossstores.com/role/StockBasedCompensationRecognizedStockbasedCompensationExpenseDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-75e0-a7a3-f6a38d204fc2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_019ed6f8-c0de-77f7-9349-9c49b662877f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-75e0-a7a3-f6a38d204fc2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_019ed6f8-c0de-77f7-9349-9c49b662877f" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-74c2-97bd-80fd0f3ee7c6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_019ed6f8-c0de-77f7-9349-9c49b662877f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-74c2-97bd-80fd0f3ee7c6" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-74c2-97bd-80fd0f3ee7c6_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-74c2-97bd-80fd0f3ee7c6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-74c2-97bd-80fd0f3ee7c6_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7054-8820-eb12d8f6524c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-74c2-97bd-80fd0f3ee7c6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7054-8820-eb12d8f6524c" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember_019ed6f8-c0de-73cc-8aac-8165721fc4cd" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7054-8820-eb12d8f6524c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember_019ed6f8-c0de-73cc-8aac-8165721fc4cd" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_rost_PerformanceAwardsMember_019ed6f8-c0de-750a-b98a-949d06ab906c" xlink:href="rost-20260801.xsd#rost_PerformanceAwardsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7054-8820-eb12d8f6524c" xlink:to="loc_rost_PerformanceAwardsMember_019ed6f8-c0de-750a-b98a-949d06ab906c" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember_019ed6f8-c0de-71ed-9c0a-7163eece9f0f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7054-8820-eb12d8f6524c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember_019ed6f8-c0de-71ed-9c0a-7163eece9f0f" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation_019ed6f8-c0de-71c9-9863-d0445b80d508" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-75e0-a7a3-f6a38d204fc2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation_019ed6f8-c0de-71c9-9863-d0445b80d508" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.rossstores.com/role/StockBasedCompensationTotalStockBasedCompensationRecognizedintheConsolidatedStatementsofEarningsDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="rost-20260801.xsd#StockBasedCompensationTotalStockBasedCompensationRecognizedintheConsolidatedStatementsofEarningsDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.rossstores.com/role/StockBasedCompensationTotalStockBasedCompensationRecognizedintheConsolidatedStatementsofEarningsDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-7f8b-8f74-fc5670c52b59" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfEmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsTable_019ed6f8-c0de-73bf-b21b-a528b542e6de" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfEmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-7f8b-8f74-fc5670c52b59" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfEmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsTable_019ed6f8-c0de-73bf-b21b-a528b542e6de" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementOfIncomeLocationBalanceAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7ba8-ad7c-3bf1ca094e92" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StatementOfIncomeLocationBalanceAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfEmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsTable_019ed6f8-c0de-73bf-b21b-a528b542e6de" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementOfIncomeLocationBalanceAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7ba8-ad7c-3bf1ca094e92" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation_019ed6f8-c0de-73f1-936f-3d530b0449e8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-7f8b-8f74-fc5670c52b59" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation_019ed6f8-c0de-73f1-936f-3d530b0449e8" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.rossstores.com/role/StockBasedCompensationTotalStockBasedCompensationRecognizedintheConsolidatedStatementsofEarningsDetails_1" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="rost-20260801.xsd#StockBasedCompensationTotalStockBasedCompensationRecognizedintheConsolidatedStatementsofEarningsDetails_1"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.rossstores.com/role/StockBasedCompensationTotalStockBasedCompensationRecognizedintheConsolidatedStatementsofEarningsDetails_1" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-7f8b-8f74-fc5670c52b59" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfEmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsTable_019ed6f8-c0de-73bf-b21b-a528b542e6de" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfEmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-7f8b-8f74-fc5670c52b59" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfEmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsTable_019ed6f8-c0de-73bf-b21b-a528b542e6de" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation_019ed6f8-c0de-73f1-936f-3d530b0449e8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-7f8b-8f74-fc5670c52b59" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation_019ed6f8-c0de-73f1-936f-3d530b0449e8" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.rossstores.com/role/DebtScheduleofLongTermDebtDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="rost-20260801.xsd#DebtScheduleofLongTermDebtDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.rossstores.com/role/DebtScheduleofLongTermDebtDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-7e8b-b561-e83fb0826416" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019ed6f8-c0de-7c90-a90a-0c9a5271d651" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-7e8b-b561-e83fb0826416" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019ed6f8-c0de-7c90-a90a-0c9a5271d651" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7c47-a781-10ed6a9977d5" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019ed6f8-c0de-7c90-a90a-0c9a5271d651" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7c47-a781-10ed6a9977d5" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7c47-a781-10ed6a9977d5_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7c47-a781-10ed6a9977d5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7c47-a781-10ed6a9977d5_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7a1c-9119-3c49a657be1a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7c47-a781-10ed6a9977d5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7a1c-9119-3c49a657be1a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7853-a866-2b3ad0b22ca2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7a1c-9119-3c49a657be1a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7853-a866-2b3ad0b22ca2" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-77ed-872c-bb3112e00e8e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019ed6f8-c0de-7c90-a90a-0c9a5271d651" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-77ed-872c-bb3112e00e8e" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-77ed-872c-bb3112e00e8e_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-77ed-872c-bb3112e00e8e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-77ed-872c-bb3112e00e8e_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7319-a1eb-fe56e33d024e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-77ed-872c-bb3112e00e8e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7319-a1eb-fe56e33d024e" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_rost_SeniorNotesDue2026Member_019ed6f8-c0de-7c62-94a9-e1c78e88e604" xlink:href="rost-20260801.xsd#rost_SeniorNotesDue2026Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7319-a1eb-fe56e33d024e" xlink:to="loc_rost_SeniorNotesDue2026Member_019ed6f8-c0de-7c62-94a9-e1c78e88e604" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_rost_SeniorNotesDue2027Member_019ed6f8-c0de-7014-b835-acde2374e788" xlink:href="rost-20260801.xsd#rost_SeniorNotesDue2027Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7319-a1eb-fe56e33d024e" xlink:to="loc_rost_SeniorNotesDue2027Member_019ed6f8-c0de-7014-b835-acde2374e788" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_rost_SeniorNotesDue2030Member_019ed6f8-c0de-7a40-aad8-bd916f732b33" xlink:href="rost-20260801.xsd#rost_SeniorNotesDue2030Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7319-a1eb-fe56e33d024e" xlink:to="loc_rost_SeniorNotesDue2030Member_019ed6f8-c0de-7a40-aad8-bd916f732b33" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_rost_SeniorNotesDue2031Member_019ed6f8-c0de-73f4-8c41-e0ba614db482" xlink:href="rost-20260801.xsd#rost_SeniorNotesDue2031Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7319-a1eb-fe56e33d024e" xlink:to="loc_rost_SeniorNotesDue2031Member_019ed6f8-c0de-73f4-8c41-e0ba614db482" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_rost_SeniorNotesDue2050Member_019ed6f8-c0de-7071-9a84-25607931bd50" xlink:href="rost-20260801.xsd#rost_SeniorNotesDue2050Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7319-a1eb-fe56e33d024e" xlink:to="loc_rost_SeniorNotesDue2050Member_019ed6f8-c0de-7071-9a84-25607931bd50" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage_01a0141d-213f-718e-8e47-1305829a5a72" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-7e8b-b561-e83fb0826416" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage_01a0141d-213f-718e-8e47-1305829a5a72" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebt_019ed6f8-c0de-7c9f-a802-5ce523e9a32c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongTermDebt"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-7e8b-b561-e83fb0826416" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebt_019ed6f8-c0de-7c9f-a802-5ce523e9a32c" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebtCurrent_019ed6f8-c0de-7977-b53d-c8885b1aa1d3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongTermDebtCurrent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-7e8b-b561-e83fb0826416" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebtCurrent_019ed6f8-c0de-7977-b53d-c8885b1aa1d3" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent_019ed6f8-c0de-7053-9bbe-249489ead767" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-7e8b-b561-e83fb0826416" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent_019ed6f8-c0de-7053-9bbe-249489ead767" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscountPremiumAndDebtIssuanceCostsNet_019ed6f8-c0de-75d0-9edf-0ffbced15ff2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscountPremiumAndDebtIssuanceCostsNet"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-7e8b-b561-e83fb0826416" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscountPremiumAndDebtIssuanceCostsNet_019ed6f8-c0de-75d0-9edf-0ffbced15ff2" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.rossstores.com/role/DebtNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="rost-20260801.xsd#DebtNarrativeDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.rossstores.com/role/DebtNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-7283-8eeb-6161736c26cc" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019ed6f8-c0de-7506-b896-e08f15c952df" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-7283-8eeb-6161736c26cc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019ed6f8-c0de-7506-b896-e08f15c952df" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7262-b3c2-01cf85b7972b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019ed6f8-c0de-7506-b896-e08f15c952df" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7262-b3c2-01cf85b7972b" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7262-b3c2-01cf85b7972b_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7262-b3c2-01cf85b7972b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7262-b3c2-01cf85b7972b_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7d86-9a7a-35b7cb2e3ff1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7262-b3c2-01cf85b7972b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7d86-9a7a-35b7cb2e3ff1" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_rost_SeniorNotesDue2026Member_019ed6f8-c0de-7537-9708-b14dd96e669f" xlink:href="rost-20260801.xsd#rost_SeniorNotesDue2026Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7d86-9a7a-35b7cb2e3ff1" xlink:to="loc_rost_SeniorNotesDue2026Member_019ed6f8-c0de-7537-9708-b14dd96e669f" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_rost_SeniorNotesDue2025Member_019ff3c7-58ce-7907-8a32-cd94cdd9d3ed" xlink:href="rost-20260801.xsd#rost_SeniorNotesDue2025Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7d86-9a7a-35b7cb2e3ff1" xlink:to="loc_rost_SeniorNotesDue2025Member_019ff3c7-58ce-7907-8a32-cd94cdd9d3ed" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_rost_CreditFacilityMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7bfa-8a30-92e2d83a0779" xlink:href="rost-20260801.xsd#rost_CreditFacilityMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7d86-9a7a-35b7cb2e3ff1" xlink:to="loc_rost_CreditFacilityMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7bfa-8a30-92e2d83a0779" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7177-96fc-6f92047e708e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019ed6f8-c0de-7506-b896-e08f15c952df" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7177-96fc-6f92047e708e" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7177-96fc-6f92047e708e_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7177-96fc-6f92047e708e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7177-96fc-6f92047e708e_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7e93-83ce-c00a04bc339c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7177-96fc-6f92047e708e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7e93-83ce-c00a04bc339c" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7ad2-9d3c-d2c313164856" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7e93-83ce-c00a04bc339c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7ad2-9d3c-d2c313164856" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7971-9016-ee59d7729297" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7e93-83ce-c00a04bc339c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7971-9016-ee59d7729297" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-74a5-8b18-475fc193c9c1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019ed6f8-c0de-7506-b896-e08f15c952df" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-74a5-8b18-475fc193c9c1" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-74a5-8b18-475fc193c9c1_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-74a5-8b18-475fc193c9c1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-74a5-8b18-475fc193c9c1_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-78c7-80bf-7a860fd269e0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-74a5-8b18-475fc193c9c1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-78c7-80bf-7a860fd269e0" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member_019ed6f8-c0de-7e5c-aece-e38d27eb0b62" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-78c7-80bf-7a860fd269e0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member_019ed6f8-c0de-7e5c-aece-e38d27eb0b62" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-79f9-844c-ea3506927432" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019ed6f8-c0de-7506-b896-e08f15c952df" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-79f9-844c-ea3506927432" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-79f9-844c-ea3506927432_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-79f9-844c-ea3506927432" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-79f9-844c-ea3506927432_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7392-8ba9-277b7d373eac" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-79f9-844c-ea3506927432" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7392-8ba9-277b7d373eac" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7617-b44d-e2f5fe8de5cd" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7392-8ba9-277b7d373eac" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7617-b44d-e2f5fe8de5cd" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StandbyLettersOfCreditMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7d8d-8773-54b4f7d145fe" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StandbyLettersOfCreditMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7392-8ba9-277b7d373eac" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StandbyLettersOfCreditMember_019ed6f8-c0de-7d8d-8773-54b4f7d145fe" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt_019ed6f8-c0de-7b43-bfd1-43dab543e498" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-7283-8eeb-6161736c26cc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt_019ed6f8-c0de-7b43-bfd1-43dab543e498" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage_019ed6f8-c0de-74f0-989e-e9340339e8f3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-7283-8eeb-6161736c26cc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage_019ed6f8-c0de-74f0-989e-e9340339e8f3" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_rost_NumberOfSeriesNotes_019ed6f8-c0de-774d-a864-b31317bd5593" xlink:href="rost-20260801.xsd#rost_NumberOfSeriesNotes"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-7283-8eeb-6161736c26cc" xlink:to="loc_rost_NumberOfSeriesNotes_019ed6f8-c0de-774d-a864-b31317bd5593" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFairValue_019ed6f8-c0de-7351-add4-a836340ecdc1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFairValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-7283-8eeb-6161736c26cc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFairValue_019ed6f8-c0de-7351-add4-a836340ecdc1" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity_019ed6f8-c0de-7650-81be-ff98ed559da3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-7283-8eeb-6161736c26cc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity_019ed6f8-c0de-7650-81be-ff98ed559da3" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_rost_LineOfCreditFacilityRenewalOptions_019ed6f8-c0de-7d33-b9ac-f3df3be56432" xlink:href="rost-20260801.xsd#rost_LineOfCreditFacilityRenewalOptions"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-7283-8eeb-6161736c26cc" xlink:to="loc_rost_LineOfCreditFacilityRenewalOptions_019ed6f8-c0de-7d33-b9ac-f3df3be56432" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_rost_LineOfCreditFacilityRenewalTerm_019ed6f8-c0de-7898-8c87-7cb865891c59" xlink:href="rost-20260801.xsd#rost_LineOfCreditFacilityRenewalTerm"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-7283-8eeb-6161736c26cc" xlink:to="loc_rost_LineOfCreditFacilityRenewalTerm_019ed6f8-c0de-7898-8c87-7cb865891c59" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_rost_LineOfCreditAccordionFeatureIncreaseLimit_019ed6f8-c0de-7d54-8952-34291c1b4bdd" xlink:href="rost-20260801.xsd#rost_LineOfCreditAccordionFeatureIncreaseLimit"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-7283-8eeb-6161736c26cc" xlink:to="loc_rost_LineOfCreditAccordionFeatureIncreaseLimit_019ed6f8-c0de-7d54-8952-34291c1b4bdd" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCredit_019ed6f8-c0de-728a-bbee-313514e8e9c4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCredit"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-7283-8eeb-6161736c26cc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCredit_019ed6f8-c0de-728a-bbee-313514e8e9c4" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityRemainingBorrowingCapacity_019ed6f8-c0de-752d-8992-2b4ccabce165" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityRemainingBorrowingCapacity"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-7283-8eeb-6161736c26cc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityRemainingBorrowingCapacity_019ed6f8-c0de-752d-8992-2b4ccabce165" xlink:type="arc" order="9"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.rossstores.com/role/SegmentReportingScheduleofSignificantSegmentExpensesDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="rost-20260801.xsd#SegmentReportingScheduleofSignificantSegmentExpensesDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.rossstores.com/role/SegmentReportingScheduleofSignificantSegmentExpensesDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-78f2-a04d-f6ce2f25e639" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_019ed6f8-c0de-734d-9d9f-4db8d33fa7d0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-78f2-a04d-f6ce2f25e639" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_019ed6f8-c0de-734d-9d9f-4db8d33fa7d0" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7c5f-b33c-4db5dd024373" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_019ed6f8-c0de-734d-9d9f-4db8d33fa7d0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7c5f-b33c-4db5dd024373" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7c5f-b33c-4db5dd024373_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SegmentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7c5f-b33c-4db5dd024373" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7c5f-b33c-4db5dd024373_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7aa0-8375-5122daeb8bdd" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SegmentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_019ed6f8-c0de-7c5f-b33c-4db5dd024373" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7aa0-8375-5122daeb8bdd" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_rost_ReportableSegmentMember_019ed6f8-c0de-715a-9cb9-44b085d6b23b" xlink:href="rost-20260801.xsd#rost_ReportableSegmentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019ed6f8-c0de-7aa0-8375-5122daeb8bdd" xlink:to="loc_rost_ReportableSegmentMember_019ed6f8-c0de-715a-9cb9-44b085d6b23b" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax_019ed6f8-c0de-7082-8497-c7ccaac34043" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-78f2-a04d-f6ce2f25e639" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax_019ed6f8-c0de-7082-8497-c7ccaac34043" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_rost_CostOfGoodsAndServicesSoldAdjusted_019ed6f8-c0de-77d9-a49a-9c48e2016333" xlink:href="rost-20260801.xsd#rost_CostOfGoodsAndServicesSoldAdjusted"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-78f2-a04d-f6ce2f25e639" xlink:to="loc_rost_CostOfGoodsAndServicesSoldAdjusted_019ed6f8-c0de-77d9-a49a-9c48e2016333" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OccupancyNet_019ed6f8-c0de-73bf-b668-f6e886ab13a2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OccupancyNet"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-78f2-a04d-f6ce2f25e639" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OccupancyNet_019ed6f8-c0de-73bf-b668-f6e886ab13a2" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_rost_StoreRelatedCosts_019ed6f8-c0de-7f0e-9b6b-c38a384a79a0" xlink:href="rost-20260801.xsd#rost_StoreRelatedCosts"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-78f2-a04d-f6ce2f25e639" xlink:to="loc_rost_StoreRelatedCosts_019ed6f8-c0de-7f0e-9b6b-c38a384a79a0" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingOtherItemAmount_019ed6f8-c0de-7c72-8ca0-afe4418a0644" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SegmentReportingOtherItemAmount"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-78f2-a04d-f6ce2f25e639" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingOtherItemAmount_019ed6f8-c0de-7c72-8ca0-afe4418a0644" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss_019ed6f8-c0de-777e-bfdb-3287ec482e79" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-78f2-a04d-f6ce2f25e639" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss_019ed6f8-c0de-777e-bfdb-3287ec482e79" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InterestIncomeExpenseNet_019ed6f8-c0de-702b-a91d-c3eb3318e9d4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_InterestIncomeExpenseNet"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-78f2-a04d-f6ce2f25e639" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InterestIncomeExpenseNet_019ed6f8-c0de-702b-a91d-c3eb3318e9d4" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest_019ed6f8-c0de-7413-b68a-81ef2ac90d5a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019ed6f8-c0de-78f2-a04d-f6ce2f25e639" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest_019ed6f8-c0de-7413-b68a-81ef2ac90d5a" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
</link:linkbase>
