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

<!--XBRL Document Created with Wdesk from Workiva-->
<!--Copyright 2021 Workiva-->
<!--r:dffd6c0d-0a2c-4c94-859f-d489c26300a9,g:18546670-cf0e-4e9a-b087-f39de587de89-->
<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/CoverPage" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#CoverPage"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/CoverPage" xlink:type="extended" id="iab4da802421144d7b06a00617088f5c0_CoverPage"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/ConsolidatedBalanceSheets" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#ConsolidatedBalanceSheets"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/ConsolidatedBalanceSheets" xlink:type="extended" id="iffabfdaf032e4018926d4c5541e5916e_ConsolidatedBalanceSheets"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/ConsolidatedBalanceSheetsParenthetical" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#ConsolidatedBalanceSheetsParenthetical"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/ConsolidatedBalanceSheetsParenthetical" xlink:type="extended" id="i60d5ebebbe954db494b1a20bb2180c84_ConsolidatedBalanceSheetsParenthetical"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsofOperations" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#ConsolidatedStatementsofOperations"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsofOperations" xlink:type="extended" id="i4a22b73bfcae4c58848d5d0b1339b1a1_ConsolidatedStatementsofOperations"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsofComprehensiveIncome" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#ConsolidatedStatementsofComprehensiveIncome"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsofComprehensiveIncome" xlink:type="extended" id="if3ea49a1bac84773b82047f167e78060_ConsolidatedStatementsofComprehensiveIncome"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsofStockholdersEquity" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#ConsolidatedStatementsofStockholdersEquity"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsofStockholdersEquity" xlink:type="extended" id="i67423d7cbcb74f5ebcd9331e018dbd17_ConsolidatedStatementsofStockholdersEquity">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_afd1613f-315c-4268-a59b-5f895ba0055c" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StatementLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_e75af7bc-65ee-4c2f-bb99-4b1c8af455d4" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_afd1613f-315c-4268-a59b-5f895ba0055c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_e75af7bc-65ee-4c2f-bb99-4b1c8af455d4" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding_cb36d147-e0e3-4cdc-b40d-48cd91fedaca" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_e75af7bc-65ee-4c2f-bb99-4b1c8af455d4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding_cb36d147-e0e3-4cdc-b40d-48cd91fedaca" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquity_812b3823-fff0-4e72-8562-cd65595f781d" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StockholdersEquity"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_e75af7bc-65ee-4c2f-bb99-4b1c8af455d4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquity_812b3823-fff0-4e72-8562-cd65595f781d" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccountingStandardsUpdateExtensibleList_fd01dd4c-2ab9-44cf-8f57-4bfa87e01e13" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AccountingStandardsUpdateExtensibleList"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_e75af7bc-65ee-4c2f-bb99-4b1c8af455d4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AccountingStandardsUpdateExtensibleList_fd01dd4c-2ab9-44cf-8f57-4bfa87e01e13" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue_bda6f4b2-3f9a-4311-ab2a-0ca152624f12" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_e75af7bc-65ee-4c2f-bb99-4b1c8af455d4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue_bda6f4b2-3f9a-4311-ab2a-0ca152624f12" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensation_e7a58301-7d8e-4841-a9c2-7c92ae3f12f3" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensation"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_e75af7bc-65ee-4c2f-bb99-4b1c8af455d4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensation_e7a58301-7d8e-4841-a9c2-7c92ae3f12f3" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensation_c0bc4b18-7017-4913-b75f-afa57d4caa02" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensation"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_e75af7bc-65ee-4c2f-bb99-4b1c8af455d4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensation_c0bc4b18-7017-4913-b75f-afa57d4caa02" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AdjustmentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation_7c4bb375-059c-4b63-8745-eb99c60c0e2e" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AdjustmentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_e75af7bc-65ee-4c2f-bb99-4b1c8af455d4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AdjustmentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation_7c4bb375-059c-4b63-8745-eb99c60c0e2e" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SharesPaidForTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation_1b534d08-dfa8-42ec-b36a-779c496ba5c1" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_SharesPaidForTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_e75af7bc-65ee-4c2f-bb99-4b1c8af455d4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SharesPaidForTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation_1b534d08-dfa8-42ec-b36a-779c496ba5c1" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_Dividends_bdda2bc9-c3bf-4181-abbf-ba2b4de302bd" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_Dividends"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_e75af7bc-65ee-4c2f-bb99-4b1c8af455d4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_Dividends_bdda2bc9-c3bf-4181-abbf-ba2b4de302bd" xlink:type="arc" order="9"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent_f496809c-d236-414b-a5e8-fe4320cc093a" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_e75af7bc-65ee-4c2f-bb99-4b1c8af455d4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent_f496809c-d236-414b-a5e8-fe4320cc093a" xlink:type="arc" order="10"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss_7818719f-43b9-4293-965e-368cc772f920" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_e75af7bc-65ee-4c2f-bb99-4b1c8af455d4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss_7818719f-43b9-4293-965e-368cc772f920" xlink:type="arc" order="11"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquity_0f74acd3-58b5-4cbf-bf9b-7278941a6d12" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StockholdersEquity"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding_088fb5fa-1907-4ac7-9165-53834f05ed43" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementTable_d28ecab6-ba95-4179-af36-7ec0d14f2265" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StatementTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_afd1613f-315c-4268-a59b-5f895ba0055c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementTable_d28ecab6-ba95-4179-af36-7ec0d14f2265" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_1fa8c767-b002-42ad-8c28-2bacaf5010c1" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementTable_d28ecab6-ba95-4179-af36-7ec0d14f2265" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_1fa8c767-b002-42ad-8c28-2bacaf5010c1" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_1fa8c767-b002-42ad-8c28-2bacaf5010c1_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_1fa8c767-b002-42ad-8c28-2bacaf5010c1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_1fa8c767-b002-42ad-8c28-2bacaf5010c1_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_ada8709b-d0e0-49cb-b859-734cbb58f773" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_1fa8c767-b002-42ad-8c28-2bacaf5010c1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_ada8709b-d0e0-49cb-b859-734cbb58f773" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockMember_06127293-28b6-4c5a-864f-ac8bbebcb84d" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_ada8709b-d0e0-49cb-b859-734cbb58f773" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockMember_06127293-28b6-4c5a-864f-ac8bbebcb84d" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember_5ac877a3-4aa1-48f8-a7bb-cd2c96584f04" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_ada8709b-d0e0-49cb-b859-734cbb58f773" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember_5ac877a3-4aa1-48f8-a7bb-cd2c96584f04" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember_28c4a237-c15e-4486-a7a8-12811369f2e7" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_ada8709b-d0e0-49cb-b859-734cbb58f773" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember_28c4a237-c15e-4486-a7a8-12811369f2e7" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember_b7d0ce8c-dcf4-4abd-9daf-d17315fe16bf" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_ada8709b-d0e0-49cb-b859-734cbb58f773" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember_b7d0ce8c-dcf4-4abd-9daf-d17315fe16bf" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember_d02187f9-614e-4cd7-801f-faef90557cc3" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_ada8709b-d0e0-49cb-b859-734cbb58f773" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember_d02187f9-614e-4cd7-801f-faef90557cc3" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAxis_89f1dacf-7383-42fe-b064-7e7776c5a771" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementTable_d28ecab6-ba95-4179-af36-7ec0d14f2265" xlink:to="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAxis_89f1dacf-7383-42fe-b064-7e7776c5a771" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionDomain_89f1dacf-7383-42fe-b064-7e7776c5a771_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAxis_89f1dacf-7383-42fe-b064-7e7776c5a771" xlink:to="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionDomain_89f1dacf-7383-42fe-b064-7e7776c5a771_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionDomain_0c1ee103-5733-45d2-be79-b7d02b1f660d" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAxis_89f1dacf-7383-42fe-b064-7e7776c5a771" xlink:to="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionDomain_0c1ee103-5733-45d2-be79-b7d02b1f660d" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAdjustmentMember_738189bc-8c85-4a6e-abd2-09ebe8f323f7" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAdjustmentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionDomain_0c1ee103-5733-45d2-be79-b7d02b1f660d" xlink:to="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAdjustmentMember_738189bc-8c85-4a6e-abd2-09ebe8f323f7" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAdjustedBalanceMember_04faab4b-1543-4b0e-b6c6-619d8eabb977" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAdjustedBalanceMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionDomain_0c1ee103-5733-45d2-be79-b7d02b1f660d" xlink:to="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAdjustedBalanceMember_04faab4b-1543-4b0e-b6c6-619d8eabb977" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsofStockholdersEquityParenthetical" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#ConsolidatedStatementsofStockholdersEquityParenthetical"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsofStockholdersEquityParenthetical" xlink:type="extended" id="i6d95a78b275442c59c4bef8b85c94b7a_ConsolidatedStatementsofStockholdersEquityParenthetical"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsofCashFlows" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#ConsolidatedStatementsofCashFlows"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsofCashFlows" xlink:type="extended" id="i45132e3eddf645e68aec9c83245e831f_ConsolidatedStatementsofCashFlows"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/SummaryofOperationsandSignificantAccountingPolicies" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#SummaryofOperationsandSignificantAccountingPolicies"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/SummaryofOperationsandSignificantAccountingPolicies" xlink:type="extended" id="i0ff02661f9374ea9b13d63b24e4484e8_SummaryofOperationsandSignificantAccountingPolicies"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/SummaryofOperationsandSignificantAccountingPoliciesPolicies" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#SummaryofOperationsandSignificantAccountingPoliciesPolicies"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/SummaryofOperationsandSignificantAccountingPoliciesPolicies" xlink:type="extended" id="iaf2e340be4c14ea686e2f6d8c74b1cc6_SummaryofOperationsandSignificantAccountingPoliciesPolicies"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/SummaryofOperationsandSignificantAccountingPoliciesAllowanceforDoubtfulAccountsandChargebackandSalesRefundAllowanceDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#SummaryofOperationsandSignificantAccountingPoliciesAllowanceforDoubtfulAccountsandChargebackandSalesRefundAllowanceDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/SummaryofOperationsandSignificantAccountingPoliciesAllowanceforDoubtfulAccountsandChargebackandSalesRefundAllowanceDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i08fc3baea71c4105b035b6aae92abb9c_SummaryofOperationsandSignificantAccountingPoliciesAllowanceforDoubtfulAccountsandChargebackandSalesRefundAllowanceDetails"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/SummaryofOperationsandSignificantAccountingPoliciesAccountingStandardsUpdateDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#SummaryofOperationsandSignificantAccountingPoliciesAccountingStandardsUpdateDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/SummaryofOperationsandSignificantAccountingPoliciesAccountingStandardsUpdateDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="ic27d4bfdc87f4b74887e04aa394cf934_SummaryofOperationsandSignificantAccountingPoliciesAccountingStandardsUpdateDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NewAccountingPronouncementsOrChangeInAccountingPrincipleLineItems_30602fe7-f7fc-493f-8b5f-f05d5f76d2af" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_NewAccountingPronouncementsOrChangeInAccountingPrincipleLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquity_d86c5441-2182-41e0-ac97-19b269470fea" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StockholdersEquity"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_NewAccountingPronouncementsOrChangeInAccountingPrincipleLineItems_30602fe7-f7fc-493f-8b5f-f05d5f76d2af" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquity_d86c5441-2182-41e0-ac97-19b269470fea" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NewAccountingPronouncementsOrChangeInAccountingPrincipleTable_b70dc6d1-14fb-4d90-aa0d-ef7980e95252" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_NewAccountingPronouncementsOrChangeInAccountingPrincipleTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_NewAccountingPronouncementsOrChangeInAccountingPrincipleLineItems_30602fe7-f7fc-493f-8b5f-f05d5f76d2af" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NewAccountingPronouncementsOrChangeInAccountingPrincipleTable_b70dc6d1-14fb-4d90-aa0d-ef7980e95252" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAxis_f4f5b8fd-0dcd-4ec8-908b-4397fd849582" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_NewAccountingPronouncementsOrChangeInAccountingPrincipleTable_b70dc6d1-14fb-4d90-aa0d-ef7980e95252" xlink:to="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAxis_f4f5b8fd-0dcd-4ec8-908b-4397fd849582" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionDomain_f4f5b8fd-0dcd-4ec8-908b-4397fd849582_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAxis_f4f5b8fd-0dcd-4ec8-908b-4397fd849582" xlink:to="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionDomain_f4f5b8fd-0dcd-4ec8-908b-4397fd849582_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionDomain_8183c55b-5c42-4918-bdb8-54c1f0790be8" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAxis_f4f5b8fd-0dcd-4ec8-908b-4397fd849582" xlink:to="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionDomain_8183c55b-5c42-4918-bdb8-54c1f0790be8" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAdjustmentMember_1a1ce640-41e3-4fdd-8de6-1d1cc2c4ff15" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAdjustmentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionDomain_8183c55b-5c42-4918-bdb8-54c1f0790be8" xlink:to="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAdjustmentMember_1a1ce640-41e3-4fdd-8de6-1d1cc2c4ff15" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AdjustmentsForNewAccountingPronouncementsAxis_18f7b41b-d0f5-47d5-b60e-fb721e589bcd" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AdjustmentsForNewAccountingPronouncementsAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_NewAccountingPronouncementsOrChangeInAccountingPrincipleTable_b70dc6d1-14fb-4d90-aa0d-ef7980e95252" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AdjustmentsForNewAccountingPronouncementsAxis_18f7b41b-d0f5-47d5-b60e-fb721e589bcd" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_TypeOfAdoptionMember_18f7b41b-d0f5-47d5-b60e-fb721e589bcd_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_TypeOfAdoptionMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AdjustmentsForNewAccountingPronouncementsAxis_18f7b41b-d0f5-47d5-b60e-fb721e589bcd" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_TypeOfAdoptionMember_18f7b41b-d0f5-47d5-b60e-fb721e589bcd_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_TypeOfAdoptionMember_ef76b3c5-7419-4672-ba03-4b92eaee448d" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_TypeOfAdoptionMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AdjustmentsForNewAccountingPronouncementsAxis_18f7b41b-d0f5-47d5-b60e-fb721e589bcd" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_TypeOfAdoptionMember_ef76b3c5-7419-4672-ba03-4b92eaee448d" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccountingStandardsUpdate201613Member_a5edd486-c6db-4990-9dda-2d3a2b83ed49" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AccountingStandardsUpdate201613Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_TypeOfAdoptionMember_ef76b3c5-7419-4672-ba03-4b92eaee448d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AccountingStandardsUpdate201613Member_a5edd486-c6db-4990-9dda-2d3a2b83ed49" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_2b99044e-0115-493d-9948-9225e749da79" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_NewAccountingPronouncementsOrChangeInAccountingPrincipleTable_b70dc6d1-14fb-4d90-aa0d-ef7980e95252" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_2b99044e-0115-493d-9948-9225e749da79" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_2b99044e-0115-493d-9948-9225e749da79_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_2b99044e-0115-493d-9948-9225e749da79" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_2b99044e-0115-493d-9948-9225e749da79_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_b191d02e-efc0-4886-a713-e733a2419d8e" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_2b99044e-0115-493d-9948-9225e749da79" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_b191d02e-efc0-4886-a713-e733a2419d8e" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember_68b454ed-1fe8-4b98-81fa-de5e3960ac41" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_b191d02e-efc0-4886-a713-e733a2419d8e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember_68b454ed-1fe8-4b98-81fa-de5e3960ac41" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/FairValueMeasurementsandLongtermInvestments" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#FairValueMeasurementsandLongtermInvestments"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/FairValueMeasurementsandLongtermInvestments" xlink:type="extended" id="i73918f3c9d6a4d9ea250b76f6b117ffb_FairValueMeasurementsandLongtermInvestments"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/FairValueMeasurementsandOtherLongtermInvestmentsDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#FairValueMeasurementsandOtherLongtermInvestmentsDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/FairValueMeasurementsandOtherLongtermInvestmentsDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i2b6a73ea25714d75bad981ceb8fa6352_FairValueMeasurementsandOtherLongtermInvestmentsDetails"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/Acquisition" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#Acquisition"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/Acquisition" xlink:type="extended" id="i7cee7cb7944a4b2c8ecdfeb28089364b_Acquisition"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/AcquisitionTables" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#AcquisitionTables"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/AcquisitionTables" xlink:type="extended" id="i2f69a2042aff4ea58bf7b6e7d38b6b43_AcquisitionTables"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/AcquisitionNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#AcquisitionNarrativeDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/AcquisitionNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i1b89d8e832b8452b9e2525aad749b29f_AcquisitionNarrativeDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_ba81dcc6-976e-40e8-8e7d-da8790200b6a" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1_952ca7a9-1b54-40b1-82be-b9a751d39773" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_ba81dcc6-976e-40e8-8e7d-da8790200b6a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1_952ca7a9-1b54-40b1-82be-b9a751d39773" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationAcquisitionRelatedCosts_e5b6bb8d-ef7b-45c2-9049-c909fef1ddb7" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessCombinationAcquisitionRelatedCosts"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_ba81dcc6-976e-40e8-8e7d-da8790200b6a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationAcquisitionRelatedCosts_e5b6bb8d-ef7b-45c2-9049-c909fef1ddb7" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AcquiredFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsWeightedAverageUsefulLife_70b3a6ca-c6ff-4e0d-a364-80c62f9649a3" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AcquiredFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsWeightedAverageUsefulLife"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_ba81dcc6-976e-40e8-8e7d-da8790200b6a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AcquiredFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsWeightedAverageUsefulLife_70b3a6ca-c6ff-4e0d-a364-80c62f9649a3" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfBusinessAcquisitionsByAcquisitionTable_05723ff0-f963-49f9-9162-23e73b972321" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfBusinessAcquisitionsByAcquisitionTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_ba81dcc6-976e-40e8-8e7d-da8790200b6a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfBusinessAcquisitionsByAcquisitionTable_05723ff0-f963-49f9-9162-23e73b972321" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis_b0300ec1-dcd3-45d0-8616-51eb8ff02a87" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfBusinessAcquisitionsByAcquisitionTable_05723ff0-f963-49f9-9162-23e73b972321" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis_b0300ec1-dcd3-45d0-8616-51eb8ff02a87" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain_b0300ec1-dcd3-45d0-8616-51eb8ff02a87_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis_b0300ec1-dcd3-45d0-8616-51eb8ff02a87" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain_b0300ec1-dcd3-45d0-8616-51eb8ff02a87_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain_eb197fa0-b1f2-48f9-8cb5-39caf35019ac" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis_b0300ec1-dcd3-45d0-8616-51eb8ff02a87" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain_eb197fa0-b1f2-48f9-8cb5-39caf35019ac" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_sstk_TurboSquidIncMember_51445645-6dc9-4316-9932-dab59bdeb24a" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#sstk_TurboSquidIncMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain_eb197fa0-b1f2-48f9-8cb5-39caf35019ac" xlink:to="loc_sstk_TurboSquidIncMember_51445645-6dc9-4316-9932-dab59bdeb24a" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/AcquisitionScheduleofAcquisitionDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#AcquisitionScheduleofAcquisitionDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/AcquisitionScheduleofAcquisitionDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i6f3f5ec104f445df8b55505c6b50a42c_AcquisitionScheduleofAcquisitionDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_daa24939-5169-4b35-8fe5-8eb13232f1ee" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredGoodwillAndLiabilitiesAssumedNetAbstract_84505a0a-eeae-45ef-93b0-2374e8ea776e" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredGoodwillAndLiabilitiesAssumedNetAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_daa24939-5169-4b35-8fe5-8eb13232f1ee" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredGoodwillAndLiabilitiesAssumedNetAbstract_84505a0a-eeae-45ef-93b0-2374e8ea776e" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCashAndEquivalents_2f07b8e5-9f7e-4020-b886-1669f14e3c71" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCashAndEquivalents"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredGoodwillAndLiabilitiesAssumedNetAbstract_84505a0a-eeae-45ef-93b0-2374e8ea776e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCashAndEquivalents_2f07b8e5-9f7e-4020-b886-1669f14e3c71" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentAssetsOther_9295ebe4-a8d3-49be-9a14-5f68f68c05d6" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentAssetsOther"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredGoodwillAndLiabilitiesAssumedNetAbstract_84505a0a-eeae-45ef-93b0-2374e8ea776e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentAssetsOther_9295ebe4-a8d3-49be-9a14-5f68f68c05d6" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedPropertyPlantAndEquipment_d7ce4264-5970-4c22-9b4e-20056823758d" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedPropertyPlantAndEquipment"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredGoodwillAndLiabilitiesAssumedNetAbstract_84505a0a-eeae-45ef-93b0-2374e8ea776e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedPropertyPlantAndEquipment_d7ce4264-5970-4c22-9b4e-20056823758d" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibleAssetsOtherThanGoodwill_09852976-cfae-413e-b03a-0889809ef6a7" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibleAssetsOtherThanGoodwill"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredGoodwillAndLiabilitiesAssumedNetAbstract_84505a0a-eeae-45ef-93b0-2374e8ea776e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibleAssetsOtherThanGoodwill_09852976-cfae-413e-b03a-0889809ef6a7" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_Goodwill_09077e47-d2af-4637-9b4a-9d39ae62fca5" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_Goodwill"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredGoodwillAndLiabilitiesAssumedNetAbstract_84505a0a-eeae-45ef-93b0-2374e8ea776e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_Goodwill_09077e47-d2af-4637-9b4a-9d39ae62fca5" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_sstk_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedAssetsIncludingGoodwill_4cb02375-9620-4ed7-897b-4cc3bb925ac4" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#sstk_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedAssetsIncludingGoodwill"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredGoodwillAndLiabilitiesAssumedNetAbstract_84505a0a-eeae-45ef-93b0-2374e8ea776e" xlink:to="loc_sstk_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedAssetsIncludingGoodwill_4cb02375-9620-4ed7-897b-4cc3bb925ac4" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_sstk_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentLiabilitiesAccountsPayableAccruedExpensesAndOtherLiabilities_62318b21-5c37-47bd-909a-5a9297cbc026" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#sstk_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentLiabilitiesAccountsPayableAccruedExpensesAndOtherLiabilities"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredGoodwillAndLiabilitiesAssumedNetAbstract_84505a0a-eeae-45ef-93b0-2374e8ea776e" xlink:to="loc_sstk_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentLiabilitiesAccountsPayableAccruedExpensesAndOtherLiabilities_62318b21-5c37-47bd-909a-5a9297cbc026" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_sstk_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedContributorRoyaltiesPayable_6d55c5f5-4a70-4bc7-a643-4b5394768421" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#sstk_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedContributorRoyaltiesPayable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredGoodwillAndLiabilitiesAssumedNetAbstract_84505a0a-eeae-45ef-93b0-2374e8ea776e" xlink:to="loc_sstk_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedContributorRoyaltiesPayable_6d55c5f5-4a70-4bc7-a643-4b5394768421" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedDeferredTaxLiabilities_3d4a7cae-373b-4963-a797-8cbf06a96c5b" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedDeferredTaxLiabilities"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredGoodwillAndLiabilitiesAssumedNetAbstract_84505a0a-eeae-45ef-93b0-2374e8ea776e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedDeferredTaxLiabilities_3d4a7cae-373b-4963-a797-8cbf06a96c5b" xlink:type="arc" order="9"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedLiabilities_63e90d42-91ec-4748-b6a0-2baa5383e8f2" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedLiabilities"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredGoodwillAndLiabilitiesAssumedNetAbstract_84505a0a-eeae-45ef-93b0-2374e8ea776e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedLiabilities_63e90d42-91ec-4748-b6a0-2baa5383e8f2" xlink:type="arc" order="10"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredGoodwillAndLiabilitiesAssumedNet_bdc91aa2-b31d-49b8-a64f-56bd7a4483ef" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredGoodwillAndLiabilitiesAssumedNet"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_daa24939-5169-4b35-8fe5-8eb13232f1ee" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredGoodwillAndLiabilitiesAssumedNet_bdc91aa2-b31d-49b8-a64f-56bd7a4483ef" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfBusinessAcquisitionsByAcquisitionTable_1ed61829-c13a-4911-b518-480686f8ca2b" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfBusinessAcquisitionsByAcquisitionTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_daa24939-5169-4b35-8fe5-8eb13232f1ee" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfBusinessAcquisitionsByAcquisitionTable_1ed61829-c13a-4911-b518-480686f8ca2b" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis_c17f09b4-ae4e-4cce-9af8-76821267a4dd" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfBusinessAcquisitionsByAcquisitionTable_1ed61829-c13a-4911-b518-480686f8ca2b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis_c17f09b4-ae4e-4cce-9af8-76821267a4dd" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain_c17f09b4-ae4e-4cce-9af8-76821267a4dd_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis_c17f09b4-ae4e-4cce-9af8-76821267a4dd" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain_c17f09b4-ae4e-4cce-9af8-76821267a4dd_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain_b301e79a-e6a5-43bb-956c-787570c57281" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis_c17f09b4-ae4e-4cce-9af8-76821267a4dd" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain_b301e79a-e6a5-43bb-956c-787570c57281" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_sstk_TurboSquidIncMember_d7dced75-a6c9-4883-84dd-ccc7c2470c25" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#sstk_TurboSquidIncMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain_b301e79a-e6a5-43bb-956c-787570c57281" xlink:to="loc_sstk_TurboSquidIncMember_d7dced75-a6c9-4883-84dd-ccc7c2470c25" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/AcquisitionProFormaDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#AcquisitionProFormaDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/AcquisitionProFormaDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i8b07f51899ca43929dc6196a9054e141_AcquisitionProFormaDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_38b9182a-e73d-40e5-9229-fb2003000945" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax_8f2b42c3-38c1-43b6-ae54-d7662433c364" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_38b9182a-e73d-40e5-9229-fb2003000945" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax_8f2b42c3-38c1-43b6-ae54-d7662433c364" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionsProFormaRevenue_1c05bea7-c56c-4141-ab77-4422fd7bb242" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionsProFormaRevenue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_38b9182a-e73d-40e5-9229-fb2003000945" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionsProFormaRevenue_1c05bea7-c56c-4141-ab77-4422fd7bb242" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments_b1e5e043-5599-4fa5-b6fa-650687c05e8a" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_38b9182a-e73d-40e5-9229-fb2003000945" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments_b1e5e043-5599-4fa5-b6fa-650687c05e8a" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionsProFormaNetIncomeLoss_cc995b2b-986d-4019-aef7-f821457b561b" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionsProFormaNetIncomeLoss"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_38b9182a-e73d-40e5-9229-fb2003000945" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionsProFormaNetIncomeLoss_cc995b2b-986d-4019-aef7-f821457b561b" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfBusinessAcquisitionsByAcquisitionTable_1cf79c17-207d-4dc1-b783-5056c5325ac3" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfBusinessAcquisitionsByAcquisitionTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_38b9182a-e73d-40e5-9229-fb2003000945" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfBusinessAcquisitionsByAcquisitionTable_1cf79c17-207d-4dc1-b783-5056c5325ac3" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis_90b64cdc-29fe-4b61-8525-d59beb2c619f" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfBusinessAcquisitionsByAcquisitionTable_1cf79c17-207d-4dc1-b783-5056c5325ac3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis_90b64cdc-29fe-4b61-8525-d59beb2c619f" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain_90b64cdc-29fe-4b61-8525-d59beb2c619f_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis_90b64cdc-29fe-4b61-8525-d59beb2c619f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain_90b64cdc-29fe-4b61-8525-d59beb2c619f_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain_ce4de749-df8e-4e74-ba2b-af38f1fc6854" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis_90b64cdc-29fe-4b61-8525-d59beb2c619f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain_ce4de749-df8e-4e74-ba2b-af38f1fc6854" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_sstk_TurboSquidIncMember_d2b64710-335d-4cbd-9a51-0a7989ce033d" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#sstk_TurboSquidIncMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain_ce4de749-df8e-4e74-ba2b-af38f1fc6854" xlink:to="loc_sstk_TurboSquidIncMember_d2b64710-335d-4cbd-9a51-0a7989ce033d" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/PropertyandEquipment" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#PropertyandEquipment"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/PropertyandEquipment" xlink:type="extended" id="i5e6ebfa118d4487d8830272001ca668d_PropertyandEquipment"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/PropertyandEquipmentTables" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#PropertyandEquipmentTables"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/PropertyandEquipmentTables" xlink:type="extended" id="i61e06d4a5c0241f38b74df53197def0d_PropertyandEquipmentTables"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/PropertyandEquipmentDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#PropertyandEquipmentDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/PropertyandEquipmentDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="ie8b9898f0dd54a4388fb4267ae15d60a_PropertyandEquipmentDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems_2fc216e1-a904-46ec-9d88-7f85efc85eb4" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross_b5fefacd-8af5-428e-8243-9707996e37ac" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems_2fc216e1-a904-46ec-9d88-7f85efc85eb4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross_b5fefacd-8af5-428e-8243-9707996e37ac" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment_3ede2354-8434-4b22-b662-188c2a58f563" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems_2fc216e1-a904-46ec-9d88-7f85efc85eb4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment_3ede2354-8434-4b22-b662-188c2a58f563" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet_41d72b5d-fa96-4640-aa06-b6050850c327" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems_2fc216e1-a904-46ec-9d88-7f85efc85eb4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet_41d72b5d-fa96-4640-aa06-b6050850c327" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization_29e6d43c-be89-4889-8b4b-345904fe4d84" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems_2fc216e1-a904-46ec-9d88-7f85efc85eb4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization_29e6d43c-be89-4889-8b4b-345904fe4d84" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAdditions_7e2941cb-da38-4fcb-8df1-26c143c9957b" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAdditions"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems_2fc216e1-a904-46ec-9d88-7f85efc85eb4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAdditions_7e2941cb-da38-4fcb-8df1-26c143c9957b" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAmortization1_0a3153bd-a37e-4491-b070-e5a622ebfa31" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAmortization1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems_2fc216e1-a904-46ec-9d88-7f85efc85eb4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAmortization1_0a3153bd-a37e-4491-b070-e5a622ebfa31" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareNet_3c062cab-7a1d-4bf7-b45f-d3a6569c655d" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareNet"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems_2fc216e1-a904-46ec-9d88-7f85efc85eb4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareNet_3c062cab-7a1d-4bf7-b45f-d3a6569c655d" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentTable_c7aa42c7-941d-43a0-93de-be5f00530f9c" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems_2fc216e1-a904-46ec-9d88-7f85efc85eb4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentTable_c7aa42c7-941d-43a0-93de-be5f00530f9c" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis_60a6a2c2-6198-4704-9544-6d979a8fb721" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentTable_c7aa42c7-941d-43a0-93de-be5f00530f9c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis_60a6a2c2-6198-4704-9544-6d979a8fb721" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationDomain_60a6a2c2-6198-4704-9544-6d979a8fb721_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis_60a6a2c2-6198-4704-9544-6d979a8fb721" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationDomain_60a6a2c2-6198-4704-9544-6d979a8fb721_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationDomain_99b5ec9e-29ca-434f-a999-c9c17eec6cdb" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis_60a6a2c2-6198-4704-9544-6d979a8fb721" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationDomain_99b5ec9e-29ca-434f-a999-c9c17eec6cdb" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CostOfSalesMember_09e3a1ce-5574-44e4-ab44-4370f10ddb6f" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CostOfSalesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationDomain_99b5ec9e-29ca-434f-a999-c9c17eec6cdb" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CostOfSalesMember_09e3a1ce-5574-44e4-ab44-4370f10ddb6f" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpensesMember_af70fce8-60d5-48ae-8655-959c41b6bd59" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpensesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationDomain_99b5ec9e-29ca-434f-a999-c9c17eec6cdb" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpensesMember_af70fce8-60d5-48ae-8655-959c41b6bd59" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis_980074ba-cc32-4b6c-8d4a-2f5e29468f40" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentTable_c7aa42c7-941d-43a0-93de-be5f00530f9c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis_980074ba-cc32-4b6c-8d4a-2f5e29468f40" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain_980074ba-cc32-4b6c-8d4a-2f5e29468f40_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis_980074ba-cc32-4b6c-8d4a-2f5e29468f40" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain_980074ba-cc32-4b6c-8d4a-2f5e29468f40_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain_840a1bd6-9298-4865-a5d3-2bc5c3547406" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis_980074ba-cc32-4b6c-8d4a-2f5e29468f40" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain_840a1bd6-9298-4865-a5d3-2bc5c3547406" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_sstk_ComputerEquipmentAndSoftwareMember_d815fe9c-bc01-4593-8fa4-175545e8952e" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#sstk_ComputerEquipmentAndSoftwareMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain_840a1bd6-9298-4865-a5d3-2bc5c3547406" xlink:to="loc_sstk_ComputerEquipmentAndSoftwareMember_d815fe9c-bc01-4593-8fa4-175545e8952e" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FurnitureAndFixturesMember_cfa9df1e-7bc7-41e0-85a7-a0246429c007" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FurnitureAndFixturesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain_840a1bd6-9298-4865-a5d3-2bc5c3547406" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FurnitureAndFixturesMember_cfa9df1e-7bc7-41e0-85a7-a0246429c007" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LeaseholdImprovementsMember_eeebc8c8-37c4-498e-8d35-de249dc7d203" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LeaseholdImprovementsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain_840a1bd6-9298-4865-a5d3-2bc5c3547406" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LeaseholdImprovementsMember_eeebc8c8-37c4-498e-8d35-de249dc7d203" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_sstk_PropertyAndEquipmentMember_27ef53b9-301b-4a4a-820b-5fe724b7b464" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#sstk_PropertyAndEquipmentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain_840a1bd6-9298-4865-a5d3-2bc5c3547406" xlink:to="loc_sstk_PropertyAndEquipmentMember_27ef53b9-301b-4a4a-820b-5fe724b7b464" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/GoodwillandIntangibleAssets" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#GoodwillandIntangibleAssets"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/GoodwillandIntangibleAssets" xlink:type="extended" id="ia926a144003f42f59777b9f1931d332a_GoodwillandIntangibleAssets"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/GoodwillandIntangibleAssetsTables" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#GoodwillandIntangibleAssetsTables"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/GoodwillandIntangibleAssetsTables" xlink:type="extended" id="i12ca3cebec244926ac47b42f5c1967d4_GoodwillandIntangibleAssetsTables"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/GoodwillandIntangibleAssetsChangesinGoodwillDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#GoodwillandIntangibleAssetsChangesinGoodwillDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/GoodwillandIntangibleAssetsChangesinGoodwillDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="if2e7e322c6454db3b8034bc567cb1424_GoodwillandIntangibleAssetsChangesinGoodwillDetails"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/GoodwillandIntangibleAssetsIntangibleAssetsDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#GoodwillandIntangibleAssetsIntangibleAssetsDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/GoodwillandIntangibleAssetsIntangibleAssetsDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="iffc8bc1937a243edb60628d27b0790eb_GoodwillandIntangibleAssetsIntangibleAssetsDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems_dc609e5b-f9d3-4200-bc50-beed5753d347" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross_6ef1093f-80c5-4027-82ca-80f25c048eef" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems_dc609e5b-f9d3-4200-bc50-beed5753d347" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross_6ef1093f-80c5-4027-82ca-80f25c048eef" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization_6cad15bf-42d7-4163-97d4-295ff52521fe" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems_dc609e5b-f9d3-4200-bc50-beed5753d347" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization_6cad15bf-42d7-4163-97d4-295ff52521fe" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet_d252eecd-d304-41d7-8214-f5583670d075" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems_dc609e5b-f9d3-4200-bc50-beed5753d347" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet_d252eecd-d304-41d7-8214-f5583670d075" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetUsefulLife_e8f57e60-f55e-4e67-bed9-d209846b5987" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetUsefulLife"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems_dc609e5b-f9d3-4200-bc50-beed5753d347" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetUsefulLife_e8f57e60-f55e-4e67-bed9-d209846b5987" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsTable_db5a9778-c906-4d27-a3ba-9d4e8f6c397a" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems_dc609e5b-f9d3-4200-bc50-beed5753d347" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsTable_db5a9778-c906-4d27-a3ba-9d4e8f6c397a" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis_9509526c-7178-4e6f-a0db-b64f01d63885" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsTable_db5a9778-c906-4d27-a3ba-9d4e8f6c397a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis_9509526c-7178-4e6f-a0db-b64f01d63885" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain_9509526c-7178-4e6f-a0db-b64f01d63885_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis_9509526c-7178-4e6f-a0db-b64f01d63885" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain_9509526c-7178-4e6f-a0db-b64f01d63885_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain_f9d08174-aa1b-4d6e-8952-455968e68f98" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis_9509526c-7178-4e6f-a0db-b64f01d63885" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain_f9d08174-aa1b-4d6e-8952-455968e68f98" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember_de13664e-9c13-458a-9f02-5dd59200c494" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain_f9d08174-aa1b-4d6e-8952-455968e68f98" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember_de13664e-9c13-458a-9f02-5dd59200c494" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_TradeNamesMember_945384c3-48b6-4e7b-a8c0-42294a277401" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_TradeNamesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain_f9d08174-aa1b-4d6e-8952-455968e68f98" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_TradeNamesMember_945384c3-48b6-4e7b-a8c0-42294a277401" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DevelopedTechnologyRightsMember_2f754e65-a0ff-4ce0-b28e-8b7443fe3dba" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DevelopedTechnologyRightsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain_f9d08174-aa1b-4d6e-8952-455968e68f98" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DevelopedTechnologyRightsMember_2f754e65-a0ff-4ce0-b28e-8b7443fe3dba" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_MediaContentMember_b0edab74-8eb4-45d0-b8eb-6e1184315086" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_MediaContentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain_f9d08174-aa1b-4d6e-8952-455968e68f98" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_MediaContentMember_b0edab74-8eb4-45d0-b8eb-6e1184315086" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PatentsMember_879f44fd-18ee-415f-a7b5-14dc5c6cea92" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_PatentsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain_f9d08174-aa1b-4d6e-8952-455968e68f98" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PatentsMember_879f44fd-18ee-415f-a7b5-14dc5c6cea92" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/GoodwillandIntangibleAssetsNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#GoodwillandIntangibleAssetsNarrativeDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/GoodwillandIntangibleAssetsNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i8479bfca49a74b56877899c89576e439_GoodwillandIntangibleAssetsNarrativeDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems_68fb7e0c-12ea-458b-b528-b915352af305" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets_b036f88d-5979-47eb-ae8e-af7e0074d9ae" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems_68fb7e0c-12ea-458b-b528-b915352af305" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets_b036f88d-5979-47eb-ae8e-af7e0074d9ae" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseRemainderOfFiscalYear_a8ca43dd-69e4-4efb-99f4-b3ab5e55a49e" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseRemainderOfFiscalYear"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems_68fb7e0c-12ea-458b-b528-b915352af305" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseRemainderOfFiscalYear_a8ca43dd-69e4-4efb-99f4-b3ab5e55a49e" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseNextTwelveMonths_e73209d7-0584-4b38-b360-fcc028fb5c0e" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseNextTwelveMonths"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems_68fb7e0c-12ea-458b-b528-b915352af305" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseNextTwelveMonths_e73209d7-0584-4b38-b360-fcc028fb5c0e" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearTwo_66037bd0-654b-43cd-b5ab-3758d3e6e918" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearTwo"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems_68fb7e0c-12ea-458b-b528-b915352af305" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearTwo_66037bd0-654b-43cd-b5ab-3758d3e6e918" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearThree_addc5926-a637-4fa6-bfd8-a40cb38dbba2" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearThree"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems_68fb7e0c-12ea-458b-b528-b915352af305" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearThree_addc5926-a637-4fa6-bfd8-a40cb38dbba2" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFour_f0a83c4f-2e5f-48f4-aa69-cbc5017a230f" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFour"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems_68fb7e0c-12ea-458b-b528-b915352af305" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFour_f0a83c4f-2e5f-48f4-aa69-cbc5017a230f" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFive_15261161-f446-44a2-831a-0d2daf18a344" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFive"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems_68fb7e0c-12ea-458b-b528-b915352af305" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFive_15261161-f446-44a2-831a-0d2daf18a344" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseAfterYearFive_a6b989bb-6ef4-49ba-a3e1-3b3b08478962" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseAfterYearFive"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems_68fb7e0c-12ea-458b-b528-b915352af305" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseAfterYearFive_a6b989bb-6ef4-49ba-a3e1-3b3b08478962" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsTable_e97935ea-f265-4e80-84ac-dfd7023b1a7c" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems_68fb7e0c-12ea-458b-b528-b915352af305" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsTable_e97935ea-f265-4e80-84ac-dfd7023b1a7c" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis_098f3bcf-9d79-44a3-b069-850511aca5c6" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsTable_e97935ea-f265-4e80-84ac-dfd7023b1a7c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis_098f3bcf-9d79-44a3-b069-850511aca5c6" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationDomain_098f3bcf-9d79-44a3-b069-850511aca5c6_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis_098f3bcf-9d79-44a3-b069-850511aca5c6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationDomain_098f3bcf-9d79-44a3-b069-850511aca5c6_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationDomain_9eb4d350-4d9c-4b0d-8804-04e8488ece16" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis_098f3bcf-9d79-44a3-b069-850511aca5c6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationDomain_9eb4d350-4d9c-4b0d-8804-04e8488ece16" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CostOfSalesMember_7adedc0d-94b1-4cb8-9c67-4d5b3f2895a9" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CostOfSalesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationDomain_9eb4d350-4d9c-4b0d-8804-04e8488ece16" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CostOfSalesMember_7adedc0d-94b1-4cb8-9c67-4d5b3f2895a9" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpensesMember_87cee07b-4a01-4523-b413-6d6ae724b9c4" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpensesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationDomain_9eb4d350-4d9c-4b0d-8804-04e8488ece16" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpensesMember_87cee07b-4a01-4523-b413-6d6ae724b9c4" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/AccruedExpenses" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#AccruedExpenses"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/AccruedExpenses" xlink:type="extended" id="i5e03216499c04d6e91d472d9ea57148d_AccruedExpenses"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/AccruedExpensesTables" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#AccruedExpensesTables"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/AccruedExpensesTables" xlink:type="extended" id="i733f29e9f9e04a00945de310c44fb2bc_AccruedExpensesTables"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/AccruedExpensesDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#AccruedExpensesDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/AccruedExpensesDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="ib4e631df44d64615b8fb231cb8d1878c_AccruedExpensesDetails"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/StockholdersEquityandEquityBasedCompensation" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#StockholdersEquityandEquityBasedCompensation"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/StockholdersEquityandEquityBasedCompensation" xlink:type="extended" id="id729b16e570b425aa1d291d02194b318_StockholdersEquityandEquityBasedCompensation"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/StockholdersEquityandEquityBasedCompensationTables" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#StockholdersEquityandEquityBasedCompensationTables"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/StockholdersEquityandEquityBasedCompensationTables" xlink:type="extended" id="i37283066470944a8b996b3ab6e341492_StockholdersEquityandEquityBasedCompensationTables"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/StockholdersEquityandEquityBasedCompensationNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#StockholdersEquityandEquityBasedCompensationNarrativeDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/StockholdersEquityandEquityBasedCompensationNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i53ba161bee5f40f6af1eafafcbf51622_StockholdersEquityandEquityBasedCompensationNarrativeDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_57417afb-35a5-427c-aee4-00c8470a31bf" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensationGross_c3ae7286-6c07-40bf-93c2-53200a8f0ae2" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensationGross"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_57417afb-35a5-427c-aee4-00c8470a31bf" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensationGross_c3ae7286-6c07-40bf-93c2-53200a8f0ae2" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramAuthorizedAmount1_1134fa1d-8b3f-4468-97d9-d083dede6919" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramAuthorizedAmount1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_57417afb-35a5-427c-aee4-00c8470a31bf" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramAuthorizedAmount1_1134fa1d-8b3f-4468-97d9-d083dede6919" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired_9354779e-c156-4ce6-b3e1-acf38bd2c79c" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_57417afb-35a5-427c-aee4-00c8470a31bf" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired_9354779e-c156-4ce6-b3e1-acf38bd2c79c" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1_313d5fa5-e498-409e-8904-c871bbb78f75" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_57417afb-35a5-427c-aee4-00c8470a31bf" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1_313d5fa5-e498-409e-8904-c871bbb78f75" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareCashPaid_5158b7f1-57b4-4c6e-96fc-faaec294e363" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareCashPaid"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_57417afb-35a5-427c-aee4-00c8470a31bf" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareCashPaid_5158b7f1-57b4-4c6e-96fc-faaec294e363" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DividendsCommonStockCash_0dbc97ce-f30c-467a-b251-837cce5869cc" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DividendsCommonStockCash"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_57417afb-35a5-427c-aee4-00c8470a31bf" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DividendsCommonStockCash_0dbc97ce-f30c-467a-b251-837cce5869cc" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared_93177efc-33c5-4c5f-aff9-5b669674d60d" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_57417afb-35a5-427c-aee4-00c8470a31bf" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared_93177efc-33c5-4c5f-aff9-5b669674d60d" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestExercisableNumber_d0fdcd67-486f-46a0-a363-1725f8dc667e" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestExercisableNumber"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_57417afb-35a5-427c-aee4-00c8470a31bf" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestExercisableNumber_d0fdcd67-486f-46a0-a363-1725f8dc667e" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestExercisableWeightedAverageExercisePrice_52213b44-d699-4ac8-b563-4af0b31db8b2" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestExercisableWeightedAverageExercisePrice"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_57417afb-35a5-427c-aee4-00c8470a31bf" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestExercisableWeightedAverageExercisePrice_52213b44-d699-4ac8-b563-4af0b31db8b2" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedStockOptions_82b5701f-af6b-4772-b2b8-2ee6189dd622" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedStockOptions"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_57417afb-35a5-427c-aee4-00c8470a31bf" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedStockOptions_82b5701f-af6b-4772-b2b8-2ee6189dd622" xlink:type="arc" order="9"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod_0292a601-d53a-46ed-9f8d-46f27a9758e3" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_57417afb-35a5-427c-aee4-00c8470a31bf" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod_0292a601-d53a-46ed-9f8d-46f27a9758e3" xlink:type="arc" order="10"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue_7475a5c9-506e-4c88-b2ad-40740d635f5a" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_57417afb-35a5-427c-aee4-00c8470a31bf" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue_7475a5c9-506e-4c88-b2ad-40740d635f5a" xlink:type="arc" order="11"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber_c0d45a00-10f3-4366-81c8-4018b2816891" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_57417afb-35a5-427c-aee4-00c8470a31bf" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber_c0d45a00-10f3-4366-81c8-4018b2816891" xlink:type="arc" order="12"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedShareBasedAwardsOtherThanOptions_a1eeacc9-77db-4619-ae7e-02686c5c6f7b" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedShareBasedAwardsOtherThanOptions"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_57417afb-35a5-427c-aee4-00c8470a31bf" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedShareBasedAwardsOtherThanOptions_a1eeacc9-77db-4619-ae7e-02686c5c6f7b" xlink:type="arc" order="13"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PaymentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation_e02c10b7-4a99-43be-a42b-489dcc385642" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_PaymentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_57417afb-35a5-427c-aee4-00c8470a31bf" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PaymentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation_e02c10b7-4a99-43be-a42b-489dcc385642" xlink:type="arc" order="14"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_sstk_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodGrantDateFairValue_58eb3e09-7064-4499-94f2-2df3065dda0b" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#sstk_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodGrantDateFairValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_57417afb-35a5-427c-aee4-00c8470a31bf" xlink:to="loc_sstk_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodGrantDateFairValue_58eb3e09-7064-4499-94f2-2df3065dda0b" xlink:type="arc" order="15"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_27212b35-d1ef-4a2a-aa04-ac1fec8ee006" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_57417afb-35a5-427c-aee4-00c8470a31bf" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_27212b35-d1ef-4a2a-aa04-ac1fec8ee006" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_22efdff2-a520-422a-aed4-d50f6e56b5aa" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_27212b35-d1ef-4a2a-aa04-ac1fec8ee006" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_22efdff2-a520-422a-aed4-d50f6e56b5aa" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_22efdff2-a520-422a-aed4-d50f6e56b5aa_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_22efdff2-a520-422a-aed4-d50f6e56b5aa" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_22efdff2-a520-422a-aed4-d50f6e56b5aa_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_a97d32fc-4dbd-42fc-8e72-8893e928354e" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_22efdff2-a520-422a-aed4-d50f6e56b5aa" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_a97d32fc-4dbd-42fc-8e72-8893e928354e" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember_711e7f4f-52a6-41da-825e-8285583e5fed" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_a97d32fc-4dbd-42fc-8e72-8893e928354e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember_711e7f4f-52a6-41da-825e-8285583e5fed" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember_e67b37c0-c0ae-43cf-ab8e-70e6fc2b6cf2" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_a97d32fc-4dbd-42fc-8e72-8893e928354e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember_e67b37c0-c0ae-43cf-ab8e-70e6fc2b6cf2" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_f46d97e6-1f41-4631-9573-fb3936b379b7" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_27212b35-d1ef-4a2a-aa04-ac1fec8ee006" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_f46d97e6-1f41-4631-9573-fb3936b379b7" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_f46d97e6-1f41-4631-9573-fb3936b379b7_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_f46d97e6-1f41-4631-9573-fb3936b379b7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_f46d97e6-1f41-4631-9573-fb3936b379b7_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_b054e209-7d5c-4db1-b356-5c2410c10e63" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_f46d97e6-1f41-4631-9573-fb3936b379b7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_b054e209-7d5c-4db1-b356-5c2410c10e63" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockMember_0cd19373-22a1-41b2-8225-8a12cf495bef" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_b054e209-7d5c-4db1-b356-5c2410c10e63" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockMember_0cd19373-22a1-41b2-8225-8a12cf495bef" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis_2cd34612-595f-47f0-a1b1-b9b23c74e083" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_27212b35-d1ef-4a2a-aa04-ac1fec8ee006" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis_2cd34612-595f-47f0-a1b1-b9b23c74e083" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeDomain_2cd34612-595f-47f0-a1b1-b9b23c74e083_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis_2cd34612-595f-47f0-a1b1-b9b23c74e083" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeDomain_2cd34612-595f-47f0-a1b1-b9b23c74e083_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeDomain_f9c06cac-ff14-47af-bb6c-60f910159d6a" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis_2cd34612-595f-47f0-a1b1-b9b23c74e083" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeDomain_f9c06cac-ff14-47af-bb6c-60f910159d6a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember_b72d8c0c-f9cc-451d-a8c6-b1eb94f2f7d1" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeDomain_f9c06cac-ff14-47af-bb6c-60f910159d6a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember_b72d8c0c-f9cc-451d-a8c6-b1eb94f2f7d1" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/StockholdersEquityandEquityBasedCompensationSummaryofnoncashequitybasedcompensationDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#StockholdersEquityandEquityBasedCompensationSummaryofnoncashequitybasedcompensationDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/StockholdersEquityandEquityBasedCompensationSummaryofnoncashequitybasedcompensationDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i9d3c70a8faac482999ec5009070e4bb0_StockholdersEquityandEquityBasedCompensationSummaryofnoncashequitybasedcompensationDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsLineItems_76238001-6e50-4c8c-a632-deeac345938f" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense_540aa0f3-f8d7-4199-8b72-4e352240b31b" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsLineItems_76238001-6e50-4c8c-a632-deeac345938f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense_540aa0f3-f8d7-4199-8b72-4e352240b31b" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfEmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsTable_af468775-78de-4cc6-8768-62e6717577b1" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfEmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsLineItems_76238001-6e50-4c8c-a632-deeac345938f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfEmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsTable_af468775-78de-4cc6-8768-62e6717577b1" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis_5a434ba2-d2d5-4c99-a9f8-3bdcfa51f253" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfEmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsTable_af468775-78de-4cc6-8768-62e6717577b1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis_5a434ba2-d2d5-4c99-a9f8-3bdcfa51f253" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationDomain_5a434ba2-d2d5-4c99-a9f8-3bdcfa51f253_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis_5a434ba2-d2d5-4c99-a9f8-3bdcfa51f253" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationDomain_5a434ba2-d2d5-4c99-a9f8-3bdcfa51f253_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationDomain_401eabc5-07f3-43c7-9a4f-48acf96fae43" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis_5a434ba2-d2d5-4c99-a9f8-3bdcfa51f253" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationDomain_401eabc5-07f3-43c7-9a4f-48acf96fae43" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CostOfSalesMember_57024db8-1a16-4db1-896b-94521b1a1467" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CostOfSalesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationDomain_401eabc5-07f3-43c7-9a4f-48acf96fae43" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CostOfSalesMember_57024db8-1a16-4db1-896b-94521b1a1467" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SellingAndMarketingExpenseMember_7553d1c7-4d80-43ae-a8ac-04472a83ff78" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_SellingAndMarketingExpenseMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationDomain_401eabc5-07f3-43c7-9a4f-48acf96fae43" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SellingAndMarketingExpenseMember_7553d1c7-4d80-43ae-a8ac-04472a83ff78" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpenseMember_11be1a71-d3c4-4ca8-8449-3971681b12dc" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpenseMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationDomain_401eabc5-07f3-43c7-9a4f-48acf96fae43" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpenseMember_11be1a71-d3c4-4ca8-8449-3971681b12dc" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpenseMember_9c5e7213-f547-486e-b397-f163faaa06b9" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpenseMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationDomain_401eabc5-07f3-43c7-9a4f-48acf96fae43" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpenseMember_9c5e7213-f547-486e-b397-f163faaa06b9" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_5cc5d140-ab8d-4b35-9630-578ce5e8cce2" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfEmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsTable_af468775-78de-4cc6-8768-62e6717577b1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_5cc5d140-ab8d-4b35-9630-578ce5e8cce2" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_5cc5d140-ab8d-4b35-9630-578ce5e8cce2_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_5cc5d140-ab8d-4b35-9630-578ce5e8cce2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_5cc5d140-ab8d-4b35-9630-578ce5e8cce2_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_e19486ee-85c1-405d-bdfa-5f807b8db6e0" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_5cc5d140-ab8d-4b35-9630-578ce5e8cce2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_e19486ee-85c1-405d-bdfa-5f807b8db6e0" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember_f4ce8f75-a33a-4c7f-a7cd-83cbcdf031f7" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_e19486ee-85c1-405d-bdfa-5f807b8db6e0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember_f4ce8f75-a33a-4c7f-a7cd-83cbcdf031f7" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember_d4f66995-b3bd-4e65-a631-3b6805339fea" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_e19486ee-85c1-405d-bdfa-5f807b8db6e0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember_d4f66995-b3bd-4e65-a631-3b6805339fea" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/Revenue" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#Revenue"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/Revenue" xlink:type="extended" id="ia88fd8dde9e5442b8865378c2ce08101_Revenue"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/RevenueTables" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#RevenueTables"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/RevenueTables" xlink:type="extended" id="id809df370377445f8c1e50fffa968d14_RevenueTables"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/RevenueDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#RevenueDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/RevenueDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="ic576ac8a336341e4afa75a25b8f21b46_RevenueDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_cf1af636-3a38-4c88-8c46-f55ca567fa70" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax_209fff06-6f16-42dd-8818-d72fe22bf401" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_cf1af636-3a38-4c88-8c46-f55ca567fa70" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax_209fff06-6f16-42dd-8818-d72fe22bf401" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityRevenueRecognized_99e50779-356b-4b2f-920b-6608b836bc3b" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityRevenueRecognized"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_cf1af636-3a38-4c88-8c46-f55ca567fa70" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityRevenueRecognized_99e50779-356b-4b2f-920b-6608b836bc3b" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_2bd06b03-75e9-45ad-9c3a-b7592c6e2597" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_cf1af636-3a38-4c88-8c46-f55ca567fa70" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_2bd06b03-75e9-45ad-9c3a-b7592c6e2597" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_4d202eaf-5242-42a0-8bf0-28785cd937a1" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_ProductOrServiceAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_2bd06b03-75e9-45ad-9c3a-b7592c6e2597" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_4d202eaf-5242-42a0-8bf0-28785cd937a1" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_4d202eaf-5242-42a0-8bf0-28785cd937a1_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_4d202eaf-5242-42a0-8bf0-28785cd937a1" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_4d202eaf-5242-42a0-8bf0-28785cd937a1_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_d3fe4565-69e2-486b-8667-4980e3f68272" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_4d202eaf-5242-42a0-8bf0-28785cd937a1" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_d3fe4565-69e2-486b-8667-4980e3f68272" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_sstk_ECommerceMember_98da080c-32b4-45c4-a442-ece0b154c27b" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#sstk_ECommerceMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_d3fe4565-69e2-486b-8667-4980e3f68272" xlink:to="loc_sstk_ECommerceMember_98da080c-32b4-45c4-a442-ece0b154c27b" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_sstk_EnterpriseMember_136a2e91-f7b3-4f83-8b1c-f5ede0fea302" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#sstk_EnterpriseMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_d3fe4565-69e2-486b-8667-4980e3f68272" xlink:to="loc_sstk_EnterpriseMember_136a2e91-f7b3-4f83-8b1c-f5ede0fea302" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/OtherLossIncomenet" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#OtherLossIncomenet"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/OtherLossIncomenet" xlink:type="extended" id="ib89b06661d694c44be73244a943136a0_OtherLossIncomenet"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/OtherLossIncomenetTables" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#OtherLossIncomenetTables"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/OtherLossIncomenetTables" xlink:type="extended" id="i1d9973e831db4830b7eea10d348b45cd_OtherLossIncomenetTables"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/OtherLossIncomenetDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#OtherLossIncomenetDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/OtherLossIncomenetDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i9fecbda669474e618004e538b9a2639c_OtherLossIncomenetDetails"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/IncomeTaxes" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#IncomeTaxes"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/IncomeTaxes" xlink:type="extended" id="i3c676467ef624b90aaf7f44e67e898ab_IncomeTaxes"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/IncomeTaxesDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#IncomeTaxesDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/IncomeTaxesDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i750d64731f0d4ddaac9b49045cc057c8_IncomeTaxesDetails"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/NetIncomePerShare" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#NetIncomePerShare"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/NetIncomePerShare" xlink:type="extended" id="i5188591c23d2410e8f6ab0a161b00b21_NetIncomePerShare"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/NetIncomePerShareTables" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#NetIncomePerShareTables"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/NetIncomePerShareTables" xlink:type="extended" id="i37a685758ad14cd58643b9b10c7e73af_NetIncomePerShareTables"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/NetIncomePerShareDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#NetIncomePerShareDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/NetIncomePerShareDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i08a1ab93b1784300b14ef8497330ea79_NetIncomePerShareDetails"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/GeographicInformation" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#GeographicInformation"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/GeographicInformation" xlink:type="extended" id="i86887eecac734077a52c2324e92ff147_GeographicInformation"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/GeographicInformationTables" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#GeographicInformationTables"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/GeographicInformationTables" xlink:type="extended" id="i855cd0fc6ba0473896828b02d358a56b_GeographicInformationTables"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/GeographicInformationDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#GeographicInformationDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/GeographicInformationDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i391172fa24504dae80ba17071abbd405_GeographicInformationDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevenuesFromExternalCustomersAndLongLivedAssetsLineItems_067b3466-a814-4f28-9e65-9aaac1ed86e6" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_RevenuesFromExternalCustomersAndLongLivedAssetsLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax_f0711494-ae0a-45ae-ada9-1e3c095e0580" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RevenuesFromExternalCustomersAndLongLivedAssetsLineItems_067b3466-a814-4f28-9e65-9aaac1ed86e6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax_f0711494-ae0a-45ae-ada9-1e3c095e0580" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1_dce02c85-b3ba-4cee-8bed-3076bb2b3751" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RevenuesFromExternalCustomersAndLongLivedAssetsLineItems_067b3466-a814-4f28-9e65-9aaac1ed86e6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1_dce02c85-b3ba-4cee-8bed-3076bb2b3751" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NoncurrentAssets_08ed0136-acb9-4c54-a7c3-cb2872f3a94e" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_NoncurrentAssets"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RevenuesFromExternalCustomersAndLongLivedAssetsLineItems_067b3466-a814-4f28-9e65-9aaac1ed86e6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NoncurrentAssets_08ed0136-acb9-4c54-a7c3-cb2872f3a94e" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfRevenuesFromExternalCustomersAndLongLivedAssetsTable_d88a1271-4aa8-42ff-a3f3-aa27f6f3d1a5" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfRevenuesFromExternalCustomersAndLongLivedAssetsTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RevenuesFromExternalCustomersAndLongLivedAssetsLineItems_067b3466-a814-4f28-9e65-9aaac1ed86e6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfRevenuesFromExternalCustomersAndLongLivedAssetsTable_d88a1271-4aa8-42ff-a3f3-aa27f6f3d1a5" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_StatementGeographicalAxis_3c1e3bcc-869f-4525-9bac-006d8ae6f375" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_StatementGeographicalAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfRevenuesFromExternalCustomersAndLongLivedAssetsTable_d88a1271-4aa8-42ff-a3f3-aa27f6f3d1a5" xlink:to="loc_srt_StatementGeographicalAxis_3c1e3bcc-869f-4525-9bac-006d8ae6f375" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain_3c1e3bcc-869f-4525-9bac-006d8ae6f375_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_StatementGeographicalAxis_3c1e3bcc-869f-4525-9bac-006d8ae6f375" xlink:to="loc_srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain_3c1e3bcc-869f-4525-9bac-006d8ae6f375_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain_6e786cd5-5e73-41e2-9a87-1307fdd06b3e" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_StatementGeographicalAxis_3c1e3bcc-869f-4525-9bac-006d8ae6f375" xlink:to="loc_srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain_6e786cd5-5e73-41e2-9a87-1307fdd06b3e" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_NorthAmericaMember_56bd18c5-309e-4a69-99c4-ea50b74e71b1" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_NorthAmericaMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain_6e786cd5-5e73-41e2-9a87-1307fdd06b3e" xlink:to="loc_srt_NorthAmericaMember_56bd18c5-309e-4a69-99c4-ea50b74e71b1" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_country_US_43033880-446d-49ec-bc06-6068a39e1e96" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/country/2020/country-2020-01-31.xsd#country_US"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_NorthAmericaMember_56bd18c5-309e-4a69-99c4-ea50b74e71b1" xlink:to="loc_country_US_43033880-446d-49ec-bc06-6068a39e1e96" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_EuropeMember_29ea34d7-f489-447b-9470-9cbb57357dda" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_EuropeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain_6e786cd5-5e73-41e2-9a87-1307fdd06b3e" xlink:to="loc_srt_EuropeMember_29ea34d7-f489-447b-9470-9cbb57357dda" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_sstk_AllRegionsOfTheWorldExceptNorthAmericaAndEuropeMember_0185e665-238d-4c0b-a5b8-1034a26e781e" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#sstk_AllRegionsOfTheWorldExceptNorthAmericaAndEuropeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain_6e786cd5-5e73-41e2-9a87-1307fdd06b3e" xlink:to="loc_sstk_AllRegionsOfTheWorldExceptNorthAmericaAndEuropeMember_0185e665-238d-4c0b-a5b8-1034a26e781e" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis_f849faab-a842-4da8-b8f9-f5188d4125dc" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfRevenuesFromExternalCustomersAndLongLivedAssetsTable_d88a1271-4aa8-42ff-a3f3-aa27f6f3d1a5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis_f849faab-a842-4da8-b8f9-f5188d4125dc" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskBenchmarkDomain_f849faab-a842-4da8-b8f9-f5188d4125dc_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskBenchmarkDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis_f849faab-a842-4da8-b8f9-f5188d4125dc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskBenchmarkDomain_f849faab-a842-4da8-b8f9-f5188d4125dc_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskBenchmarkDomain_3450cb3c-b2af-4909-a65c-28fe7c8fa0ff" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskBenchmarkDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis_f849faab-a842-4da8-b8f9-f5188d4125dc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskBenchmarkDomain_3450cb3c-b2af-4909-a65c-28fe7c8fa0ff" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SalesRevenueNetMember_b696c94c-8bdc-4ab0-ba96-edd5b68188c2" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_SalesRevenueNetMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskBenchmarkDomain_3450cb3c-b2af-4909-a65c-28fe7c8fa0ff" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SalesRevenueNetMember_b696c94c-8bdc-4ab0-ba96-edd5b68188c2" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_sstk_LongLivedTangibleAsstesMember_c8db05ae-abbd-4f2b-be54-791c1077a980" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#sstk_LongLivedTangibleAsstesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskBenchmarkDomain_3450cb3c-b2af-4909-a65c-28fe7c8fa0ff" xlink:to="loc_sstk_LongLivedTangibleAsstesMember_c8db05ae-abbd-4f2b-be54-791c1077a980" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis_53d0ea0d-73f5-41ae-90b3-e8ce714a0a5c" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfRevenuesFromExternalCustomersAndLongLivedAssetsTable_d88a1271-4aa8-42ff-a3f3-aa27f6f3d1a5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis_53d0ea0d-73f5-41ae-90b3-e8ce714a0a5c" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskTypeDomain_53d0ea0d-73f5-41ae-90b3-e8ce714a0a5c_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis_53d0ea0d-73f5-41ae-90b3-e8ce714a0a5c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskTypeDomain_53d0ea0d-73f5-41ae-90b3-e8ce714a0a5c_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskTypeDomain_e855b2ef-10d2-48f5-9e31-e0879e0cbe43" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis_53d0ea0d-73f5-41ae-90b3-e8ce714a0a5c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskTypeDomain_e855b2ef-10d2-48f5-9e31-e0879e0cbe43" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_GeographicConcentrationRiskMember_baaf82e8-faba-40f2-8c66-431352bffdee" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_GeographicConcentrationRiskMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskTypeDomain_e855b2ef-10d2-48f5-9e31-e0879e0cbe43" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_GeographicConcentrationRiskMember_baaf82e8-faba-40f2-8c66-431352bffdee" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/CommitmentsandContingencies" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#CommitmentsandContingencies"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/CommitmentsandContingencies" xlink:type="extended" id="i3af98ef6be194c41adf63e30439bf05f_CommitmentsandContingencies"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/CommitmentsandContingenciesNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#CommitmentsandContingenciesNarrativeDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.shutterstock.com/role/CommitmentsandContingenciesNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="iebfe9a0664df4cbd9f71c9bad3b6a22f_CommitmentsandContingenciesNarrativeDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherCommitmentsLineItems_fc82b55d-f2cc-41f7-908f-9421580c2344" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_OtherCommitmentsLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherCommitment_ca69ece5-9638-4ac9-b48b-d140893b0d3b" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_OtherCommitment"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_OtherCommitmentsLineItems_fc82b55d-f2cc-41f7-908f-9421580c2344" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherCommitment_ca69ece5-9638-4ac9-b48b-d140893b0d3b" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_UnrecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationAbstract_bd3f9b68-f6ce-40d7-84b4-112c40e4e193" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_UnrecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_OtherCommitmentsLineItems_fc82b55d-f2cc-41f7-908f-9421580c2344" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_UnrecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationAbstract_bd3f9b68-f6ce-40d7-84b4-112c40e4e193" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherCommitmentsFutureMinimumPaymentsRemainderOfFiscalYear_efbab1f7-2839-41c5-8321-78e3c0d01118" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_OtherCommitmentsFutureMinimumPaymentsRemainderOfFiscalYear"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_UnrecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationAbstract_bd3f9b68-f6ce-40d7-84b4-112c40e4e193" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherCommitmentsFutureMinimumPaymentsRemainderOfFiscalYear_efbab1f7-2839-41c5-8321-78e3c0d01118" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherCommitmentDueInNextTwelveMonths_88b997a6-9670-4ee4-afe9-5b8d081d82e0" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_OtherCommitmentDueInNextTwelveMonths"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_UnrecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationAbstract_bd3f9b68-f6ce-40d7-84b4-112c40e4e193" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherCommitmentDueInNextTwelveMonths_88b997a6-9670-4ee4-afe9-5b8d081d82e0" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherCommitmentDueInSecondYear_1dfcb3e4-d5f2-4f8f-ade5-99bf71b6ef28" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_OtherCommitmentDueInSecondYear"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_UnrecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationAbstract_bd3f9b68-f6ce-40d7-84b4-112c40e4e193" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherCommitmentDueInSecondYear_1dfcb3e4-d5f2-4f8f-ade5-99bf71b6ef28" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherCommitmentDueInThirdYear_13040769-fed4-4936-89bf-71f65f1efa16" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_OtherCommitmentDueInThirdYear"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_UnrecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationAbstract_bd3f9b68-f6ce-40d7-84b4-112c40e4e193" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherCommitmentDueInThirdYear_13040769-fed4-4936-89bf-71f65f1efa16" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherCommitmentDueInFourthYear_f91faf53-c2f5-4716-94d1-fd1dfba882e4" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_OtherCommitmentDueInFourthYear"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_UnrecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationAbstract_bd3f9b68-f6ce-40d7-84b4-112c40e4e193" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherCommitmentDueInFourthYear_f91faf53-c2f5-4716-94d1-fd1dfba882e4" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_sstk_IndemnificationObligationsAbstract_b03af9c8-82c4-472b-b66f-d5bc9932a872" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#sstk_IndemnificationObligationsAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_OtherCommitmentsLineItems_fc82b55d-f2cc-41f7-908f-9421580c2344" xlink:to="loc_sstk_IndemnificationObligationsAbstract_b03af9c8-82c4-472b-b66f-d5bc9932a872" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_sstk_MaximumIndemnificationLiabilityForCustomer_cc5991ff-8b7b-4ae4-a7a9-8cf8ef3533cc" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#sstk_MaximumIndemnificationLiabilityForCustomer"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_sstk_IndemnificationObligationsAbstract_b03af9c8-82c4-472b-b66f-d5bc9932a872" xlink:to="loc_sstk_MaximumIndemnificationLiabilityForCustomer_cc5991ff-8b7b-4ae4-a7a9-8cf8ef3533cc" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_sstk_LossContingencyMaximumPossibleLossPerCustomer_a82ebbf4-2cdb-4730-b6ff-6a0303f488ab" xlink:href="sstk-20210331.xsd#sstk_LossContingencyMaximumPossibleLossPerCustomer"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_sstk_IndemnificationObligationsAbstract_b03af9c8-82c4-472b-b66f-d5bc9932a872" xlink:to="loc_sstk_LossContingencyMaximumPossibleLossPerCustomer_a82ebbf4-2cdb-4730-b6ff-6a0303f488ab" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherCommitmentsTable_ed54cb13-0e50-4f0f-a42c-a6a69c482b32" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_OtherCommitmentsTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_OtherCommitmentsLineItems_fc82b55d-f2cc-41f7-908f-9421580c2344" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherCommitmentsTable_ed54cb13-0e50-4f0f-a42c-a6a69c482b32" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis_484d0b97-f92e-40e2-ad72-7c3c0df715f5" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_OtherCommitmentsTable_ed54cb13-0e50-4f0f-a42c-a6a69c482b32" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis_484d0b97-f92e-40e2-ad72-7c3c0df715f5" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LossContingencyNatureDomain_484d0b97-f92e-40e2-ad72-7c3c0df715f5_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LossContingencyNatureDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis_484d0b97-f92e-40e2-ad72-7c3c0df715f5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LossContingencyNatureDomain_484d0b97-f92e-40e2-ad72-7c3c0df715f5_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LossContingencyNatureDomain_e0308213-6374-4bc5-9bbf-faf0dedc35b6" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LossContingencyNatureDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis_484d0b97-f92e-40e2-ad72-7c3c0df715f5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LossContingencyNatureDomain_e0308213-6374-4bc5-9bbf-faf0dedc35b6" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IndemnificationGuaranteeMember_2079feab-9fd6-4425-8d92-b700890f41cf" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_IndemnificationGuaranteeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LossContingencyNatureDomain_e0308213-6374-4bc5-9bbf-faf0dedc35b6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IndemnificationGuaranteeMember_2079feab-9fd6-4425-8d92-b700890f41cf" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
</link:linkbase>
