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

<!--XBRL Document Created with the Workiva Platform-->
<!--Copyright 2026 Workiva-->
<!--r:01a01624-02d0-736b-98c5-be7c00a877a8,g:3107e2b9-6b4f-4a06-8c0b-d2d323c7c861-->
<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.shutterstock.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsofStockholdersEquity" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#ConsolidatedStatementsofStockholdersEquity"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsofStockholdersEquity" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_01a01624-0421-7a36-8e74-ed51622153ce" 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_01a01624-0421-7d99-a1d6-50716613a3f4" 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_01a01624-0421-7a36-8e74-ed51622153ce" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementTable_01a01624-0421-7d99-a1d6-50716613a3f4" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_01a01624-0421-7663-8708-33c9d9bfaf3a" 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_01a01624-0421-7d99-a1d6-50716613a3f4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_01a01624-0421-7663-8708-33c9d9bfaf3a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_01a01624-0421-7663-8708-33c9d9bfaf3a_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_01a01624-0421-7663-8708-33c9d9bfaf3a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_01a01624-0421-7663-8708-33c9d9bfaf3a_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_01a01624-0421-73fd-b706-38ee12c809b9" 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_01a01624-0421-7663-8708-33c9d9bfaf3a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_01a01624-0421-73fd-b706-38ee12c809b9" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockMember_01a01624-0421-7eb5-b8e2-1ce47af9d156" 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_01a01624-0421-73fd-b706-38ee12c809b9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockMember_01a01624-0421-7eb5-b8e2-1ce47af9d156" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_TreasuryStockCommonMember_01a01624-0421-757f-a8ad-b0f634bcb365" 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_01a01624-0421-73fd-b706-38ee12c809b9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_TreasuryStockCommonMember_01a01624-0421-757f-a8ad-b0f634bcb365" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember_01a01624-0421-7036-b7d9-e6b28f52608a" 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_01a01624-0421-73fd-b706-38ee12c809b9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember_01a01624-0421-7036-b7d9-e6b28f52608a" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember_01a01624-0421-7078-a958-43328eb61f7f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_01a01624-0421-73fd-b706-38ee12c809b9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember_01a01624-0421-7078-a958-43328eb61f7f" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember_01a01624-0421-7b77-87df-da084424fa5c" 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_01a01624-0421-73fd-b706-38ee12c809b9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember_01a01624-0421-7b77-87df-da084424fa5c" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_01a01624-0421-75e2-afe3-ed9d88f2f58f" 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_01a01624-0421-7a36-8e74-ed51622153ce" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_01a01624-0421-75e2-afe3-ed9d88f2f58f" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding_01a01624-0421-7d09-999e-a174d762cf73" 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_01a01624-0421-75e2-afe3-ed9d88f2f58f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding_01a01624-0421-7d09-999e-a174d762cf73" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquity_01a01624-0421-7be4-b745-d7302f860368" 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_01a01624-0421-75e2-afe3-ed9d88f2f58f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquity_01a01624-0421-7be4-b745-d7302f860368" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_TreasuryStockCommonShares_01a01624-0421-7d00-b502-ec0295a221e6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_TreasuryStockCommonShares"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_01a01624-0421-75e2-afe3-ed9d88f2f58f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_TreasuryStockCommonShares_01a01624-0421-7d00-b502-ec0295a221e6" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue_01a01624-0421-76cc-ad20-c367c3a63f1d" 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_01a01624-0421-75e2-afe3-ed9d88f2f58f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue_01a01624-0421-76cc-ad20-c367c3a63f1d" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensation_01a01624-0421-7a4a-94fa-a48e0783cb38" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensation"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_01a01624-0421-75e2-afe3-ed9d88f2f58f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensation_01a01624-0421-7a4a-94fa-a48e0783cb38" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensation_01a01624-0421-7424-a78e-aa4a8f55f669" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensation"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_01a01624-0421-75e2-afe3-ed9d88f2f58f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensation_01a01624-0421-7424-a78e-aa4a8f55f669" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SharesPaidForTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation_01a01624-0421-7b40-8efc-50575442b239" 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_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_01a01624-0421-75e2-afe3-ed9d88f2f58f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SharesPaidForTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation_01a01624-0421-7b40-8efc-50575442b239" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AdjustmentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation_01a01624-0421-767b-a94f-0c4d6fc50288" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AdjustmentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_01a01624-0421-75e2-afe3-ed9d88f2f58f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AdjustmentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation_01a01624-0421-767b-a94f-0c4d6fc50288" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_Dividends_01a01624-0421-7b66-ad21-79ca29492177" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_Dividends"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_01a01624-0421-75e2-afe3-ed9d88f2f58f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_Dividends_01a01624-0421-7b66-ad21-79ca29492177" xlink:type="arc" order="9"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent_01a01624-0421-7aa0-a3c1-413a7cb127ea" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_01a01624-0421-75e2-afe3-ed9d88f2f58f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent_01a01624-0421-7aa0-a3c1-413a7cb127ea" xlink:type="arc" order="10"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss_01a01624-0421-7cfe-8419-493b97476ade" 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_01a01624-0421-75e2-afe3-ed9d88f2f58f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss_01a01624-0421-7cfe-8419-493b97476ade" xlink:type="arc" order="11"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding_01a01624-0421-7c9f-ba69-3552650eb244" 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_01a01624-0421-75f7-8ce8-9580d4ac1f29" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StockholdersEquity"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_TreasuryStockCommonShares_01a01624-0421-7d9b-bad9-8ec0ae1d33af" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_TreasuryStockCommonShares"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/SummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#SummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/SummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskLineItems_01a01624-0421-7776-a64f-0994a244cbf4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskTable_01a01624-0421-77fb-8274-1636c6db739a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskLineItems_01a01624-0421-7776-a64f-0994a244cbf4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskTable_01a01624-0421-77fb-8274-1636c6db739a" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementOfFinancialPositionLocationBalanceAxis_01a01624-0421-735d-b45c-6f29a7265c47" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StatementOfFinancialPositionLocationBalanceAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskTable_01a01624-0421-77fb-8274-1636c6db739a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementOfFinancialPositionLocationBalanceAxis_01a01624-0421-735d-b45c-6f29a7265c47" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_MajorCustomersAxis_01a01624-0421-7ce6-8224-76ee1d4c3e68" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_MajorCustomersAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskTable_01a01624-0421-77fb-8274-1636c6db739a" xlink:to="loc_srt_MajorCustomersAxis_01a01624-0421-7ce6-8224-76ee1d4c3e68" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_NameOfMajorCustomerDomain_01a01624-0421-7ce6-8224-76ee1d4c3e68_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_NameOfMajorCustomerDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_MajorCustomersAxis_01a01624-0421-7ce6-8224-76ee1d4c3e68" xlink:to="loc_srt_NameOfMajorCustomerDomain_01a01624-0421-7ce6-8224-76ee1d4c3e68_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_NameOfMajorCustomerDomain_01a01624-0421-7534-afc7-763af5c5dd15" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_NameOfMajorCustomerDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_MajorCustomersAxis_01a01624-0421-7ce6-8224-76ee1d4c3e68" xlink:to="loc_srt_NameOfMajorCustomerDomain_01a01624-0421-7534-afc7-763af5c5dd15" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_sstk_CustomerTwoMember_01a15c48-c334-7ef9-9779-5626481aa087" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#sstk_CustomerTwoMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_NameOfMajorCustomerDomain_01a01624-0421-7534-afc7-763af5c5dd15" xlink:to="loc_sstk_CustomerTwoMember_01a15c48-c334-7ef9-9779-5626481aa087" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_sstk_CustomerOneMember_01a01624-0421-7ddb-930b-11521b1a1c11" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#sstk_CustomerOneMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_NameOfMajorCustomerDomain_01a01624-0421-7534-afc7-763af5c5dd15" xlink:to="loc_sstk_CustomerOneMember_01a01624-0421-7ddb-930b-11521b1a1c11" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis_01a01624-0421-766c-9bc1-9c5cf2884789" 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_ConcentrationRiskTable_01a01624-0421-77fb-8274-1636c6db739a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis_01a01624-0421-766c-9bc1-9c5cf2884789" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskBenchmarkDomain_01a01624-0421-766c-9bc1-9c5cf2884789_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_01a01624-0421-766c-9bc1-9c5cf2884789" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskBenchmarkDomain_01a01624-0421-766c-9bc1-9c5cf2884789_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskBenchmarkDomain_01a01624-0421-7bc7-a30b-890766b885fd" 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_01a01624-0421-766c-9bc1-9c5cf2884789" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskBenchmarkDomain_01a01624-0421-7bc7-a30b-890766b885fd" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccountsReceivableMember_01a01624-0421-7947-ad8b-b779156dc27c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AccountsReceivableMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskBenchmarkDomain_01a01624-0421-7bc7-a30b-890766b885fd" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AccountsReceivableMember_01a01624-0421-7947-ad8b-b779156dc27c" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis_01a01624-0421-7a31-85d5-a5257eeac7f9" 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_ConcentrationRiskTable_01a01624-0421-77fb-8274-1636c6db739a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis_01a01624-0421-7a31-85d5-a5257eeac7f9" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskTypeDomain_01a01624-0421-7a31-85d5-a5257eeac7f9_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_01a01624-0421-7a31-85d5-a5257eeac7f9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskTypeDomain_01a01624-0421-7a31-85d5-a5257eeac7f9_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskTypeDomain_01a01624-0421-7ead-a909-1d62cf18222d" 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_01a01624-0421-7a31-85d5-a5257eeac7f9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskTypeDomain_01a01624-0421-7ead-a909-1d62cf18222d" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CustomerConcentrationRiskMember_01a01624-0421-7479-869d-77da1ee6c5e5" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CustomerConcentrationRiskMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskTypeDomain_01a01624-0421-7ead-a909-1d62cf18222d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CustomerConcentrationRiskMember_01a01624-0421-7479-869d-77da1ee6c5e5" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_UnbilledContractsReceivable_01a01624-0421-7e76-a3ba-72879594e147" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_UnbilledContractsReceivable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskLineItems_01a01624-0421-7776-a64f-0994a244cbf4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_UnbilledContractsReceivable_01a01624-0421-7e76-a3ba-72879594e147" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts_01a01624-0421-7184-9d0b-8ee55a00ac57" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskLineItems_01a01624-0421-7776-a64f-0994a244cbf4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts_01a01624-0421-7184-9d0b-8ee55a00ac57" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable_01a01624-0421-7c28-aa75-abf67bd17e1e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskLineItems_01a01624-0421-7776-a64f-0994a244cbf4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable_01a01624-0421-7c28-aa75-abf67bd17e1e" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NotesReceivableNet_01a01624-0421-7478-824b-115100593a23" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_NotesReceivableNet"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskLineItems_01a01624-0421-7776-a64f-0994a244cbf4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NotesReceivableNet_01a01624-0421-7478-824b-115100593a23" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1_01a01624-0421-7b89-9287-62cc72ed68b0" 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_ConcentrationRiskLineItems_01a01624-0421-7776-a64f-0994a244cbf4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1_01a01624-0421-7b89-9287-62cc72ed68b0" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_sstk_ChargebackAndSalesRefundAllowance_01a01624-0421-735c-bcc5-03796e63507e" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#sstk_ChargebackAndSalesRefundAllowance"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskLineItems_01a01624-0421-7776-a64f-0994a244cbf4" xlink:to="loc_sstk_ChargebackAndSalesRefundAllowance_01a01624-0421-735c-bcc5-03796e63507e" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/SummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesDetails_1" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#SummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesDetails_1"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/SummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesDetails_1" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskLineItems_01a01624-0421-7776-a64f-0994a244cbf4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskTable_01a01624-0421-77fb-8274-1636c6db739a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskLineItems_01a01624-0421-7776-a64f-0994a244cbf4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskTable_01a01624-0421-77fb-8274-1636c6db739a" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_MajorCustomersAxis_01a01624-0421-7ce6-8224-76ee1d4c3e68" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_MajorCustomersAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskTable_01a01624-0421-77fb-8274-1636c6db739a" xlink:to="loc_srt_MajorCustomersAxis_01a01624-0421-7ce6-8224-76ee1d4c3e68" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_NameOfMajorCustomerDomain_01a01624-0421-7ce6-8224-76ee1d4c3e68_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_NameOfMajorCustomerDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_MajorCustomersAxis_01a01624-0421-7ce6-8224-76ee1d4c3e68" xlink:to="loc_srt_NameOfMajorCustomerDomain_01a01624-0421-7ce6-8224-76ee1d4c3e68_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_NameOfMajorCustomerDomain_01a01624-0421-7534-afc7-763af5c5dd15" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_NameOfMajorCustomerDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_MajorCustomersAxis_01a01624-0421-7ce6-8224-76ee1d4c3e68" xlink:to="loc_srt_NameOfMajorCustomerDomain_01a01624-0421-7534-afc7-763af5c5dd15" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_sstk_CustomerTwoMember_01a15c48-c334-7ef9-9779-5626481aa087" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#sstk_CustomerTwoMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_NameOfMajorCustomerDomain_01a01624-0421-7534-afc7-763af5c5dd15" xlink:to="loc_sstk_CustomerTwoMember_01a15c48-c334-7ef9-9779-5626481aa087" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_sstk_CustomerOneMember_01a01624-0421-7ddb-930b-11521b1a1c11" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#sstk_CustomerOneMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_NameOfMajorCustomerDomain_01a01624-0421-7534-afc7-763af5c5dd15" xlink:to="loc_sstk_CustomerOneMember_01a01624-0421-7ddb-930b-11521b1a1c11" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis_01a01624-0421-766c-9bc1-9c5cf2884789" 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_ConcentrationRiskTable_01a01624-0421-77fb-8274-1636c6db739a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis_01a01624-0421-766c-9bc1-9c5cf2884789" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskBenchmarkDomain_01a01624-0421-766c-9bc1-9c5cf2884789_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_01a01624-0421-766c-9bc1-9c5cf2884789" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskBenchmarkDomain_01a01624-0421-766c-9bc1-9c5cf2884789_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskBenchmarkDomain_01a01624-0421-7bc7-a30b-890766b885fd" 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_01a01624-0421-766c-9bc1-9c5cf2884789" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskBenchmarkDomain_01a01624-0421-7bc7-a30b-890766b885fd" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccountsReceivableMember_01a01624-0421-7947-ad8b-b779156dc27c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AccountsReceivableMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskBenchmarkDomain_01a01624-0421-7bc7-a30b-890766b885fd" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AccountsReceivableMember_01a01624-0421-7947-ad8b-b779156dc27c" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis_01a01624-0421-7a31-85d5-a5257eeac7f9" 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_ConcentrationRiskTable_01a01624-0421-77fb-8274-1636c6db739a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis_01a01624-0421-7a31-85d5-a5257eeac7f9" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskTypeDomain_01a01624-0421-7a31-85d5-a5257eeac7f9_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_01a01624-0421-7a31-85d5-a5257eeac7f9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskTypeDomain_01a01624-0421-7a31-85d5-a5257eeac7f9_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskTypeDomain_01a01624-0421-7ead-a909-1d62cf18222d" 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_01a01624-0421-7a31-85d5-a5257eeac7f9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskTypeDomain_01a01624-0421-7ead-a909-1d62cf18222d" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CustomerConcentrationRiskMember_01a01624-0421-7479-869d-77da1ee6c5e5" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CustomerConcentrationRiskMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskTypeDomain_01a01624-0421-7ead-a909-1d62cf18222d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CustomerConcentrationRiskMember_01a01624-0421-7479-869d-77da1ee6c5e5" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_UnbilledContractsReceivable_01a01624-0421-7e76-a3ba-72879594e147" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_UnbilledContractsReceivable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskLineItems_01a01624-0421-7776-a64f-0994a244cbf4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_UnbilledContractsReceivable_01a01624-0421-7e76-a3ba-72879594e147" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts_01a01624-0421-7184-9d0b-8ee55a00ac57" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskLineItems_01a01624-0421-7776-a64f-0994a244cbf4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts_01a01624-0421-7184-9d0b-8ee55a00ac57" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable_01a01624-0421-7c28-aa75-abf67bd17e1e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskLineItems_01a01624-0421-7776-a64f-0994a244cbf4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable_01a01624-0421-7c28-aa75-abf67bd17e1e" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NotesReceivableNet_01a01624-0421-7478-824b-115100593a23" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_NotesReceivableNet"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskLineItems_01a01624-0421-7776-a64f-0994a244cbf4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NotesReceivableNet_01a01624-0421-7478-824b-115100593a23" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1_01a01624-0421-7b89-9287-62cc72ed68b0" 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_ConcentrationRiskLineItems_01a01624-0421-7776-a64f-0994a244cbf4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1_01a01624-0421-7b89-9287-62cc72ed68b0" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_sstk_ChargebackAndSalesRefundAllowance_01a01624-0421-735c-bcc5-03796e63507e" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#sstk_ChargebackAndSalesRefundAllowance"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskLineItems_01a01624-0421-7776-a64f-0994a244cbf4" xlink:to="loc_sstk_ChargebackAndSalesRefundAllowance_01a01624-0421-735c-bcc5-03796e63507e" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/FairValueMeasurementsandLongtermInvestmentsNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#FairValueMeasurementsandLongtermInvestmentsNarrativeDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/FairValueMeasurementsandLongtermInvestmentsNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_01a01624-0421-721d-ac1d-a44f2d00f8ed" 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_01a01624-0421-7c7a-80e1-4603ce2e9db3" 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_01a01624-0421-721d-ac1d-a44f2d00f8ed" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_01a01624-0421-7c7a-80e1-4603ce2e9db3" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesAxis_01a01624-0421-7b60-9110-277fe4c561c6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_01a01624-0421-7c7a-80e1-4603ce2e9db3" xlink:to="loc_srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesAxis_01a01624-0421-7b60-9110-277fe4c561c6" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesDomain_01a01624-0421-7b60-9110-277fe4c561c6_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesAxis_01a01624-0421-7b60-9110-277fe4c561c6" xlink:to="loc_srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesDomain_01a01624-0421-7b60-9110-277fe4c561c6_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesDomain_01a01624-0421-796e-9bff-6ada6ab00c2d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesAxis_01a01624-0421-7b60-9110-277fe4c561c6" xlink:to="loc_srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesDomain_01a01624-0421-796e-9bff-6ada6ab00c2d" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityNotPrimaryBeneficiaryMember_01a01624-0421-71c1-871c-a24e773c11d1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityNotPrimaryBeneficiaryMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesDomain_01a01624-0421-796e-9bff-6ada6ab00c2d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityNotPrimaryBeneficiaryMember_01a01624-0421-71c1-871c-a24e773c11d1" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis_01a01624-0421-7409-aa64-3284a9c13188" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_01a01624-0421-7c7a-80e1-4603ce2e9db3" xlink:to="loc_srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis_01a01624-0421-7409-aa64-3284a9c13188" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_EquityMethodInvesteeNameDomain_01a01624-0421-7409-aa64-3284a9c13188_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_EquityMethodInvesteeNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis_01a01624-0421-7409-aa64-3284a9c13188" xlink:to="loc_srt_EquityMethodInvesteeNameDomain_01a01624-0421-7409-aa64-3284a9c13188_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_EquityMethodInvesteeNameDomain_01a01624-0421-7c63-a9e7-bc4110df9fd0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_EquityMethodInvesteeNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis_01a01624-0421-7409-aa64-3284a9c13188" xlink:to="loc_srt_EquityMethodInvesteeNameDomain_01a01624-0421-7c63-a9e7-bc4110df9fd0" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_sstk_ZcoolNetworkTechnologyLimitedMember_01a01624-0421-7599-8a1b-704e75423fea" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#sstk_ZcoolNetworkTechnologyLimitedMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_EquityMethodInvesteeNameDomain_01a01624-0421-7c63-a9e7-bc4110df9fd0" xlink:to="loc_sstk_ZcoolNetworkTechnologyLimitedMember_01a01624-0421-7599-8a1b-704e75423fea" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_sstk_MeituInc.Member_01a01624-0421-725f-9980-19a2da548e8d" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#sstk_MeituInc.Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_EquityMethodInvesteeNameDomain_01a01624-0421-7c63-a9e7-bc4110df9fd0" xlink:to="loc_sstk_MeituInc.Member_01a01624-0421-725f-9980-19a2da548e8d" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis_01a01624-0421-710e-9c7d-82d55b013128" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_01a01624-0421-7c7a-80e1-4603ce2e9db3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis_01a01624-0421-710e-9c7d-82d55b013128" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain_01a01624-0421-710e-9c7d-82d55b013128_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis_01a01624-0421-710e-9c7d-82d55b013128" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain_01a01624-0421-710e-9c7d-82d55b013128_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain_01a01624-0421-7a97-926d-c8157c57cd71" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis_01a01624-0421-710e-9c7d-82d55b013128" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain_01a01624-0421-7a97-926d-c8157c57cd71" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ConvertiblePreferredStockMember_01a01624-0421-7acc-8af7-1199ac02df4c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ConvertiblePreferredStockMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain_01a01624-0421-7a97-926d-c8157c57cd71" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ConvertiblePreferredStockMember_01a01624-0421-7acc-8af7-1199ac02df4c" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementOfFinancialPositionLocationBalanceAxis_01a01624-0421-7a0d-b5bd-f9c028a50ed4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StatementOfFinancialPositionLocationBalanceAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_01a01624-0421-7c7a-80e1-4603ce2e9db3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementOfFinancialPositionLocationBalanceAxis_01a01624-0421-7a0d-b5bd-f9c028a50ed4" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireInterestInSubsidiariesAndAffiliates_01a01624-0421-7b79-ad74-28194f785be8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireInterestInSubsidiariesAndAffiliates"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_01a01624-0421-721d-ac1d-a44f2d00f8ed" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireInterestInSubsidiariesAndAffiliates_01a01624-0421-7b79-ad74-28194f785be8" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesFvNiCurrentAndNoncurrent_01a01624-0421-754f-ac55-be22856bfe92" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesFvNiCurrentAndNoncurrent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_01a01624-0421-721d-ac1d-a44f2d00f8ed" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesFvNiCurrentAndNoncurrent_01a01624-0421-754f-ac55-be22856bfe92" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesFvNiRealizedGain_01a01624-0421-7b4c-adee-30790d038978" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesFvNiRealizedGain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_01a01624-0421-721d-ac1d-a44f2d00f8ed" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesFvNiRealizedGain_01a01624-0421-7b4c-adee-30790d038978" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_sstk_InvestmentTransferPeriod_01a01624-0421-7e0c-bc9b-867f6e2aa28f" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#sstk_InvestmentTransferPeriod"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_01a01624-0421-721d-ac1d-a44f2d00f8ed" xlink:to="loc_sstk_InvestmentTransferPeriod_01a01624-0421-7e0c-bc9b-867f6e2aa28f" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesWithoutReadilyDeterminableFairValueAmount_01a01624-0421-71f3-9dcc-aee68c608c64" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesWithoutReadilyDeterminableFairValueAmount"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_01a01624-0421-721d-ac1d-a44f2d00f8ed" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesWithoutReadilyDeterminableFairValueAmount_01a01624-0421-71f3-9dcc-aee68c608c64" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/FairValueMeasurementsandLongtermInvestmentsNarrativeDetails_1" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#FairValueMeasurementsandLongtermInvestmentsNarrativeDetails_1"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/FairValueMeasurementsandLongtermInvestmentsNarrativeDetails_1" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_01a01624-0421-721d-ac1d-a44f2d00f8ed" 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_01a01624-0421-7c7a-80e1-4603ce2e9db3" 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_01a01624-0421-721d-ac1d-a44f2d00f8ed" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_01a01624-0421-7c7a-80e1-4603ce2e9db3" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesAxis_01a01624-0421-7b60-9110-277fe4c561c6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_01a01624-0421-7c7a-80e1-4603ce2e9db3" xlink:to="loc_srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesAxis_01a01624-0421-7b60-9110-277fe4c561c6" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesDomain_01a01624-0421-7b60-9110-277fe4c561c6_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesAxis_01a01624-0421-7b60-9110-277fe4c561c6" xlink:to="loc_srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesDomain_01a01624-0421-7b60-9110-277fe4c561c6_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesDomain_01a01624-0421-796e-9bff-6ada6ab00c2d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesAxis_01a01624-0421-7b60-9110-277fe4c561c6" xlink:to="loc_srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesDomain_01a01624-0421-796e-9bff-6ada6ab00c2d" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityNotPrimaryBeneficiaryMember_01a01624-0421-71c1-871c-a24e773c11d1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityNotPrimaryBeneficiaryMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesDomain_01a01624-0421-796e-9bff-6ada6ab00c2d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityNotPrimaryBeneficiaryMember_01a01624-0421-71c1-871c-a24e773c11d1" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis_01a01624-0421-7409-aa64-3284a9c13188" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_01a01624-0421-7c7a-80e1-4603ce2e9db3" xlink:to="loc_srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis_01a01624-0421-7409-aa64-3284a9c13188" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_EquityMethodInvesteeNameDomain_01a01624-0421-7409-aa64-3284a9c13188_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_EquityMethodInvesteeNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis_01a01624-0421-7409-aa64-3284a9c13188" xlink:to="loc_srt_EquityMethodInvesteeNameDomain_01a01624-0421-7409-aa64-3284a9c13188_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_EquityMethodInvesteeNameDomain_01a01624-0421-7c63-a9e7-bc4110df9fd0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_EquityMethodInvesteeNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis_01a01624-0421-7409-aa64-3284a9c13188" xlink:to="loc_srt_EquityMethodInvesteeNameDomain_01a01624-0421-7c63-a9e7-bc4110df9fd0" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_sstk_ZcoolNetworkTechnologyLimitedMember_01a01624-0421-7599-8a1b-704e75423fea" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#sstk_ZcoolNetworkTechnologyLimitedMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_EquityMethodInvesteeNameDomain_01a01624-0421-7c63-a9e7-bc4110df9fd0" xlink:to="loc_sstk_ZcoolNetworkTechnologyLimitedMember_01a01624-0421-7599-8a1b-704e75423fea" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_sstk_MeituInc.Member_01a01624-0421-725f-9980-19a2da548e8d" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#sstk_MeituInc.Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_EquityMethodInvesteeNameDomain_01a01624-0421-7c63-a9e7-bc4110df9fd0" xlink:to="loc_sstk_MeituInc.Member_01a01624-0421-725f-9980-19a2da548e8d" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis_01a01624-0421-710e-9c7d-82d55b013128" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_01a01624-0421-7c7a-80e1-4603ce2e9db3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis_01a01624-0421-710e-9c7d-82d55b013128" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain_01a01624-0421-710e-9c7d-82d55b013128_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis_01a01624-0421-710e-9c7d-82d55b013128" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain_01a01624-0421-710e-9c7d-82d55b013128_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain_01a01624-0421-7a97-926d-c8157c57cd71" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis_01a01624-0421-710e-9c7d-82d55b013128" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain_01a01624-0421-7a97-926d-c8157c57cd71" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ConvertiblePreferredStockMember_01a01624-0421-7acc-8af7-1199ac02df4c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ConvertiblePreferredStockMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain_01a01624-0421-7a97-926d-c8157c57cd71" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ConvertiblePreferredStockMember_01a01624-0421-7acc-8af7-1199ac02df4c" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireInterestInSubsidiariesAndAffiliates_01a01624-0421-7b79-ad74-28194f785be8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireInterestInSubsidiariesAndAffiliates"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_01a01624-0421-721d-ac1d-a44f2d00f8ed" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireInterestInSubsidiariesAndAffiliates_01a01624-0421-7b79-ad74-28194f785be8" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesFvNiCurrentAndNoncurrent_01a01624-0421-754f-ac55-be22856bfe92" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesFvNiCurrentAndNoncurrent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_01a01624-0421-721d-ac1d-a44f2d00f8ed" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesFvNiCurrentAndNoncurrent_01a01624-0421-754f-ac55-be22856bfe92" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesFvNiRealizedGain_01a01624-0421-7b4c-adee-30790d038978" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesFvNiRealizedGain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_01a01624-0421-721d-ac1d-a44f2d00f8ed" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesFvNiRealizedGain_01a01624-0421-7b4c-adee-30790d038978" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_sstk_InvestmentTransferPeriod_01a01624-0421-7e0c-bc9b-867f6e2aa28f" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#sstk_InvestmentTransferPeriod"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_01a01624-0421-721d-ac1d-a44f2d00f8ed" xlink:to="loc_sstk_InvestmentTransferPeriod_01a01624-0421-7e0c-bc9b-867f6e2aa28f" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesWithoutReadilyDeterminableFairValueAmount_01a01624-0421-71f3-9dcc-aee68c608c64" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesWithoutReadilyDeterminableFairValueAmount"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_01a01624-0421-721d-ac1d-a44f2d00f8ed" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesWithoutReadilyDeterminableFairValueAmount_01a01624-0421-71f3-9dcc-aee68c608c64" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/FairValueMeasurementsandLongtermInvestmentsScheduleofFairValueAssetsMeasuredonRecurringBasisDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#FairValueMeasurementsandLongtermInvestmentsScheduleofFairValueAssetsMeasuredonRecurringBasisDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/FairValueMeasurementsandLongtermInvestmentsScheduleofFairValueAssetsMeasuredonRecurringBasisDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_01a01624-0421-70a1-80d7-b71599372f1b" 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_01a01624-0421-7523-a7ab-5ad87b39a379" 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_01a01624-0421-70a1-80d7-b71599372f1b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_01a01624-0421-7523-a7ab-5ad87b39a379" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_01a01624-0421-74d9-9467-30c79211b05c" 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_01a01624-0421-7523-a7ab-5ad87b39a379" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_01a01624-0421-74d9-9467-30c79211b05c" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_01a01624-0421-74d9-9467-30c79211b05c_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_01a01624-0421-74d9-9467-30c79211b05c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_01a01624-0421-74d9-9467-30c79211b05c_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_01a01624-0421-721f-8ed4-331114c42de3" 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_01a01624-0421-74d9-9467-30c79211b05c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_01a01624-0421-721f-8ed4-331114c42de3" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member_01a01624-0421-72d3-81eb-8cf64707bd73" 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_01a01624-0421-721f-8ed4-331114c42de3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member_01a01624-0421-72d3-81eb-8cf64707bd73" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesFvNiCurrentAndNoncurrent_01a01624-0421-740e-b45e-d35ab674a274" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesFvNiCurrentAndNoncurrent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_01a01624-0421-70a1-80d7-b71599372f1b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesFvNiCurrentAndNoncurrent_01a01624-0421-740e-b45e-d35ab674a274" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/PropertyandEquipmentScheduleofPropertyandEquipmentDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#PropertyandEquipmentScheduleofPropertyandEquipmentDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/PropertyandEquipmentScheduleofPropertyandEquipmentDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems_01a01624-0421-752f-bf42-d162c8f031ac" 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_01a01624-0421-748a-9ac7-2b78a392437d" 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_01a01624-0421-752f-bf42-d162c8f031ac" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentTable_01a01624-0421-748a-9ac7-2b78a392437d" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis_01a01624-0421-7abd-a3b1-09a94a787690" 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_01a01624-0421-748a-9ac7-2b78a392437d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis_01a01624-0421-7abd-a3b1-09a94a787690" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain_01a01624-0421-7abd-a3b1-09a94a787690_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_01a01624-0421-7abd-a3b1-09a94a787690" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain_01a01624-0421-7abd-a3b1-09a94a787690_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain_01a01624-0421-73d3-81e6-6f2d9ae7ca81" 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_01a01624-0421-7abd-a3b1-09a94a787690" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain_01a01624-0421-73d3-81e6-6f2d9ae7ca81" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_sstk_ComputerEquipmentAndSoftwareMember_01a01624-0421-7875-a8b9-fb675b0e3d21" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#sstk_ComputerEquipmentAndSoftwareMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain_01a01624-0421-73d3-81e6-6f2d9ae7ca81" xlink:to="loc_sstk_ComputerEquipmentAndSoftwareMember_01a01624-0421-7875-a8b9-fb675b0e3d21" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FurnitureAndFixturesMember_01a01624-0421-7301-ad0c-8d0b88606c5a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FurnitureAndFixturesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain_01a01624-0421-73d3-81e6-6f2d9ae7ca81" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FurnitureAndFixturesMember_01a01624-0421-7301-ad0c-8d0b88606c5a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LeaseholdImprovementsMember_01a01624-0421-737f-8b06-daaddcbcaa24" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LeaseholdImprovementsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain_01a01624-0421-73d3-81e6-6f2d9ae7ca81" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LeaseholdImprovementsMember_01a01624-0421-737f-8b06-daaddcbcaa24" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross_01a01624-0421-7e7e-92f4-90034d2f140c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems_01a01624-0421-752f-bf42-d162c8f031ac" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross_01a01624-0421-7e7e-92f4-90034d2f140c" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment_01a01624-0421-7e96-880b-d960be9b66b0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems_01a01624-0421-752f-bf42-d162c8f031ac" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment_01a01624-0421-7e96-880b-d960be9b66b0" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet_01a01624-0421-7d5d-b311-70b9598a5698" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems_01a01624-0421-752f-bf42-d162c8f031ac" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet_01a01624-0421-7d5d-b311-70b9598a5698" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/PropertyandEquipmentNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#PropertyandEquipmentNarrativeDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/PropertyandEquipmentNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems_01a01624-0421-7287-917b-35f32fe812ef" 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_01a01624-0421-7bf4-aa07-24b4f3567607" 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_01a01624-0421-7287-917b-35f32fe812ef" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentTable_01a01624-0421-7bf4-aa07-24b4f3567607" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementOfIncomeLocationBalanceAxis_01a01624-0421-7b5b-8883-bdf77ba5db03" 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_ScheduleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentTable_01a01624-0421-7bf4-aa07-24b4f3567607" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementOfIncomeLocationBalanceAxis_01a01624-0421-7b5b-8883-bdf77ba5db03" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis_01a01624-0421-75a4-840b-d7f1a9508835" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentTable_01a01624-0421-7bf4-aa07-24b4f3567607" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis_01a01624-0421-75a4-840b-d7f1a9508835" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputReconciliationByAssetClassDomain_01a01624-0421-75a4-840b-d7f1a9508835_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputReconciliationByAssetClassDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis_01a01624-0421-75a4-840b-d7f1a9508835" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputReconciliationByAssetClassDomain_01a01624-0421-75a4-840b-d7f1a9508835_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputReconciliationByAssetClassDomain_01a01624-0421-7c04-a8c3-18f7738b01e3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputReconciliationByAssetClassDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis_01a01624-0421-75a4-840b-d7f1a9508835" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputReconciliationByAssetClassDomain_01a01624-0421-7c04-a8c3-18f7738b01e3" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentMember_01a01624-0421-7187-8a7f-0ce24e6340b5" 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_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputReconciliationByAssetClassDomain_01a01624-0421-7c04-a8c3-18f7738b01e3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentMember_01a01624-0421-7187-8a7f-0ce24e6340b5" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_Depreciation_01a01624-0421-7093-89a9-66b4d0ee5f49" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_Depreciation"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems_01a01624-0421-7287-917b-35f32fe812ef" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_Depreciation_01a01624-0421-7093-89a9-66b4d0ee5f49" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAdditions_01a01624-0421-79ba-87e6-036e31ef2aa9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAdditions"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems_01a01624-0421-7287-917b-35f32fe812ef" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAdditions_01a01624-0421-79ba-87e6-036e31ef2aa9" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAmortization1_01a01624-0421-73a4-b912-4d09ebc1d888" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAmortization1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems_01a01624-0421-7287-917b-35f32fe812ef" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAmortization1_01a01624-0421-73a4-b912-4d09ebc1d888" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareNet_01a01624-0421-7d4b-8218-9314ffcbb087" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareNet"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems_01a01624-0421-7287-917b-35f32fe812ef" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareNet_01a01624-0421-7d4b-8218-9314ffcbb087" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/PropertyandEquipmentNarrativeDetails_1" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#PropertyandEquipmentNarrativeDetails_1"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/PropertyandEquipmentNarrativeDetails_1" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems_01a01624-0421-7287-917b-35f32fe812ef" 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_01a01624-0421-7bf4-aa07-24b4f3567607" 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_01a01624-0421-7287-917b-35f32fe812ef" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentTable_01a01624-0421-7bf4-aa07-24b4f3567607" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis_01a01624-0421-75a4-840b-d7f1a9508835" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentTable_01a01624-0421-7bf4-aa07-24b4f3567607" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis_01a01624-0421-75a4-840b-d7f1a9508835" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputReconciliationByAssetClassDomain_01a01624-0421-75a4-840b-d7f1a9508835_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputReconciliationByAssetClassDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis_01a01624-0421-75a4-840b-d7f1a9508835" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputReconciliationByAssetClassDomain_01a01624-0421-75a4-840b-d7f1a9508835_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputReconciliationByAssetClassDomain_01a01624-0421-7c04-a8c3-18f7738b01e3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputReconciliationByAssetClassDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis_01a01624-0421-75a4-840b-d7f1a9508835" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputReconciliationByAssetClassDomain_01a01624-0421-7c04-a8c3-18f7738b01e3" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentMember_01a01624-0421-7187-8a7f-0ce24e6340b5" 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_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputReconciliationByAssetClassDomain_01a01624-0421-7c04-a8c3-18f7738b01e3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentMember_01a01624-0421-7187-8a7f-0ce24e6340b5" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_Depreciation_01a01624-0421-7093-89a9-66b4d0ee5f49" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_Depreciation"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems_01a01624-0421-7287-917b-35f32fe812ef" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_Depreciation_01a01624-0421-7093-89a9-66b4d0ee5f49" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAdditions_01a01624-0421-79ba-87e6-036e31ef2aa9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAdditions"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems_01a01624-0421-7287-917b-35f32fe812ef" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAdditions_01a01624-0421-79ba-87e6-036e31ef2aa9" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAmortization1_01a01624-0421-73a4-b912-4d09ebc1d888" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAmortization1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems_01a01624-0421-7287-917b-35f32fe812ef" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAmortization1_01a01624-0421-73a4-b912-4d09ebc1d888" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareNet_01a01624-0421-7d4b-8218-9314ffcbb087" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareNet"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems_01a01624-0421-7287-917b-35f32fe812ef" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareNet_01a01624-0421-7d4b-8218-9314ffcbb087" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/GoodwillandIntangibleAssetsNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#GoodwillandIntangibleAssetsNarrativeDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/GoodwillandIntangibleAssetsNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems_01a01624-0421-776c-8da9-7ce7fb0e7e67" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsTable_01a01624-0421-7f46-87f4-b1a8652c3b75" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems_01a01624-0421-776c-8da9-7ce7fb0e7e67" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsTable_01a01624-0421-7f46-87f4-b1a8652c3b75" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementOfIncomeLocationBalanceAxis_01a01624-0421-7401-a6e2-a96fc0ff32d1" 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_ScheduleOfFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsTable_01a01624-0421-7f46-87f4-b1a8652c3b75" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementOfIncomeLocationBalanceAxis_01a01624-0421-7401-a6e2-a96fc0ff32d1" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_sstk_ReportingUnitFairValue_01a01624-0421-783e-b6c3-02d34b6fd9cb" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#sstk_ReportingUnitFairValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems_01a01624-0421-776c-8da9-7ce7fb0e7e67" xlink:to="loc_sstk_ReportingUnitFairValue_01a01624-0421-783e-b6c3-02d34b6fd9cb" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ReportingUnitPercentageOfFairValueInExcessOfCarryingAmount_01a01624-0421-7f20-80a1-4d11486de2e2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ReportingUnitPercentageOfFairValueInExcessOfCarryingAmount"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems_01a01624-0421-776c-8da9-7ce7fb0e7e67" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ReportingUnitPercentageOfFairValueInExcessOfCarryingAmount_01a01624-0421-7f20-80a1-4d11486de2e2" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss_01a01624-0421-78c8-aab0-63ccddb324e3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems_01a01624-0421-776c-8da9-7ce7fb0e7e67" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss_01a01624-0421-78c8-aab0-63ccddb324e3" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_sstk_GoodwillImpairmentImpactToDeferredTaxes_01a01624-0421-7f69-9722-ee5bbaf6c5be" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#sstk_GoodwillImpairmentImpactToDeferredTaxes"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems_01a01624-0421-776c-8da9-7ce7fb0e7e67" xlink:to="loc_sstk_GoodwillImpairmentImpactToDeferredTaxes_01a01624-0421-7f69-9722-ee5bbaf6c5be" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets_01a01624-0421-7cf8-888d-91e479182625" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems_01a01624-0421-776c-8da9-7ce7fb0e7e67" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets_01a01624-0421-7cf8-888d-91e479182625" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseRemainderOfFiscalYear_01a01624-0421-707f-b301-5b1c312e82ff" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseRemainderOfFiscalYear"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems_01a01624-0421-776c-8da9-7ce7fb0e7e67" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseRemainderOfFiscalYear_01a01624-0421-707f-b301-5b1c312e82ff" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseNextTwelveMonths_01a01624-0421-7d16-9a2f-f512c7b4c633" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseNextTwelveMonths"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems_01a01624-0421-776c-8da9-7ce7fb0e7e67" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseNextTwelveMonths_01a01624-0421-7d16-9a2f-f512c7b4c633" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearTwo_01a01624-0421-729b-9fc5-695ebc2438a2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearTwo"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems_01a01624-0421-776c-8da9-7ce7fb0e7e67" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearTwo_01a01624-0421-729b-9fc5-695ebc2438a2" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearThree_01a01624-0421-762e-9542-abf68942682e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearThree"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems_01a01624-0421-776c-8da9-7ce7fb0e7e67" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearThree_01a01624-0421-762e-9542-abf68942682e" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFour_01a01624-0421-705a-bd86-5d3ad6e743bb" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFour"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems_01a01624-0421-776c-8da9-7ce7fb0e7e67" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFour_01a01624-0421-705a-bd86-5d3ad6e743bb" xlink:type="arc" order="9"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFive_01a01624-0421-7d0c-9c5d-d622201f34b4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFive"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems_01a01624-0421-776c-8da9-7ce7fb0e7e67" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFive_01a01624-0421-7d0c-9c5d-d622201f34b4" xlink:type="arc" order="10"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseAfterYearFive_01a01624-0421-75f0-bcf5-43f3891db906" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseAfterYearFive"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems_01a01624-0421-776c-8da9-7ce7fb0e7e67" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseAfterYearFive_01a01624-0421-75f0-bcf5-43f3891db906" xlink:type="arc" order="11"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/GoodwillandIntangibleAssetsNarrativeDetails_1" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#GoodwillandIntangibleAssetsNarrativeDetails_1"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/GoodwillandIntangibleAssetsNarrativeDetails_1" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems_01a01624-0421-776c-8da9-7ce7fb0e7e67" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsTable_01a01624-0421-7f46-87f4-b1a8652c3b75" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems_01a01624-0421-776c-8da9-7ce7fb0e7e67" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsTable_01a01624-0421-7f46-87f4-b1a8652c3b75" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_sstk_ReportingUnitFairValue_01a01624-0421-783e-b6c3-02d34b6fd9cb" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#sstk_ReportingUnitFairValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems_01a01624-0421-776c-8da9-7ce7fb0e7e67" xlink:to="loc_sstk_ReportingUnitFairValue_01a01624-0421-783e-b6c3-02d34b6fd9cb" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ReportingUnitPercentageOfFairValueInExcessOfCarryingAmount_01a01624-0421-7f20-80a1-4d11486de2e2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ReportingUnitPercentageOfFairValueInExcessOfCarryingAmount"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems_01a01624-0421-776c-8da9-7ce7fb0e7e67" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ReportingUnitPercentageOfFairValueInExcessOfCarryingAmount_01a01624-0421-7f20-80a1-4d11486de2e2" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss_01a01624-0421-78c8-aab0-63ccddb324e3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems_01a01624-0421-776c-8da9-7ce7fb0e7e67" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss_01a01624-0421-78c8-aab0-63ccddb324e3" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_sstk_GoodwillImpairmentImpactToDeferredTaxes_01a01624-0421-7f69-9722-ee5bbaf6c5be" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#sstk_GoodwillImpairmentImpactToDeferredTaxes"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems_01a01624-0421-776c-8da9-7ce7fb0e7e67" xlink:to="loc_sstk_GoodwillImpairmentImpactToDeferredTaxes_01a01624-0421-7f69-9722-ee5bbaf6c5be" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets_01a01624-0421-7cf8-888d-91e479182625" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems_01a01624-0421-776c-8da9-7ce7fb0e7e67" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets_01a01624-0421-7cf8-888d-91e479182625" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseRemainderOfFiscalYear_01a01624-0421-707f-b301-5b1c312e82ff" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseRemainderOfFiscalYear"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems_01a01624-0421-776c-8da9-7ce7fb0e7e67" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseRemainderOfFiscalYear_01a01624-0421-707f-b301-5b1c312e82ff" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseNextTwelveMonths_01a01624-0421-7d16-9a2f-f512c7b4c633" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseNextTwelveMonths"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems_01a01624-0421-776c-8da9-7ce7fb0e7e67" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseNextTwelveMonths_01a01624-0421-7d16-9a2f-f512c7b4c633" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearTwo_01a01624-0421-729b-9fc5-695ebc2438a2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearTwo"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems_01a01624-0421-776c-8da9-7ce7fb0e7e67" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearTwo_01a01624-0421-729b-9fc5-695ebc2438a2" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearThree_01a01624-0421-762e-9542-abf68942682e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearThree"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems_01a01624-0421-776c-8da9-7ce7fb0e7e67" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearThree_01a01624-0421-762e-9542-abf68942682e" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFour_01a01624-0421-705a-bd86-5d3ad6e743bb" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFour"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems_01a01624-0421-776c-8da9-7ce7fb0e7e67" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFour_01a01624-0421-705a-bd86-5d3ad6e743bb" xlink:type="arc" order="9"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFive_01a01624-0421-7d0c-9c5d-d622201f34b4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFive"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems_01a01624-0421-776c-8da9-7ce7fb0e7e67" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFive_01a01624-0421-7d0c-9c5d-d622201f34b4" xlink:type="arc" order="10"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseAfterYearFive_01a01624-0421-75f0-bcf5-43f3891db906" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseAfterYearFive"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems_01a01624-0421-776c-8da9-7ce7fb0e7e67" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseAfterYearFive_01a01624-0421-75f0-bcf5-43f3891db906" xlink:type="arc" order="11"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/GoodwillandIntangibleAssetsScheduleofIntangibleAssetsDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#GoodwillandIntangibleAssetsScheduleofIntangibleAssetsDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/GoodwillandIntangibleAssetsScheduleofIntangibleAssetsDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems_01a01624-0421-7394-a696-dbfaa132287c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsTable_01a01624-0421-7a7e-a233-2993cdb52451" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems_01a01624-0421-7394-a696-dbfaa132287c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsTable_01a01624-0421-7a7e-a233-2993cdb52451" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis_01a01624-0421-7c9d-b65c-40f82b2d76ed" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsTable_01a01624-0421-7a7e-a233-2993cdb52451" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis_01a01624-0421-7c9d-b65c-40f82b2d76ed" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain_01a01624-0421-7c9d-b65c-40f82b2d76ed_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis_01a01624-0421-7c9d-b65c-40f82b2d76ed" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain_01a01624-0421-7c9d-b65c-40f82b2d76ed_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain_01a01624-0421-77b8-ba9b-8e7b02d9e587" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis_01a01624-0421-7c9d-b65c-40f82b2d76ed" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain_01a01624-0421-77b8-ba9b-8e7b02d9e587" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember_01a01624-0421-73e6-8994-f28140aec1ea" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain_01a01624-0421-77b8-ba9b-8e7b02d9e587" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember_01a01624-0421-73e6-8994-f28140aec1ea" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_TradeNamesMember_01a01624-0421-703a-8de5-5c57cbd821d4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_TradeNamesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain_01a01624-0421-77b8-ba9b-8e7b02d9e587" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_TradeNamesMember_01a01624-0421-703a-8de5-5c57cbd821d4" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DevelopedTechnologyRightsMember_01a01624-0421-7386-a6cc-5833742ff7b2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DevelopedTechnologyRightsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain_01a01624-0421-77b8-ba9b-8e7b02d9e587" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DevelopedTechnologyRightsMember_01a01624-0421-7386-a6cc-5833742ff7b2" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_MediaContentMember_01a01624-0421-75b9-a7cb-910135cda5b1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_MediaContentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain_01a01624-0421-77b8-ba9b-8e7b02d9e587" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_MediaContentMember_01a01624-0421-75b9-a7cb-910135cda5b1" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PatentsMember_01a01624-0421-7f90-af09-6fa22639e639" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_PatentsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain_01a01624-0421-77b8-ba9b-8e7b02d9e587" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PatentsMember_01a01624-0421-7f90-af09-6fa22639e639" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross_01a01624-0421-7b1b-9adf-dacd3778636b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems_01a01624-0421-7394-a696-dbfaa132287c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross_01a01624-0421-7b1b-9adf-dacd3778636b" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization_01a01624-0421-7a6b-9acf-d64ec570ee6f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems_01a01624-0421-7394-a696-dbfaa132287c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization_01a01624-0421-7a6b-9acf-d64ec570ee6f" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet_01a01624-0421-7b15-bd8a-8fe241d82398" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems_01a01624-0421-7394-a696-dbfaa132287c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet_01a01624-0421-7b15-bd8a-8fe241d82398" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetUsefulLife_01a01624-0421-738b-9bd7-97a4f1b591c5" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetUsefulLife"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems_01a01624-0421-7394-a696-dbfaa132287c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetUsefulLife_01a01624-0421-738b-9bd7-97a4f1b591c5" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/DebtNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#DebtNarrativeDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/DebtNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems_01a01624-0421-7f3c-a177-720b7f137987" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityTable_01a01624-0421-75f8-bda7-0a1bf4d7fd32" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems_01a01624-0421-7f3c-a177-720b7f137987" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityTable_01a01624-0421-75f8-bda7-0a1bf4d7fd32" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_01a01624-0421-79e8-a283-c02df5620d07" 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_LineOfCreditFacilityTable_01a01624-0421-75f8-bda7-0a1bf4d7fd32" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_01a01624-0421-79e8-a283-c02df5620d07" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_01a01624-0421-79e8-a283-c02df5620d07_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_01a01624-0421-79e8-a283-c02df5620d07" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_01a01624-0421-79e8-a283-c02df5620d07_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_01a01624-0421-7429-be8a-92f0427df7c3" 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_01a01624-0421-79e8-a283-c02df5620d07" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_01a01624-0421-7429-be8a-92f0427df7c3" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember_01a01624-0421-78eb-8afd-a867e4a7db14" 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_01a01624-0421-7429-be8a-92f0427df7c3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember_01a01624-0421-78eb-8afd-a867e4a7db14" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SecuredDebtMember_01a01624-0421-71a1-ab08-c4ec6c3ca8dc" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SecuredDebtMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_01a01624-0421-7429-be8a-92f0427df7c3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SecuredDebtMember_01a01624-0421-71a1-ab08-c4ec6c3ca8dc" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_01a01624-0421-7ba9-8759-1164dde44f3e" 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_LineOfCreditFacilityTable_01a01624-0421-75f8-bda7-0a1bf4d7fd32" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_01a01624-0421-7ba9-8759-1164dde44f3e" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_01a01624-0421-7ba9-8759-1164dde44f3e_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_01a01624-0421-7ba9-8759-1164dde44f3e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_01a01624-0421-7ba9-8759-1164dde44f3e_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_01a01624-0421-77ea-a830-a0cefe2f45f4" 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_01a01624-0421-7ba9-8759-1164dde44f3e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_01a01624-0421-77ea-a830-a0cefe2f45f4" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember_01a01624-0421-7ae7-b03f-89ae86c3d730" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_01a01624-0421-77ea-a830-a0cefe2f45f4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember_01a01624-0421-7ae7-b03f-89ae86c3d730" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SecuredDebtMember_01a01624-0421-7360-8442-20f879351369" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SecuredDebtMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_01a01624-0421-77ea-a830-a0cefe2f45f4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SecuredDebtMember_01a01624-0421-7360-8442-20f879351369" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeAxis_01a01624-0421-7c87-8cc3-90edc7dd5adf" 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_LineOfCreditFacilityTable_01a01624-0421-75f8-bda7-0a1bf4d7fd32" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeAxis_01a01624-0421-7c87-8cc3-90edc7dd5adf" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeMember_01a01624-0421-7c87-8cc3-90edc7dd5adf_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_01a01624-0421-7c87-8cc3-90edc7dd5adf" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeMember_01a01624-0421-7c87-8cc3-90edc7dd5adf_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeMember_01a01624-0421-78bf-bc4e-2f1f94c5581d" 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_01a01624-0421-7c87-8cc3-90edc7dd5adf" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeMember_01a01624-0421-78bf-bc4e-2f1f94c5581d" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_MinimumMember_01a01624-0421-7bec-a963-ae835dc2a5c5" 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_01a01624-0421-78bf-bc4e-2f1f94c5581d" xlink:to="loc_srt_MinimumMember_01a01624-0421-7bec-a963-ae835dc2a5c5" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_MaximumMember_01a01624-0421-71b5-8fe6-682584366726" 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_01a01624-0421-78bf-bc4e-2f1f94c5581d" xlink:to="loc_srt_MaximumMember_01a01624-0421-71b5-8fe6-682584366726" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateAxis_01a01624-0421-71c7-8df1-7986b9d0ae2c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_VariableRateAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityTable_01a01624-0421-75f8-bda7-0a1bf4d7fd32" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateAxis_01a01624-0421-71c7-8df1-7986b9d0ae2c" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateDomain_01a01624-0421-71c7-8df1-7986b9d0ae2c_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_VariableRateDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateAxis_01a01624-0421-71c7-8df1-7986b9d0ae2c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateDomain_01a01624-0421-71c7-8df1-7986b9d0ae2c_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateDomain_01a01624-0421-71d0-a0f6-26b7298fb7e0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_VariableRateDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateAxis_01a01624-0421-71c7-8df1-7986b9d0ae2c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateDomain_01a01624-0421-71d0-a0f6-26b7298fb7e0" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BaseRateMember_01a01624-0421-7bb9-b62d-aded051f1cc4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_BaseRateMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateDomain_01a01624-0421-71d0-a0f6-26b7298fb7e0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BaseRateMember_01a01624-0421-7bb9-b62d-aded051f1cc4" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SecuredOvernightFinancingRateSofrMember_01a01624-0421-7249-9731-ba03f06fc5ba" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SecuredOvernightFinancingRateSofrMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateDomain_01a01624-0421-71d0-a0f6-26b7298fb7e0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SecuredOvernightFinancingRateSofrMember_01a01624-0421-7249-9731-ba03f06fc5ba" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTerm_01a01624-0421-7d77-983a-972ca2afbef2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTerm"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems_01a01624-0421-7f3c-a177-720b7f137987" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTerm_01a01624-0421-7d77-983a-972ca2afbef2" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity_01a01624-0421-72ce-a920-68a55ec8131d" 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_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems_01a01624-0421-7f3c-a177-720b7f137987" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity_01a01624-0421-72ce-a920-68a55ec8131d" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_sstk_LineOfCreditFacilityAccordionFeatureHigherBorrowingCapacityOption_01a01624-0421-7401-bbd2-8431133ea340" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#sstk_LineOfCreditFacilityAccordionFeatureHigherBorrowingCapacityOption"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems_01a01624-0421-7f3c-a177-720b7f137987" xlink:to="loc_sstk_LineOfCreditFacilityAccordionFeatureHigherBorrowingCapacityOption_01a01624-0421-7401-bbd2-8431133ea340" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount_01a01624-0421-7608-a57b-aa738e5fa4a1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems_01a01624-0421-7f3c-a177-720b7f137987" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount_01a01624-0421-7608-a57b-aa738e5fa4a1" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1_01a01624-0421-7b48-9a9a-63de545662b3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems_01a01624-0421-7f3c-a177-720b7f137987" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1_01a01624-0421-7b48-9a9a-63de545662b3" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCommitmentFeePercentage_01a01624-0421-78e0-a00c-dd40a03e7ec5" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCommitmentFeePercentage"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems_01a01624-0421-7f3c-a177-720b7f137987" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCommitmentFeePercentage_01a01624-0421-78e0-a00c-dd40a03e7ec5" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts_01a01624-0421-72f8-b910-e0de28627148" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems_01a01624-0421-7f3c-a177-720b7f137987" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts_01a01624-0421-72f8-b910-e0de28627148" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLinesOfCredit_01a109f4-553e-7932-a7e9-8c15fd8bbd20" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLinesOfCredit"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems_01a01624-0421-7f3c-a177-720b7f137987" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLinesOfCredit_01a109f4-553e-7932-a7e9-8c15fd8bbd20" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityRemainingBorrowingCapacity_01a01624-0421-7c01-b463-2375aa6c654a" 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_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems_01a01624-0421-7f3c-a177-720b7f137987" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityRemainingBorrowingCapacity_01a01624-0421-7c01-b463-2375aa6c654a" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InterestExpenseDebt_01a01624-0421-7af0-8d09-1ac7df0ea30c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_InterestExpenseDebt"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems_01a01624-0421-7f3c-a177-720b7f137987" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InterestExpenseDebt_01a01624-0421-7af0-8d09-1ac7df0ea30c" xlink:type="arc" order="9"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscountPremiumAndDebtIssuanceCostsNet_01a01624-0421-7a7d-92a4-d3263f508683" 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_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems_01a01624-0421-7f3c-a177-720b7f137987" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscountPremiumAndDebtIssuanceCostsNet_01a01624-0421-7a7d-92a4-d3263f508683" xlink:type="arc" order="10"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/DebtScheduleofLongTermDebtInstrumentsDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#DebtScheduleofLongTermDebtInstrumentsDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/DebtScheduleofLongTermDebtInstrumentsDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_01a01624-0421-70f8-bc3a-60059ff2d943" 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_01a01624-0421-7a8c-8b10-acd2c96bcbd5" 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_01a01624-0421-70f8-bc3a-60059ff2d943" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_01a01624-0421-7a8c-8b10-acd2c96bcbd5" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_01a01624-0421-7503-8dcb-c0a1c4c05fde" 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_01a01624-0421-7a8c-8b10-acd2c96bcbd5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_01a01624-0421-7503-8dcb-c0a1c4c05fde" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_01a01624-0421-7503-8dcb-c0a1c4c05fde_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_01a01624-0421-7503-8dcb-c0a1c4c05fde" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_01a01624-0421-7503-8dcb-c0a1c4c05fde_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_01a01624-0421-70b4-8302-1c7599b52fd8" 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_01a01624-0421-7503-8dcb-c0a1c4c05fde" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_01a01624-0421-70b4-8302-1c7599b52fd8" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember_01a01624-0421-7af0-85c6-c6dd707deacb" 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_01a01624-0421-70b4-8302-1c7599b52fd8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember_01a01624-0421-7af0-85c6-c6dd707deacb" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SecuredDebtMember_01a01624-0421-79f1-b08b-35d823a440f0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SecuredDebtMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_01a01624-0421-70b4-8302-1c7599b52fd8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SecuredDebtMember_01a01624-0421-79f1-b08b-35d823a440f0" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_01a01624-0421-7965-9a32-a9796523e175" 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_01a01624-0421-7a8c-8b10-acd2c96bcbd5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_01a01624-0421-7965-9a32-a9796523e175" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_01a01624-0421-7965-9a32-a9796523e175_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_01a01624-0421-7965-9a32-a9796523e175" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_01a01624-0421-7965-9a32-a9796523e175_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_01a01624-0421-785e-a161-4cff9a2ddb4b" 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_01a01624-0421-7965-9a32-a9796523e175" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_01a01624-0421-785e-a161-4cff9a2ddb4b" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember_01a01624-0421-7375-b043-8e6c59eba271" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_01a01624-0421-785e-a161-4cff9a2ddb4b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember_01a01624-0421-7375-b043-8e6c59eba271" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_01a01624-0421-7499-b4dd-da81470b9f9d" 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_01a01624-0421-7a8c-8b10-acd2c96bcbd5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_01a01624-0421-7499-b4dd-da81470b9f9d" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_01a01624-0421-7499-b4dd-da81470b9f9d_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_01a01624-0421-7499-b4dd-da81470b9f9d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_01a01624-0421-7499-b4dd-da81470b9f9d_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_01a01624-0421-71e7-a36e-6a9e862e51d6" 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_01a01624-0421-7499-b4dd-da81470b9f9d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_01a01624-0421-71e7-a36e-6a9e862e51d6" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_sstk_ARAgreementMember_01a01624-0421-7e52-bd71-d2eef9f7037a" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#sstk_ARAgreementMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_01a01624-0421-71e7-a36e-6a9e862e51d6" xlink:to="loc_sstk_ARAgreementMember_01a01624-0421-7e52-bd71-d2eef9f7037a" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebtCurrent_01a01624-0421-74ea-9b1a-7deda0fd9214" 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_01a01624-0421-70f8-bc3a-60059ff2d943" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebtCurrent_01a01624-0421-74ea-9b1a-7deda0fd9214" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent_01a01624-0421-7249-b2fc-f9bb072d29e7" 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_01a01624-0421-70f8-bc3a-60059ff2d943" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent_01a01624-0421-7249-b2fc-f9bb072d29e7" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/StockholdersEquityandEquityBasedCompensationNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#StockholdersEquityandEquityBasedCompensationNarrativeDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/StockholdersEquityandEquityBasedCompensationNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_01a01624-0421-796a-9064-e4845ffb5dc9" 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_01a01624-0421-73bf-9ef1-c2fd886c32b7" 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_01a01624-0421-796a-9064-e4845ffb5dc9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_01a01624-0421-73bf-9ef1-c2fd886c32b7" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_01a01624-0421-71dc-92b2-9c6cb01524ff" 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_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_01a01624-0421-73bf-9ef1-c2fd886c32b7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_01a01624-0421-71dc-92b2-9c6cb01524ff" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_01a01624-0421-71dc-92b2-9c6cb01524ff_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_01a01624-0421-71dc-92b2-9c6cb01524ff" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_01a01624-0421-71dc-92b2-9c6cb01524ff_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_01a01624-0421-796a-9094-5d01edc3f2d7" 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_01a01624-0421-71dc-92b2-9c6cb01524ff" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_01a01624-0421-796a-9094-5d01edc3f2d7" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockMember_01a01624-0421-706a-98db-c65f9f26bae0" 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_ClassOfStockDomain_01a01624-0421-796a-9094-5d01edc3f2d7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockMember_01a01624-0421-706a-98db-c65f9f26bae0" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_01a01624-0421-76ae-b136-e0d9b8490bd0" 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_01a01624-0421-73bf-9ef1-c2fd886c32b7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_01a01624-0421-76ae-b136-e0d9b8490bd0" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_01a01624-0421-76ae-b136-e0d9b8490bd0_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_01a01624-0421-76ae-b136-e0d9b8490bd0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_01a01624-0421-76ae-b136-e0d9b8490bd0_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_01a01624-0421-779a-b381-a5b9ddd9c125" 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_01a01624-0421-76ae-b136-e0d9b8490bd0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_01a01624-0421-779a-b381-a5b9ddd9c125" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember_01a01624-0421-74d1-a8de-157918f8301f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_01a01624-0421-779a-b381-a5b9ddd9c125" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember_01a01624-0421-74d1-a8de-157918f8301f" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensationGross_01a01624-0421-78c7-bf2f-c006bffded94" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensationGross"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_01a01624-0421-796a-9064-e4845ffb5dc9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensationGross_01a01624-0421-78c7-bf2f-c006bffded94" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_StockRepurchaseProgramAuthorizedAmount1_01a01624-0421-7606-83cd-c93e1f575309" 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_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_01a01624-0421-796a-9064-e4845ffb5dc9" xlink:to="loc_srt_StockRepurchaseProgramAuthorizedAmount1_01a01624-0421-7606-83cd-c93e1f575309" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired_01a01624-0421-7724-820e-b3d5abe5e094" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_01a01624-0421-796a-9064-e4845ffb5dc9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired_01a01624-0421-7724-820e-b3d5abe5e094" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_TreasuryStockAcquiredAverageCostPerShare_01a01624-0421-7a35-b88c-c021de9f86c1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_TreasuryStockAcquiredAverageCostPerShare"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_01a01624-0421-796a-9064-e4845ffb5dc9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_TreasuryStockAcquiredAverageCostPerShare_01a01624-0421-7a35-b88c-c021de9f86c1" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1_01a01624-0421-788a-a434-0b7c74f6175c" 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_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_01a01624-0421-796a-9064-e4845ffb5dc9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1_01a01624-0421-788a-a434-0b7c74f6175c" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareCashPaid_01a01624-0421-7d8a-a333-2a02cc8b8e81" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareCashPaid"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_01a01624-0421-796a-9064-e4845ffb5dc9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareCashPaid_01a01624-0421-7d8a-a333-2a02cc8b8e81" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DividendsCommonStockCash_01a01624-0421-7be4-b6f9-299cd80776c0" 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_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_01a01624-0421-796a-9064-e4845ffb5dc9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DividendsCommonStockCash_01a01624-0421-7be4-b6f9-299cd80776c0" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeitedInPeriod_01a01624-0421-7efd-8e84-106311ec6de4" 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_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_01a01624-0421-796a-9064-e4845ffb5dc9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeitedInPeriod_01a01624-0421-7efd-8e84-106311ec6de4" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber_01a01624-0421-781d-90a1-e51ebe97810f" 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_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_01a01624-0421-796a-9064-e4845ffb5dc9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber_01a01624-0421-781d-90a1-e51ebe97810f" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue_01a01624-0421-795d-9e3b-c2bd5f2c2190" 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_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_01a01624-0421-796a-9064-e4845ffb5dc9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue_01a01624-0421-795d-9e3b-c2bd5f2c2190" xlink:type="arc" order="9"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedShareBasedAwardsOtherThanOptions_01a01624-0421-7f58-8a91-9d6e0d9264ff" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedShareBasedAwardsOtherThanOptions"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_01a01624-0421-796a-9064-e4845ffb5dc9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedShareBasedAwardsOtherThanOptions_01a01624-0421-7f58-8a91-9d6e0d9264ff" xlink:type="arc" order="10"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PaymentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation_01a01624-0421-7656-9a1e-71a65069057b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_PaymentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_01a01624-0421-796a-9064-e4845ffb5dc9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PaymentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation_01a01624-0421-7656-9a1e-71a65069057b" xlink:type="arc" order="11"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/StockholdersEquityandEquityBasedCompensationScheduleofNonCashEquityBasedCompensationExpenseIncludedintheCompanysStatementofOperationsDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#StockholdersEquityandEquityBasedCompensationScheduleofNonCashEquityBasedCompensationExpenseIncludedintheCompanysStatementofOperationsDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/StockholdersEquityandEquityBasedCompensationScheduleofNonCashEquityBasedCompensationExpenseIncludedintheCompanysStatementofOperationsDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsLineItems_01a01624-0421-7452-9aa4-b967749e9a2b" 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_01a01624-0421-7cfa-990f-e94a06b5721a" 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_01a01624-0421-7452-9aa4-b967749e9a2b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfEmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsTable_01a01624-0421-7cfa-990f-e94a06b5721a" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementOfIncomeLocationBalanceAxis_01a01624-0421-7df2-9f6a-c464cb0fa370" 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_01a01624-0421-7cfa-990f-e94a06b5721a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementOfIncomeLocationBalanceAxis_01a01624-0421-7df2-9f6a-c464cb0fa370" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense_01a01624-0421-7b71-a6cd-c6e83b1acbd0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsLineItems_01a01624-0421-7452-9aa4-b967749e9a2b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense_01a01624-0421-7b71-a6cd-c6e83b1acbd0" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/StockholdersEquityandEquityBasedCompensationScheduleofNonCashEquityBasedCompensationExpenseIncludedintheCompanysStatementofOperationsDetails_1" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#StockholdersEquityandEquityBasedCompensationScheduleofNonCashEquityBasedCompensationExpenseIncludedintheCompanysStatementofOperationsDetails_1"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/StockholdersEquityandEquityBasedCompensationScheduleofNonCashEquityBasedCompensationExpenseIncludedintheCompanysStatementofOperationsDetails_1" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsLineItems_01a01624-0421-7452-9aa4-b967749e9a2b" 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_01a01624-0421-7cfa-990f-e94a06b5721a" 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_01a01624-0421-7452-9aa4-b967749e9a2b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfEmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsTable_01a01624-0421-7cfa-990f-e94a06b5721a" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense_01a01624-0421-7b71-a6cd-c6e83b1acbd0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsLineItems_01a01624-0421-7452-9aa4-b967749e9a2b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense_01a01624-0421-7b71-a6cd-c6e83b1acbd0" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/RevenueNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#RevenueNarrativeDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/RevenueNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_01a01624-0421-79f3-ba46-93ef853ea760" 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_01a01624-0421-7bda-b758-d98e32ff420a" 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_01a01624-0421-79f3-ba46-93ef853ea760" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_01a01624-0421-7bda-b758-d98e32ff420a" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionStartDateAxis_01a01624-0421-74c0-8ed6-195f053260bf" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionStartDateAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_01a01624-0421-7bda-b758-d98e32ff420a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionStartDateAxis_01a01624-0421-74c0-8ed6-195f053260bf" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_sstk_ContractWithCustomerNumberOfPrimaryChannels_01a01624-0421-7d04-ad4a-381f513f649a" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#sstk_ContractWithCustomerNumberOfPrimaryChannels"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_01a01624-0421-79f3-ba46-93ef853ea760" xlink:to="loc_sstk_ContractWithCustomerNumberOfPrimaryChannels_01a01624-0421-7d04-ad4a-381f513f649a" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityRevenueRecognized_01a01624-0421-7914-96d0-485a0a738f91" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityRevenueRecognized"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_01a01624-0421-79f3-ba46-93ef853ea760" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityRevenueRecognized_01a01624-0421-7914-96d0-485a0a738f91" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligation_01a01624-0421-7366-a3af-5e674f2533d1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligation"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_01a01624-0421-79f3-ba46-93ef853ea760" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligation_01a01624-0421-7366-a3af-5e674f2533d1" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionPeriod1_01a01624-0421-75ca-80b4-eed6416404de" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionPeriod1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_01a01624-0421-79f3-ba46-93ef853ea760" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionPeriod1_01a01624-0421-75ca-80b4-eed6416404de" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/RevenueNarrativeDetails_1" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#RevenueNarrativeDetails_1"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/RevenueNarrativeDetails_1" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_01a01624-0421-79f3-ba46-93ef853ea760" 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_01a01624-0421-7bda-b758-d98e32ff420a" 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_01a01624-0421-79f3-ba46-93ef853ea760" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_01a01624-0421-7bda-b758-d98e32ff420a" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_sstk_ContractWithCustomerNumberOfPrimaryChannels_01a01624-0421-7d04-ad4a-381f513f649a" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#sstk_ContractWithCustomerNumberOfPrimaryChannels"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_01a01624-0421-79f3-ba46-93ef853ea760" xlink:to="loc_sstk_ContractWithCustomerNumberOfPrimaryChannels_01a01624-0421-7d04-ad4a-381f513f649a" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityRevenueRecognized_01a01624-0421-7914-96d0-485a0a738f91" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityRevenueRecognized"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_01a01624-0421-79f3-ba46-93ef853ea760" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityRevenueRecognized_01a01624-0421-7914-96d0-485a0a738f91" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligation_01a01624-0421-7366-a3af-5e674f2533d1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligation"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_01a01624-0421-79f3-ba46-93ef853ea760" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligation_01a01624-0421-7366-a3af-5e674f2533d1" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionPeriod1_01a01624-0421-75ca-80b4-eed6416404de" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionPeriod1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_01a01624-0421-79f3-ba46-93ef853ea760" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionPeriod1_01a01624-0421-75ca-80b4-eed6416404de" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/RevenueScheduleofDisaggregationofRevenueDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#RevenueScheduleofDisaggregationofRevenueDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/RevenueScheduleofDisaggregationofRevenueDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DeferredRevenueArrangementLineItems_01a01624-0421-7e81-a8ff-8924ce63858f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DeferredRevenueArrangementLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DeferredRevenueArrangementByTypeTable_01a01624-0421-7df3-8462-0c08c2571f21" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DeferredRevenueArrangementByTypeTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DeferredRevenueArrangementLineItems_01a01624-0421-7e81-a8ff-8924ce63858f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DeferredRevenueArrangementByTypeTable_01a01624-0421-7df3-8462-0c08c2571f21" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_01a01624-0421-795d-8737-93cc993c4b88" 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_DeferredRevenueArrangementByTypeTable_01a01624-0421-7df3-8462-0c08c2571f21" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_01a01624-0421-795d-8737-93cc993c4b88" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_01a01624-0421-795d-8737-93cc993c4b88_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_01a01624-0421-795d-8737-93cc993c4b88" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_01a01624-0421-795d-8737-93cc993c4b88_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_01a01624-0421-72dd-8426-23adf77e8292" 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_01a01624-0421-795d-8737-93cc993c4b88" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_01a01624-0421-72dd-8426-23adf77e8292" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_sstk_ContentMember_01a01624-0421-7f0d-b402-7e994ff490e9" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#sstk_ContentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_01a01624-0421-72dd-8426-23adf77e8292" xlink:to="loc_sstk_ContentMember_01a01624-0421-7f0d-b402-7e994ff490e9" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_sstk_DataDistributionAndServicesMember_01a01624-0421-759f-aa06-a0148209a053" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#sstk_DataDistributionAndServicesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_01a01624-0421-72dd-8426-23adf77e8292" xlink:to="loc_sstk_DataDistributionAndServicesMember_01a01624-0421-759f-aa06-a0148209a053" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax_01a01624-0421-7bf8-807d-84468586884f" 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_DeferredRevenueArrangementLineItems_01a01624-0421-7e81-a8ff-8924ce63858f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax_01a01624-0421-7bf8-807d-84468586884f" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/SegmentandGeographicInformationNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#SegmentandGeographicInformationNarrativeDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/SegmentandGeographicInformationNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_01a01624-0421-7a5a-9af9-4b1317edb6a0" 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_01a01624-0421-7365-b6c4-3c1ffab12dc8" 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_01a01624-0421-7a5a-9af9-4b1317edb6a0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_01a01624-0421-7365-b6c4-3c1ffab12dc8" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_StatementGeographicalAxis_01a01624-0421-7307-b7c4-65d5c894dcc9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_StatementGeographicalAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_01a01624-0421-7365-b6c4-3c1ffab12dc8" xlink:to="loc_srt_StatementGeographicalAxis_01a01624-0421-7307-b7c4-65d5c894dcc9" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain_01a01624-0421-7307-b7c4-65d5c894dcc9_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_StatementGeographicalAxis_01a01624-0421-7307-b7c4-65d5c894dcc9" xlink:to="loc_srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain_01a01624-0421-7307-b7c4-65d5c894dcc9_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain_01a01624-0421-7316-a28f-cfe9688c5d9a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_StatementGeographicalAxis_01a01624-0421-7307-b7c4-65d5c894dcc9" xlink:to="loc_srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain_01a01624-0421-7316-a28f-cfe9688c5d9a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_country_US_01a01624-0421-720c-b503-1f808576e605" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/country/2026/country-2026.xsd#country_US"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain_01a01624-0421-7316-a28f-cfe9688c5d9a" xlink:to="loc_country_US_01a01624-0421-720c-b503-1f808576e605" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_country_IE_01a01624-0421-774e-869d-17ad5bef4ddc" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/country/2026/country-2026.xsd#country_IE"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain_01a01624-0421-7316-a28f-cfe9688c5d9a" xlink:to="loc_country_IE_01a01624-0421-774e-869d-17ad5bef4ddc" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_country_AU_01a01624-0421-7583-9b4a-9fc38d3e180a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/country/2026/country-2026.xsd#country_AU"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain_01a01624-0421-7316-a28f-cfe9688c5d9a" xlink:to="loc_country_AU_01a01624-0421-7583-9b4a-9fc38d3e180a" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis_01a01624-0421-7023-9cc9-a0546c4c7be2" 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_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_01a01624-0421-7365-b6c4-3c1ffab12dc8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis_01a01624-0421-7023-9cc9-a0546c4c7be2" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskBenchmarkDomain_01a01624-0421-7023-9cc9-a0546c4c7be2_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_01a01624-0421-7023-9cc9-a0546c4c7be2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskBenchmarkDomain_01a01624-0421-7023-9cc9-a0546c4c7be2_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskBenchmarkDomain_01a01624-0421-7b47-ae27-07aa6e728596" 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_01a01624-0421-7023-9cc9-a0546c4c7be2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskBenchmarkDomain_01a01624-0421-7b47-ae27-07aa6e728596" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerMember_01a01624-0421-7473-8af1-2cd6f99f43c4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskBenchmarkDomain_01a01624-0421-7b47-ae27-07aa6e728596" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerMember_01a01624-0421-7473-8af1-2cd6f99f43c4" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_sstk_LongLivedTangibleAsstesMember_01a01624-0421-767d-97b3-416482d4d684" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#sstk_LongLivedTangibleAsstesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskBenchmarkDomain_01a01624-0421-7b47-ae27-07aa6e728596" xlink:to="loc_sstk_LongLivedTangibleAsstesMember_01a01624-0421-767d-97b3-416482d4d684" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis_01a01624-0421-7121-869e-ad4b07b26cdc" 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_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_01a01624-0421-7365-b6c4-3c1ffab12dc8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis_01a01624-0421-7121-869e-ad4b07b26cdc" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskTypeDomain_01a01624-0421-7121-869e-ad4b07b26cdc_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_01a01624-0421-7121-869e-ad4b07b26cdc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskTypeDomain_01a01624-0421-7121-869e-ad4b07b26cdc_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskTypeDomain_01a01624-0421-7163-8d7c-c64d07359f75" 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_01a01624-0421-7121-869e-ad4b07b26cdc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskTypeDomain_01a01624-0421-7163-8d7c-c64d07359f75" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_GeographicConcentrationRiskMember_01a01624-0421-77bc-97bc-88bf56ef1834" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_GeographicConcentrationRiskMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskTypeDomain_01a01624-0421-7163-8d7c-c64d07359f75" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_GeographicConcentrationRiskMember_01a01624-0421-77bc-97bc-88bf56ef1834" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NumberOfReportableSegments_01a01624-0421-7f9e-b585-e3c7be139441" 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_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_01a01624-0421-7a5a-9af9-4b1317edb6a0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NumberOfReportableSegments_01a01624-0421-7f9e-b585-e3c7be139441" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NumberOfOperatingSegments_01a01624-0421-7933-bff1-b2994db3d90c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_NumberOfOperatingSegments"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_01a01624-0421-7a5a-9af9-4b1317edb6a0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NumberOfOperatingSegments_01a01624-0421-7933-bff1-b2994db3d90c" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1_01a01624-0421-74ba-941a-9b598b0379c6" 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_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_01a01624-0421-7a5a-9af9-4b1317edb6a0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1_01a01624-0421-74ba-941a-9b598b0379c6" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/SegmentandGeographicInformationScheduleofSignificantOperatingExpenseCategoriesUsedtoEvaluatetheBusinessandAllocateResourcestoNetincomeDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#SegmentandGeographicInformationScheduleofSignificantOperatingExpenseCategoriesUsedtoEvaluatetheBusinessandAllocateResourcestoNetincomeDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/SegmentandGeographicInformationScheduleofSignificantOperatingExpenseCategoriesUsedtoEvaluatetheBusinessandAllocateResourcestoNetincomeDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_01a01624-0421-73bd-a2a1-bd43b32cdb93" 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_01a01624-0421-7123-b37c-664dff0c45c6" 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_01a01624-0421-73bd-a2a1-bd43b32cdb93" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_01a01624-0421-7123-b37c-664dff0c45c6" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_01a01624-0421-7b1e-913c-e7c268832d27" 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_01a01624-0421-7123-b37c-664dff0c45c6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_01a01624-0421-7b1e-913c-e7c268832d27" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_01a01624-0421-7b1e-913c-e7c268832d27_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_01a01624-0421-7b1e-913c-e7c268832d27" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_01a01624-0421-7b1e-913c-e7c268832d27_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_01a01624-0421-7d4a-909b-6d8890c952fb" 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_01a01624-0421-7b1e-913c-e7c268832d27" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_01a01624-0421-7d4a-909b-6d8890c952fb" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_sstk_ReportableSegmentMember_01a01624-0421-7a5f-b4bd-41e7ae272d29" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#sstk_ReportableSegmentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_01a01624-0421-7d4a-909b-6d8890c952fb" xlink:to="loc_sstk_ReportableSegmentMember_01a01624-0421-7a5f-b4bd-41e7ae272d29" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax_01a01624-0421-7c45-856c-de8bf12e07e4" 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_01a01624-0421-73bd-a2a1-bd43b32cdb93" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax_01a01624-0421-7c45-856c-de8bf12e07e4" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CostOfGoodsAndServicesSoldAbstract_01a01624-0421-702d-b2a2-c72e0c5f71ec" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CostOfGoodsAndServicesSoldAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_01a01624-0421-73bd-a2a1-bd43b32cdb93" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CostOfGoodsAndServicesSoldAbstract_01a01624-0421-702d-b2a2-c72e0c5f71ec" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_sstk_TechnologyExpenses_01a01624-0421-7728-9668-a3cc90546543" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#sstk_TechnologyExpenses"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CostOfGoodsAndServicesSoldAbstract_01a01624-0421-702d-b2a2-c72e0c5f71ec" xlink:to="loc_sstk_TechnologyExpenses_01a01624-0421-7728-9668-a3cc90546543" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense_01a01624-0421-778e-acad-7297e22866e2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CostOfGoodsAndServicesSoldAbstract_01a01624-0421-702d-b2a2-c72e0c5f71ec" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense_01a01624-0421-778e-acad-7297e22866e2" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_sstk_AdjustedCostOfGoodsAndServicesSold_01a01624-0421-7d14-8e35-21b4de493fb6" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#sstk_AdjustedCostOfGoodsAndServicesSold"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CostOfGoodsAndServicesSoldAbstract_01a01624-0421-702d-b2a2-c72e0c5f71ec" xlink:to="loc_sstk_AdjustedCostOfGoodsAndServicesSold_01a01624-0421-7d14-8e35-21b4de493fb6" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_sstk_AdjustedSalesAndMarketingExpenses_01a01624-0421-7a0b-9ed9-ac37d0c01c5d" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#sstk_AdjustedSalesAndMarketingExpenses"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CostOfGoodsAndServicesSoldAbstract_01a01624-0421-702d-b2a2-c72e0c5f71ec" xlink:to="loc_sstk_AdjustedSalesAndMarketingExpenses_01a01624-0421-7a0b-9ed9-ac37d0c01c5d" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_sstk_AdjustedProductAndDevelopmentExpense_01a01624-0421-7ab3-a715-feff5b1f8e2a" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#sstk_AdjustedProductAndDevelopmentExpense"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CostOfGoodsAndServicesSoldAbstract_01a01624-0421-702d-b2a2-c72e0c5f71ec" xlink:to="loc_sstk_AdjustedProductAndDevelopmentExpense_01a01624-0421-7ab3-a715-feff5b1f8e2a" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_sstk_AdjustedGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense_01a01624-0421-704b-96c4-e3d1037fc9ab" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#sstk_AdjustedGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CostOfGoodsAndServicesSoldAbstract_01a01624-0421-702d-b2a2-c72e0c5f71ec" xlink:to="loc_sstk_AdjustedGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense_01a01624-0421-704b-96c4-e3d1037fc9ab" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss_01a01624-0421-7141-8c32-90984c88f5d0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CostOfGoodsAndServicesSoldAbstract_01a01624-0421-702d-b2a2-c72e0c5f71ec" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss_01a01624-0421-7141-8c32-90984c88f5d0" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CostsAndExpenses_01a01624-0421-7b97-86a7-5f0ce5dcea3d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CostsAndExpenses"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_01a01624-0421-73bd-a2a1-bd43b32cdb93" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CostsAndExpenses_01a01624-0421-7b97-86a7-5f0ce5dcea3d" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss_01a01624-0421-73ef-99a3-adeb78683f71" 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_01a01624-0421-73bd-a2a1-bd43b32cdb93" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss_01a01624-0421-73ef-99a3-adeb78683f71" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InterestExpenseNonoperating_01a01624-0421-730a-8bee-32da010aedeb" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_InterestExpenseNonoperating"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_01a01624-0421-73bd-a2a1-bd43b32cdb93" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InterestExpenseNonoperating_01a01624-0421-730a-8bee-32da010aedeb" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense_01a01624-0421-7cb9-9da8-7e170750ce52" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_01a01624-0421-73bd-a2a1-bd43b32cdb93" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense_01a01624-0421-7cb9-9da8-7e170750ce52" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest_01a01624-0421-7e64-b45a-a8b014fecbfc" 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_01a01624-0421-73bd-a2a1-bd43b32cdb93" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest_01a01624-0421-7e64-b45a-a8b014fecbfc" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit_01a01624-0421-7746-bb0e-4fb879a8fad9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_01a01624-0421-73bd-a2a1-bd43b32cdb93" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit_01a01624-0421-7746-bb0e-4fb879a8fad9" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss_01a01624-0421-7770-b998-6aa1aa036075" 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_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_01a01624-0421-73bd-a2a1-bd43b32cdb93" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss_01a01624-0421-7770-b998-6aa1aa036075" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/SegmentandGeographicInformationScheduleofSegmentReportingDepreciationandAmortizationDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#SegmentandGeographicInformationScheduleofSegmentReportingDepreciationandAmortizationDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/SegmentandGeographicInformationScheduleofSegmentReportingDepreciationandAmortizationDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_01a01624-0421-79d6-a473-6ac8dd1c2994" 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_01a01624-0421-7d96-8313-87d3a5bbbb6d" 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_01a01624-0421-79d6-a473-6ac8dd1c2994" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_01a01624-0421-7d96-8313-87d3a5bbbb6d" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_01a01624-0421-79e3-bac9-8f1947a9f36b" 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_01a01624-0421-7d96-8313-87d3a5bbbb6d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_01a01624-0421-79e3-bac9-8f1947a9f36b" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_01a01624-0421-79e3-bac9-8f1947a9f36b_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_01a01624-0421-79e3-bac9-8f1947a9f36b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_01a01624-0421-79e3-bac9-8f1947a9f36b_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_01a01624-0421-764e-beed-862ef701e344" 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_01a01624-0421-79e3-bac9-8f1947a9f36b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_01a01624-0421-764e-beed-862ef701e344" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_sstk_ReportableSegmentMember_01a01624-0421-7389-9107-be92897d723a" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#sstk_ReportableSegmentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_01a01624-0421-764e-beed-862ef701e344" xlink:to="loc_sstk_ReportableSegmentMember_01a01624-0421-7389-9107-be92897d723a" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementOfIncomeLocationBalanceAxis_01a01624-0421-7ab4-b705-ecf5648cf245" 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_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_01a01624-0421-7d96-8313-87d3a5bbbb6d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementOfIncomeLocationBalanceAxis_01a01624-0421-7ab4-b705-ecf5648cf245" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization_01a01624-0421-7232-a4a3-5ac87f345294" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_01a01624-0421-79d6-a473-6ac8dd1c2994" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization_01a01624-0421-7232-a4a3-5ac87f345294" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/SegmentandGeographicInformationScheduleofSegmentReportingDepreciationandAmortizationDetails_1" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#SegmentandGeographicInformationScheduleofSegmentReportingDepreciationandAmortizationDetails_1"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/SegmentandGeographicInformationScheduleofSegmentReportingDepreciationandAmortizationDetails_1" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_01a01624-0421-79d6-a473-6ac8dd1c2994" 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_01a01624-0421-7d96-8313-87d3a5bbbb6d" 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_01a01624-0421-79d6-a473-6ac8dd1c2994" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_01a01624-0421-7d96-8313-87d3a5bbbb6d" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_01a01624-0421-79e3-bac9-8f1947a9f36b" 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_01a01624-0421-7d96-8313-87d3a5bbbb6d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_01a01624-0421-79e3-bac9-8f1947a9f36b" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_01a01624-0421-79e3-bac9-8f1947a9f36b_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_01a01624-0421-79e3-bac9-8f1947a9f36b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_01a01624-0421-79e3-bac9-8f1947a9f36b_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_01a01624-0421-764e-beed-862ef701e344" 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_01a01624-0421-79e3-bac9-8f1947a9f36b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_01a01624-0421-764e-beed-862ef701e344" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_sstk_ReportableSegmentMember_01a01624-0421-7389-9107-be92897d723a" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#sstk_ReportableSegmentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_01a01624-0421-764e-beed-862ef701e344" xlink:to="loc_sstk_ReportableSegmentMember_01a01624-0421-7389-9107-be92897d723a" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization_01a01624-0421-7232-a4a3-5ac87f345294" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_01a01624-0421-79d6-a473-6ac8dd1c2994" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization_01a01624-0421-7232-a4a3-5ac87f345294" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/SegmentandGeographicInformationScheduleofGeographicRevenueDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#SegmentandGeographicInformationScheduleofGeographicRevenueDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/SegmentandGeographicInformationScheduleofGeographicRevenueDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_01a01624-0421-73a0-bbc5-64a9c8a8770c" 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_01a01624-0421-77a3-8e69-2dd3bf612618" 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_01a01624-0421-73a0-bbc5-64a9c8a8770c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_01a01624-0421-77a3-8e69-2dd3bf612618" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_StatementGeographicalAxis_01a01624-0421-7f01-992f-ea8e597ecb25" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_StatementGeographicalAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_01a01624-0421-77a3-8e69-2dd3bf612618" xlink:to="loc_srt_StatementGeographicalAxis_01a01624-0421-7f01-992f-ea8e597ecb25" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain_01a01624-0421-7f01-992f-ea8e597ecb25_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_StatementGeographicalAxis_01a01624-0421-7f01-992f-ea8e597ecb25" xlink:to="loc_srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain_01a01624-0421-7f01-992f-ea8e597ecb25_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain_01a01624-0421-7494-bb2e-f65ca2314c9e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_StatementGeographicalAxis_01a01624-0421-7f01-992f-ea8e597ecb25" xlink:to="loc_srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain_01a01624-0421-7494-bb2e-f65ca2314c9e" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_NorthAmericaMember_01a01624-0421-7490-a329-8b4b2eeeda37" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_NorthAmericaMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain_01a01624-0421-7494-bb2e-f65ca2314c9e" xlink:to="loc_srt_NorthAmericaMember_01a01624-0421-7490-a329-8b4b2eeeda37" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_EuropeMember_01a01624-0421-7fca-be70-019325164ce9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_EuropeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain_01a01624-0421-7494-bb2e-f65ca2314c9e" xlink:to="loc_srt_EuropeMember_01a01624-0421-7fca-be70-019325164ce9" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_sstk_AllRegionsOfTheWorldExceptNorthAmericaAndEuropeMember_01a01624-0421-7637-a202-da474c6be6cb" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#sstk_AllRegionsOfTheWorldExceptNorthAmericaAndEuropeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain_01a01624-0421-7494-bb2e-f65ca2314c9e" xlink:to="loc_sstk_AllRegionsOfTheWorldExceptNorthAmericaAndEuropeMember_01a01624-0421-7637-a202-da474c6be6cb" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax_01a01624-0421-7a23-8a33-6d23f1d36277" 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_01a01624-0421-73a0-bbc5-64a9c8a8770c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax_01a01624-0421-7a23-8a33-6d23f1d36277" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/SegmentandGeographicInformationScheduleofLongLivedTangibleAssetsDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#SegmentandGeographicInformationScheduleofLongLivedTangibleAssetsDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/SegmentandGeographicInformationScheduleofLongLivedTangibleAssetsDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevenuesFromExternalCustomersAndLongLivedAssetsLineItems_01a01624-0421-7940-aaee-d3f2e29b0bbb" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RevenuesFromExternalCustomersAndLongLivedAssetsLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfRevenuesFromExternalCustomersAndLongLivedAssetsTable_01a01624-0421-78d9-b0fb-df7cc56c9dbc" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfRevenuesFromExternalCustomersAndLongLivedAssetsTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RevenuesFromExternalCustomersAndLongLivedAssetsLineItems_01a01624-0421-7940-aaee-d3f2e29b0bbb" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfRevenuesFromExternalCustomersAndLongLivedAssetsTable_01a01624-0421-78d9-b0fb-df7cc56c9dbc" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_StatementGeographicalAxis_01a01624-0421-7f0c-a503-b0acc00879c0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_StatementGeographicalAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfRevenuesFromExternalCustomersAndLongLivedAssetsTable_01a01624-0421-78d9-b0fb-df7cc56c9dbc" xlink:to="loc_srt_StatementGeographicalAxis_01a01624-0421-7f0c-a503-b0acc00879c0" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain_01a01624-0421-7f0c-a503-b0acc00879c0_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_StatementGeographicalAxis_01a01624-0421-7f0c-a503-b0acc00879c0" xlink:to="loc_srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain_01a01624-0421-7f0c-a503-b0acc00879c0_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain_01a01624-0421-7859-9531-2b27cad145c7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_StatementGeographicalAxis_01a01624-0421-7f0c-a503-b0acc00879c0" xlink:to="loc_srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain_01a01624-0421-7859-9531-2b27cad145c7" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_NorthAmericaMember_01a01624-0421-73ce-9033-e43701f467f7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_NorthAmericaMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain_01a01624-0421-7859-9531-2b27cad145c7" xlink:to="loc_srt_NorthAmericaMember_01a01624-0421-73ce-9033-e43701f467f7" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_EuropeMember_01a01624-0421-755d-9f0f-8d9391e7561c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_EuropeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain_01a01624-0421-7859-9531-2b27cad145c7" xlink:to="loc_srt_EuropeMember_01a01624-0421-755d-9f0f-8d9391e7561c" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_sstk_AllRegionsOfTheWorldExceptNorthAmericaAndEuropeMember_01a01624-0421-7d6b-a80c-6bbe113af46e" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#sstk_AllRegionsOfTheWorldExceptNorthAmericaAndEuropeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain_01a01624-0421-7859-9531-2b27cad145c7" xlink:to="loc_sstk_AllRegionsOfTheWorldExceptNorthAmericaAndEuropeMember_01a01624-0421-7d6b-a80c-6bbe113af46e" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NoncurrentAssets_01a01624-0421-7ea6-8173-c43e1c2c49e0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_NoncurrentAssets"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RevenuesFromExternalCustomersAndLongLivedAssetsLineItems_01a01624-0421-7940-aaee-d3f2e29b0bbb" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NoncurrentAssets_01a01624-0421-7ea6-8173-c43e1c2c49e0" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/CommitmentsandContingenciesDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#CommitmentsandContingenciesDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/CommitmentsandContingenciesDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherCommitmentsLineItems_01a01624-0421-7767-9d6d-5a08ad6560f3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OtherCommitmentsLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherCommitmentsTable_01a01624-0421-7f30-a220-d8d224618a63" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OtherCommitmentsTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_OtherCommitmentsLineItems_01a01624-0421-7767-9d6d-5a08ad6560f3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherCommitmentsTable_01a01624-0421-7f30-a220-d8d224618a63" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis_01a01624-0421-770f-900b-0589367c1165" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_OtherCommitmentsTable_01a01624-0421-7f30-a220-d8d224618a63" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis_01a01624-0421-770f-900b-0589367c1165" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LossContingencyNatureDomain_01a01624-0421-770f-900b-0589367c1165_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LossContingencyNatureDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis_01a01624-0421-770f-900b-0589367c1165" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LossContingencyNatureDomain_01a01624-0421-770f-900b-0589367c1165_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LossContingencyNatureDomain_01a01624-0421-750d-b231-0c934d06ad79" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LossContingencyNatureDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis_01a01624-0421-770f-900b-0589367c1165" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LossContingencyNatureDomain_01a01624-0421-750d-b231-0c934d06ad79" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IndemnificationGuaranteeMember_01a01624-0421-7e00-b0e1-53a02b4fb802" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_IndemnificationGuaranteeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LossContingencyNatureDomain_01a01624-0421-750d-b231-0c934d06ad79" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IndemnificationGuaranteeMember_01a01624-0421-7e00-b0e1-53a02b4fb802" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherCommitment_01a01624-0421-70ce-a2f0-b526871c46fd" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OtherCommitment"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_OtherCommitmentsLineItems_01a01624-0421-7767-9d6d-5a08ad6560f3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherCommitment_01a01624-0421-70ce-a2f0-b526871c46fd" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_UnrecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationAbstract_01a01624-0421-7299-b422-b25d709322da" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_UnrecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_OtherCommitmentsLineItems_01a01624-0421-7767-9d6d-5a08ad6560f3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_UnrecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationAbstract_01a01624-0421-7299-b422-b25d709322da" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherCommitmentsFutureMinimumPaymentsRemainderOfFiscalYear_01a01624-0421-7a9d-bee1-f4c11259034b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OtherCommitmentsFutureMinimumPaymentsRemainderOfFiscalYear"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_UnrecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationAbstract_01a01624-0421-7299-b422-b25d709322da" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherCommitmentsFutureMinimumPaymentsRemainderOfFiscalYear_01a01624-0421-7a9d-bee1-f4c11259034b" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherCommitmentDueInNextTwelveMonths_01a01624-0421-7921-9412-132a5bbd60cb" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OtherCommitmentDueInNextTwelveMonths"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_UnrecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationAbstract_01a01624-0421-7299-b422-b25d709322da" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherCommitmentDueInNextTwelveMonths_01a01624-0421-7921-9412-132a5bbd60cb" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherCommitmentDueInSecondYear_01a01624-0421-7b84-816c-2c5b1b2d8906" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OtherCommitmentDueInSecondYear"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_UnrecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationAbstract_01a01624-0421-7299-b422-b25d709322da" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherCommitmentDueInSecondYear_01a01624-0421-7b84-816c-2c5b1b2d8906" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_sstk_LossContingencyMaximumPossibleLossPerCustomer_01a01624-0421-7048-8006-9a8308f4dff7" xlink:href="sstk-20260930.xsd#sstk_LossContingencyMaximumPossibleLossPerCustomer"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_OtherCommitmentsLineItems_01a01624-0421-7767-9d6d-5a08ad6560f3" xlink:to="loc_sstk_LossContingencyMaximumPossibleLossPerCustomer_01a01624-0421-7048-8006-9a8308f4dff7" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualAtCarryingValue_01a01624-0421-775a-8e7f-0e05f625de7f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualAtCarryingValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_OtherCommitmentsLineItems_01a01624-0421-7767-9d6d-5a08ad6560f3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualAtCarryingValue_01a01624-0421-775a-8e7f-0e05f625de7f" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
</link:linkbase>
