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

<!--XBRL Document Created with Wdesk from Workiva-->
<!--Copyright 2022 Workiva-->
<!--r:8dc385cc-bde5-4d1b-b78a-d30ebc5b6301,g:9f295404-9adf-4fd8-83db-345e2b8a1eea-->
<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.acuitybrands.com/role/DescriptionofBusinessandBasisofPresentationDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="ayi-20220531.xsd#DescriptionofBusinessandBasisofPresentationDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.acuitybrands.com/role/DescriptionofBusinessandBasisofPresentationDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i073adac689df46f393fc92343e680b8c_DescriptionofBusinessandBasisofPresentationDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskLineItems_f795c854-8407-4e35-ab15-a1b04b4a83fd" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NumberOfReportableSegments_ccd660c8-d493-4388-a3d8-5d9a46386737" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_NumberOfReportableSegments"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskLineItems_f795c854-8407-4e35-ab15-a1b04b4a83fd" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NumberOfReportableSegments_ccd660c8-d493-4388-a3d8-5d9a46386737" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1_275a80b1-49bd-44c9-9e04-227c987622f3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskLineItems_f795c854-8407-4e35-ab15-a1b04b4a83fd" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1_275a80b1-49bd-44c9-9e04-227c987622f3" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskTable_37fcdc7b-878a-4813-aab9-48ec6b99fa93" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskLineItems_f795c854-8407-4e35-ab15-a1b04b4a83fd" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskTable_37fcdc7b-878a-4813-aab9-48ec6b99fa93" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis_25b3dcd3-6828-4a3b-b287-ed6361842177" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskTable_37fcdc7b-878a-4813-aab9-48ec6b99fa93" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis_25b3dcd3-6828-4a3b-b287-ed6361842177" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskBenchmarkDomain_25b3dcd3-6828-4a3b-b287-ed6361842177_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskBenchmarkDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis_25b3dcd3-6828-4a3b-b287-ed6361842177" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskBenchmarkDomain_25b3dcd3-6828-4a3b-b287-ed6361842177_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskBenchmarkDomain_806cab28-2754-429b-85e5-38b2ed775386" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskBenchmarkDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis_25b3dcd3-6828-4a3b-b287-ed6361842177" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskBenchmarkDomain_806cab28-2754-429b-85e5-38b2ed775386" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SalesRevenueNetMember_8fe6b2ee-7cb2-42f3-bbb0-e1d8eda2392c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_SalesRevenueNetMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskBenchmarkDomain_806cab28-2754-429b-85e5-38b2ed775386" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SalesRevenueNetMember_8fe6b2ee-7cb2-42f3-bbb0-e1d8eda2392c" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis_e4124115-e9f7-47a3-8644-14c66abea925" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskTable_37fcdc7b-878a-4813-aab9-48ec6b99fa93" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis_e4124115-e9f7-47a3-8644-14c66abea925" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskTypeDomain_e4124115-e9f7-47a3-8644-14c66abea925_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis_e4124115-e9f7-47a3-8644-14c66abea925" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskTypeDomain_e4124115-e9f7-47a3-8644-14c66abea925_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskTypeDomain_6357f4ed-fe34-4e1d-b5c8-69062ecb906e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis_e4124115-e9f7-47a3-8644-14c66abea925" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskTypeDomain_6357f4ed-fe34-4e1d-b5c8-69062ecb906e" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CustomerConcentrationRiskMember_ced6a0df-f3f8-4934-9a48-190250254e67" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_CustomerConcentrationRiskMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskTypeDomain_6357f4ed-fe34-4e1d-b5c8-69062ecb906e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CustomerConcentrationRiskMember_ced6a0df-f3f8-4934-9a48-190250254e67" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_5f2872ce-29aa-4b2a-97b3-de780f3ad6ca" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskTable_37fcdc7b-878a-4813-aab9-48ec6b99fa93" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_5f2872ce-29aa-4b2a-97b3-de780f3ad6ca" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_5f2872ce-29aa-4b2a-97b3-de780f3ad6ca_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_SegmentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_5f2872ce-29aa-4b2a-97b3-de780f3ad6ca" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_5f2872ce-29aa-4b2a-97b3-de780f3ad6ca_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_577dbe6b-da47-4f01-8c3b-d78a8880b50a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_SegmentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_5f2872ce-29aa-4b2a-97b3-de780f3ad6ca" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_577dbe6b-da47-4f01-8c3b-d78a8880b50a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ayi_AcuityBrandsLightingAndLightingControlsSegmentMember_d5650b51-fba5-40de-ac36-5218ce78b336" xlink:href="ayi-20220531.xsd#ayi_AcuityBrandsLightingAndLightingControlsSegmentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_577dbe6b-da47-4f01-8c3b-d78a8880b50a" xlink:to="loc_ayi_AcuityBrandsLightingAndLightingControlsSegmentMember_d5650b51-fba5-40de-ac36-5218ce78b336" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ayi_IntelligentSpacesGroupSegmentMember_5b292ed8-20ef-47f5-b5ab-6a78dd7d21fc" xlink:href="ayi-20220531.xsd#ayi_IntelligentSpacesGroupSegmentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_577dbe6b-da47-4f01-8c3b-d78a8880b50a" xlink:to="loc_ayi_IntelligentSpacesGroupSegmentMember_5b292ed8-20ef-47f5-b5ab-6a78dd7d21fc" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.acuitybrands.com/role/AcquisitionsDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="ayi-20220531.xsd#AcquisitionsDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.acuitybrands.com/role/AcquisitionsDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i463433de939b4ccea61573998cfc4102_AcquisitionsDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_917179db-aa09-44cf-a16f-29f4668ef5e9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NumberOfBusinessesAcquired_9ed1853a-89b4-4895-8b66-94eb9b0e2b4e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_NumberOfBusinessesAcquired"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_917179db-aa09-44cf-a16f-29f4668ef5e9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NumberOfBusinessesAcquired_9ed1853a-89b4-4895-8b66-94eb9b0e2b4e" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PaymentsForPreviousAcquisition_3579465e-79f9-458b-bab8-31c3650c2547" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_PaymentsForPreviousAcquisition"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_917179db-aa09-44cf-a16f-29f4668ef5e9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PaymentsForPreviousAcquisition_3579465e-79f9-458b-bab8-31c3650c2547" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_Goodwill_fdc2e0d2-df04-44f9-91e3-d3797f74de18" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_Goodwill"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_917179db-aa09-44cf-a16f-29f4668ef5e9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_Goodwill_fdc2e0d2-df04-44f9-91e3-d3797f74de18" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibleAssetsOtherThanGoodwill_d8424fa7-5d0e-42d9-9492-cb71ff95f672" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibleAssetsOtherThanGoodwill"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_917179db-aa09-44cf-a16f-29f4668ef5e9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibleAssetsOtherThanGoodwill_d8424fa7-5d0e-42d9-9492-cb71ff95f672" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AcquiredFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsWeightedAverageUsefulLife_67bbdedc-74a6-4267-9b8d-4c3222af73eb" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_AcquiredFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsWeightedAverageUsefulLife"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_917179db-aa09-44cf-a16f-29f4668ef5e9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AcquiredFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsWeightedAverageUsefulLife_67bbdedc-74a6-4267-9b8d-4c3222af73eb" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationGoodwillExpectedTaxDeductibleAmount_c4863087-8692-41c4-a1bd-e277bef56c66" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationGoodwillExpectedTaxDeductibleAmount"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_917179db-aa09-44cf-a16f-29f4668ef5e9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationGoodwillExpectedTaxDeductibleAmount_c4863087-8692-41c4-a1bd-e277bef56c66" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfBusinessAcquisitionsByAcquisitionTable_15e6028b-d9e7-48ff-bf4a-9f6d19502eb1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfBusinessAcquisitionsByAcquisitionTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_917179db-aa09-44cf-a16f-29f4668ef5e9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfBusinessAcquisitionsByAcquisitionTable_15e6028b-d9e7-48ff-bf4a-9f6d19502eb1" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis_e67bdaa8-1cac-489c-a46b-d3f29e979380" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfBusinessAcquisitionsByAcquisitionTable_15e6028b-d9e7-48ff-bf4a-9f6d19502eb1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis_e67bdaa8-1cac-489c-a46b-d3f29e979380" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain_e67bdaa8-1cac-489c-a46b-d3f29e979380_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis_e67bdaa8-1cac-489c-a46b-d3f29e979380" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain_e67bdaa8-1cac-489c-a46b-d3f29e979380_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain_8bb62733-a347-4e30-9975-e612c6b88a35" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis_e67bdaa8-1cac-489c-a46b-d3f29e979380" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain_8bb62733-a347-4e30-9975-e612c6b88a35" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ayi_Fiscal2021AcquisitionsMember_fb112aa9-ae3d-4e22-ab38-eaabe5f048e1" xlink:href="ayi-20220531.xsd#ayi_Fiscal2021AcquisitionsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain_8bb62733-a347-4e30-9975-e612c6b88a35" xlink:to="loc_ayi_Fiscal2021AcquisitionsMember_fb112aa9-ae3d-4e22-ab38-eaabe5f048e1" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.acuitybrands.com/role/FairValueMeasurementsDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="ayi-20220531.xsd#FairValueMeasurementsDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.acuitybrands.com/role/FairValueMeasurementsDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i5fd7288e2ebe46e78c2caa0c5d2077d8_FairValueMeasurementsDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_6cdf31dc-eaf0-45e6-a5f9-c4efe60e40df" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue_7b2f24ed-fefa-4eef-adcc-ab1d638e92ab" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_6cdf31dc-eaf0-45e6-a5f9-c4efe60e40df" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue_7b2f24ed-fefa-4eef-adcc-ab1d638e92ab" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_Investments_9c5a6ec4-b7d8-4b03-8af8-bbfe585f724f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_Investments"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_6cdf31dc-eaf0-45e6-a5f9-c4efe60e40df" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_Investments_9c5a6ec4-b7d8-4b03-8af8-bbfe585f724f" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges_38e47722-eba8-42c7-a956-ee647754d334" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_6cdf31dc-eaf0-45e6-a5f9-c4efe60e40df" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges_38e47722-eba8-42c7-a956-ee647754d334" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleNumberOfEquityInstruments_49a0ca82-39fc-4f26-9c4b-5978d26a45ff" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleNumberOfEquityInstruments"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_6cdf31dc-eaf0-45e6-a5f9-c4efe60e40df" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleNumberOfEquityInstruments_49a0ca82-39fc-4f26-9c4b-5978d26a45ff" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue_3dbe776f-e051-4e3d-8413-8ff12a8d9b5c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_6cdf31dc-eaf0-45e6-a5f9-c4efe60e40df" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue_3dbe776f-e051-4e3d-8413-8ff12a8d9b5c" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShortTermBorrowings_f99ff6bd-1444-442b-ac57-76da7a21169a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_ShortTermBorrowings"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_6cdf31dc-eaf0-45e6-a5f9-c4efe60e40df" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShortTermBorrowings_f99ff6bd-1444-442b-ac57-76da7a21169a" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShorttermDebtFairValue_90e1ba10-fbee-45a2-85f4-13cc60b9da3a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_ShorttermDebtFairValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_6cdf31dc-eaf0-45e6-a5f9-c4efe60e40df" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShorttermDebtFairValue_90e1ba10-fbee-45a2-85f4-13cc60b9da3a" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_9cf81594-4003-4cc9-991e-5a08e8990fa1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_6cdf31dc-eaf0-45e6-a5f9-c4efe60e40df" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_9cf81594-4003-4cc9-991e-5a08e8990fa1" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis_ffefac4f-3b21-4e06-91ad-dfab140713c1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_9cf81594-4003-4cc9-991e-5a08e8990fa1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis_ffefac4f-3b21-4e06-91ad-dfab140713c1" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember_ffefac4f-3b21-4e06-91ad-dfab140713c1_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis_ffefac4f-3b21-4e06-91ad-dfab140713c1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember_ffefac4f-3b21-4e06-91ad-dfab140713c1_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueDisclosureItemAmountsDomain_7310b365-eeb8-412e-b91b-e87de434ba95" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueDisclosureItemAmountsDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis_ffefac4f-3b21-4e06-91ad-dfab140713c1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueDisclosureItemAmountsDomain_7310b365-eeb8-412e-b91b-e87de434ba95" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember_6ed7e852-d943-41b6-ad8d-a92869bf2ed7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueDisclosureItemAmountsDomain_7310b365-eeb8-412e-b91b-e87de434ba95" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember_6ed7e852-d943-41b6-ad8d-a92869bf2ed7" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember_fd6c2ac7-9f56-4d99-baa2-57f6cae57f48" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember_6ed7e852-d943-41b6-ad8d-a92869bf2ed7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember_fd6c2ac7-9f56-4d99-baa2-57f6cae57f48" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember_0a8971a9-a875-4e78-a60d-297a742d15e3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember_6ed7e852-d943-41b6-ad8d-a92869bf2ed7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember_0a8971a9-a875-4e78-a60d-297a742d15e3" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_f59b5419-d95d-4346-9146-837272b267ea" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_9cf81594-4003-4cc9-991e-5a08e8990fa1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_f59b5419-d95d-4346-9146-837272b267ea" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_f59b5419-d95d-4346-9146-837272b267ea_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_f59b5419-d95d-4346-9146-837272b267ea" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_f59b5419-d95d-4346-9146-837272b267ea_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_e61b0d17-e003-4a27-9c21-fc66aceaf46a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_f59b5419-d95d-4346-9146-837272b267ea" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_e61b0d17-e003-4a27-9c21-fc66aceaf46a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember_3e18e6e6-568c-4761-a778-de01be056dc6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_e61b0d17-e003-4a27-9c21-fc66aceaf46a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember_3e18e6e6-568c-4761-a778-de01be056dc6" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember_8f3d4fe0-02d8-4e3f-b708-5bae56cafcff" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_e61b0d17-e003-4a27-9c21-fc66aceaf46a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember_8f3d4fe0-02d8-4e3f-b708-5bae56cafcff" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_1563ebfd-2f35-4b85-b069-2fb846a0aaa2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_9cf81594-4003-4cc9-991e-5a08e8990fa1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_1563ebfd-2f35-4b85-b069-2fb846a0aaa2" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_1563ebfd-2f35-4b85-b069-2fb846a0aaa2_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_1563ebfd-2f35-4b85-b069-2fb846a0aaa2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_1563ebfd-2f35-4b85-b069-2fb846a0aaa2_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_ab844aee-36c3-416c-8d60-bd87393e9538" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_1563ebfd-2f35-4b85-b069-2fb846a0aaa2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_ab844aee-36c3-416c-8d60-bd87393e9538" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember_8ede843e-32de-4601-9889-ac1a98027cb2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_ab844aee-36c3-416c-8d60-bd87393e9538" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember_8ede843e-32de-4601-9889-ac1a98027cb2" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_f5929ade-654d-4a23-a731-6130f1ae5a61" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_9cf81594-4003-4cc9-991e-5a08e8990fa1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_f5929ade-654d-4a23-a731-6130f1ae5a61" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_f5929ade-654d-4a23-a731-6130f1ae5a61_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_f5929ade-654d-4a23-a731-6130f1ae5a61" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_f5929ade-654d-4a23-a731-6130f1ae5a61_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_a19b9ff3-079a-4cdb-b81d-c38455b404b6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_f5929ade-654d-4a23-a731-6130f1ae5a61" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_a19b9ff3-079a-4cdb-b81d-c38455b404b6" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ayi_A2150SeniorUnsecuredNotesDueDecember2030Member_0b8bd522-0808-44b1-8505-9377e4f261f1" xlink:href="ayi-20220531.xsd#ayi_A2150SeniorUnsecuredNotesDueDecember2030Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_a19b9ff3-079a-4cdb-b81d-c38455b404b6" xlink:to="loc_ayi_A2150SeniorUnsecuredNotesDueDecember2030Member_0b8bd522-0808-44b1-8505-9377e4f261f1" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ayi_The2018RevolvingCreditFacilityMember_79778660-2f74-4860-8e6e-c94b2e5c204f" xlink:href="ayi-20220531.xsd#ayi_The2018RevolvingCreditFacilityMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_a19b9ff3-079a-4cdb-b81d-c38455b404b6" xlink:to="loc_ayi_The2018RevolvingCreditFacilityMember_79778660-2f74-4860-8e6e-c94b2e5c204f" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.acuitybrands.com/role/PropertyPlantandEquipmentScheduleofPropertyPlantandEquipmentDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="ayi-20220531.xsd#PropertyPlantandEquipmentScheduleofPropertyPlantandEquipmentDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.acuitybrands.com/role/PropertyPlantandEquipmentScheduleofPropertyPlantandEquipmentDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="icea771ff83fc4894b969627c590d5486_PropertyPlantandEquipmentScheduleofPropertyPlantandEquipmentDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems_1f50bdc0-3d35-4b1f-8b32-fa5c3fb1c8ca" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross_918a7117-fb6a-4ab6-a639-57f854195e5e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems_1f50bdc0-3d35-4b1f-8b32-fa5c3fb1c8ca" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross_918a7117-fb6a-4ab6-a639-57f854195e5e" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment_90d2c44c-b5fe-4fc6-b7ce-527b494d0e6c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems_1f50bdc0-3d35-4b1f-8b32-fa5c3fb1c8ca" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment_90d2c44c-b5fe-4fc6-b7ce-527b494d0e6c" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet_9acac33d-8cb3-4bc5-ad47-c2fccdfa0bba" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems_1f50bdc0-3d35-4b1f-8b32-fa5c3fb1c8ca" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet_9acac33d-8cb3-4bc5-ad47-c2fccdfa0bba" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ayi_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationNumberOfAssets_55d76496-4026-4d8d-a5f0-f68c5f7576cf" xlink:href="ayi-20220531.xsd#ayi_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationNumberOfAssets"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems_1f50bdc0-3d35-4b1f-8b32-fa5c3fb1c8ca" xlink:to="loc_ayi_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationNumberOfAssets_55d76496-4026-4d8d-a5f0-f68c5f7576cf" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationPropertyPlantAndEquipment_8d51e873-26d4-4d87-a0e8-9f45311b5d73" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationPropertyPlantAndEquipment"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems_1f50bdc0-3d35-4b1f-8b32-fa5c3fb1c8ca" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationPropertyPlantAndEquipment_8d51e873-26d4-4d87-a0e8-9f45311b5d73" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfPropertyPlantEquipment_bf7f1aa9-a5fa-4c68-88bd-37e10b2f7de7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfPropertyPlantEquipment"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems_1f50bdc0-3d35-4b1f-8b32-fa5c3fb1c8ca" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfPropertyPlantEquipment_bf7f1aa9-a5fa-4c68-88bd-37e10b2f7de7" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentTable_b2dd830b-9c34-4f05-99e7-805f779407e3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems_1f50bdc0-3d35-4b1f-8b32-fa5c3fb1c8ca" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentTable_b2dd830b-9c34-4f05-99e7-805f779407e3" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis_848e36ff-893f-4f69-9ab5-7bccb6422c75" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentTable_b2dd830b-9c34-4f05-99e7-805f779407e3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis_848e36ff-893f-4f69-9ab5-7bccb6422c75" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain_848e36ff-893f-4f69-9ab5-7bccb6422c75_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis_848e36ff-893f-4f69-9ab5-7bccb6422c75" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain_848e36ff-893f-4f69-9ab5-7bccb6422c75_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain_5eefe46b-844c-4168-9d3a-02345a6f6aa9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis_848e36ff-893f-4f69-9ab5-7bccb6422c75" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain_5eefe46b-844c-4168-9d3a-02345a6f6aa9" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LandMember_04639110-0053-4c49-bf58-6124582b9fa4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_LandMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain_5eefe46b-844c-4168-9d3a-02345a6f6aa9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LandMember_04639110-0053-4c49-bf58-6124582b9fa4" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BuildingAndBuildingImprovementsMember_f823fa8c-56d8-42ac-87c6-46f569a9fae0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_BuildingAndBuildingImprovementsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain_5eefe46b-844c-4168-9d3a-02345a6f6aa9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BuildingAndBuildingImprovementsMember_f823fa8c-56d8-42ac-87c6-46f569a9fae0" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_MachineryAndEquipmentMember_8676274c-e63a-49b9-8c08-0d5eb48737f5" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_MachineryAndEquipmentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain_5eefe46b-844c-4168-9d3a-02345a6f6aa9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_MachineryAndEquipmentMember_8676274c-e63a-49b9-8c08-0d5eb48737f5" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationAxis_e8a806d0-3437-4d8f-8959-debe73608549" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentTable_b2dd830b-9c34-4f05-99e7-805f779407e3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationAxis_e8a806d0-3437-4d8f-8959-debe73608549" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationDomain_e8a806d0-3437-4d8f-8959-debe73608549_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationAxis_e8a806d0-3437-4d8f-8959-debe73608549" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationDomain_e8a806d0-3437-4d8f-8959-debe73608549_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationDomain_7ac94264-4707-4d47-afa4-8d113419e36e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationAxis_e8a806d0-3437-4d8f-8959-debe73608549" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationDomain_7ac94264-4707-4d47-afa4-8d113419e36e" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupDisposedOfBySaleNotDiscontinuedOperationsMember_46f49330-aa35-4d38-8b45-dc748dd01c68" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_DisposalGroupDisposedOfBySaleNotDiscontinuedOperationsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationDomain_7ac94264-4707-4d47-afa4-8d113419e36e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupDisposedOfBySaleNotDiscontinuedOperationsMember_46f49330-aa35-4d38-8b45-dc748dd01c68" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.acuitybrands.com/role/GoodwillandIntangibleAssetsChangesinGoodwillDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="ayi-20220531.xsd#GoodwillandIntangibleAssetsChangesinGoodwillDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.acuitybrands.com/role/GoodwillandIntangibleAssetsChangesinGoodwillDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i5404a7e3f95c491b84933fc7f217c6c0_GoodwillandIntangibleAssetsChangesinGoodwillDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AcquiredFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems_95470c51-2cd4-4e13-a911-93a7379a43b9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_AcquiredFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_GoodwillRollForward_ddb82471-b999-4b87-8833-15d0ebe07ba1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_GoodwillRollForward"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AcquiredFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems_95470c51-2cd4-4e13-a911-93a7379a43b9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_GoodwillRollForward_ddb82471-b999-4b87-8833-15d0ebe07ba1" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_Goodwill_92899674-3479-42a6-bade-c0571ea5e6d2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_Goodwill"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_GoodwillRollForward_ddb82471-b999-4b87-8833-15d0ebe07ba1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_Goodwill_92899674-3479-42a6-bade-c0571ea5e6d2" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_GoodwillPurchaseAccountingAdjustments_948783eb-6ece-415b-833a-33644fc54d6e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_GoodwillPurchaseAccountingAdjustments"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_GoodwillRollForward_ddb82471-b999-4b87-8833-15d0ebe07ba1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_GoodwillPurchaseAccountingAdjustments_948783eb-6ece-415b-833a-33644fc54d6e" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod_01a308a7-96ff-45e2-b6af-f369b869a753" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_GoodwillRollForward_ddb82471-b999-4b87-8833-15d0ebe07ba1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod_01a308a7-96ff-45e2-b6af-f369b869a753" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_GoodwillForeignCurrencyTranslationGainLoss_6d620712-05f2-4f18-b0c4-e27edcbe1e34" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_GoodwillForeignCurrencyTranslationGainLoss"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_GoodwillRollForward_ddb82471-b999-4b87-8833-15d0ebe07ba1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_GoodwillForeignCurrencyTranslationGainLoss_6d620712-05f2-4f18-b0c4-e27edcbe1e34" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_Goodwill_6435dad0-9778-48ba-8b54-39ac75b1c3fe" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_Goodwill"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfAcquiredFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetByMajorClassTable_e708b0c6-bcd8-4f6e-bfc5-a8e25107cd75" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfAcquiredFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetByMajorClassTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AcquiredFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems_95470c51-2cd4-4e13-a911-93a7379a43b9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfAcquiredFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetByMajorClassTable_e708b0c6-bcd8-4f6e-bfc5-a8e25107cd75" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_cccbaf48-d994-4e5a-bb6d-33090b1a4951" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfAcquiredFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetByMajorClassTable_e708b0c6-bcd8-4f6e-bfc5-a8e25107cd75" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_cccbaf48-d994-4e5a-bb6d-33090b1a4951" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_cccbaf48-d994-4e5a-bb6d-33090b1a4951_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_SegmentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_cccbaf48-d994-4e5a-bb6d-33090b1a4951" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_cccbaf48-d994-4e5a-bb6d-33090b1a4951_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_a5346a60-db1f-4a8a-8ca4-5db4d4d4a6cc" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_SegmentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_cccbaf48-d994-4e5a-bb6d-33090b1a4951" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_a5346a60-db1f-4a8a-8ca4-5db4d4d4a6cc" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ayi_AcuityBrandsLightingAndLightingControlsSegmentMember_56ba959d-f329-4239-86d2-e9694653e7de" xlink:href="ayi-20220531.xsd#ayi_AcuityBrandsLightingAndLightingControlsSegmentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_a5346a60-db1f-4a8a-8ca4-5db4d4d4a6cc" xlink:to="loc_ayi_AcuityBrandsLightingAndLightingControlsSegmentMember_56ba959d-f329-4239-86d2-e9694653e7de" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ayi_IntelligentSpacesGroupSegmentMember_9f80debf-d2a6-487e-b533-db3f7b79d0a9" xlink:href="ayi-20220531.xsd#ayi_IntelligentSpacesGroupSegmentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_a5346a60-db1f-4a8a-8ca4-5db4d4d4a6cc" xlink:to="loc_ayi_IntelligentSpacesGroupSegmentMember_9f80debf-d2a6-487e-b533-db3f7b79d0a9" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.acuitybrands.com/role/OtherCurrentLiabilitiesDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="ayi-20220531.xsd#OtherCurrentLiabilitiesDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.acuitybrands.com/role/OtherCurrentLiabilitiesDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i55d8b19b181a4431a254951f93f8c01c_OtherCurrentLiabilitiesDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ayi_OtherCurrentLiabilitiesLineItems_2accac32-d3f8-4750-bf76-51bf8aa4bec5" xlink:href="ayi-20220531.xsd#ayi_OtherCurrentLiabilitiesLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ayi_ContractWithCustomerCustomerIncentiveLiabilitiesCurrent_eb1759e0-21bb-4dcd-ae1e-d2e3e49c60e2" xlink:href="ayi-20220531.xsd#ayi_ContractWithCustomerCustomerIncentiveLiabilitiesCurrent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_ayi_OtherCurrentLiabilitiesLineItems_2accac32-d3f8-4750-bf76-51bf8aa4bec5" xlink:to="loc_ayi_ContractWithCustomerCustomerIncentiveLiabilitiesCurrent_eb1759e0-21bb-4dcd-ae1e-d2e3e49c60e2" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerRefundLiabilityCurrent_c1e32af2-c092-4a9d-9047-8306c9013fba" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerRefundLiabilityCurrent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_ayi_OtherCurrentLiabilitiesLineItems_2accac32-d3f8-4750-bf76-51bf8aa4bec5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerRefundLiabilityCurrent_c1e32af2-c092-4a9d-9047-8306c9013fba" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityCurrent_2b5350b7-1d39-49e3-a823-6c827a10e103" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityCurrent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_ayi_OtherCurrentLiabilitiesLineItems_2accac32-d3f8-4750-bf76-51bf8aa4bec5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityCurrent_2b5350b7-1d39-49e3-a823-6c827a10e103" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccruedSalesCommissionCurrent_8ccf438b-ce7c-45f2-bfce-f5a71ebfcd1e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_AccruedSalesCommissionCurrent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_ayi_OtherCurrentLiabilitiesLineItems_2accac32-d3f8-4750-bf76-51bf8aa4bec5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AccruedSalesCommissionCurrent_8ccf438b-ce7c-45f2-bfce-f5a71ebfcd1e" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ayi_FreightCostsCurrent_b89b2b72-330a-429b-b231-cf417772041c" xlink:href="ayi-20220531.xsd#ayi_FreightCostsCurrent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_ayi_OtherCurrentLiabilitiesLineItems_2accac32-d3f8-4750-bf76-51bf8aa4bec5" xlink:to="loc_ayi_FreightCostsCurrent_b89b2b72-330a-429b-b231-cf417772041c" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ayi_WarrantyAndRecallCostsCurrent_d9fb50df-8f27-423c-becc-f9af984e3f05" xlink:href="ayi-20220531.xsd#ayi_WarrantyAndRecallCostsCurrent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_ayi_OtherCurrentLiabilitiesLineItems_2accac32-d3f8-4750-bf76-51bf8aa4bec5" xlink:to="loc_ayi_WarrantyAndRecallCostsCurrent_d9fb50df-8f27-423c-becc-f9af984e3f05" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_TaxesPayableCurrent_d6bb70e9-fc65-4abb-bc3b-bc5625bd0e76" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_TaxesPayableCurrent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_ayi_OtherCurrentLiabilitiesLineItems_2accac32-d3f8-4750-bf76-51bf8aa4bec5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_TaxesPayableCurrent_d6bb70e9-fc65-4abb-bc3b-bc5625bd0e76" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InterestPayableCurrent_39f06c31-df86-42a0-adc2-5c64612dc442" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_InterestPayableCurrent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_ayi_OtherCurrentLiabilitiesLineItems_2accac32-d3f8-4750-bf76-51bf8aa4bec5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InterestPayableCurrent_39f06c31-df86-42a0-adc2-5c64612dc442" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherSundryLiabilitiesCurrent_7c595bd4-0902-422f-8943-7c733b3fdb79" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_OtherSundryLiabilitiesCurrent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_ayi_OtherCurrentLiabilitiesLineItems_2accac32-d3f8-4750-bf76-51bf8aa4bec5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherSundryLiabilitiesCurrent_7c595bd4-0902-422f-8943-7c733b3fdb79" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesCurrent_847eb251-2076-484b-9c45-374164d6bfab" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesCurrent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_ayi_OtherCurrentLiabilitiesLineItems_2accac32-d3f8-4750-bf76-51bf8aa4bec5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesCurrent_847eb251-2076-484b-9c45-374164d6bfab" xlink:type="arc" order="9"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LitigationReserveCurrent_c12eea9b-9cab-4bf3-8c92-be84871e9ac2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_LitigationReserveCurrent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_ayi_OtherCurrentLiabilitiesLineItems_2accac32-d3f8-4750-bf76-51bf8aa4bec5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LitigationReserveCurrent_c12eea9b-9cab-4bf3-8c92-be84871e9ac2" xlink:type="arc" order="10"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ayi_OtherCurrentLiabilitiesTable_c9a6f8a5-3b3b-409c-a5c4-ae6b2c7de45b" xlink:href="ayi-20220531.xsd#ayi_OtherCurrentLiabilitiesTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_ayi_OtherCurrentLiabilitiesLineItems_2accac32-d3f8-4750-bf76-51bf8aa4bec5" xlink:to="loc_ayi_OtherCurrentLiabilitiesTable_c9a6f8a5-3b3b-409c-a5c4-ae6b2c7de45b" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_LitigationCaseAxis_debdd355-50f9-4d11-a313-7b035efca728" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2022/elts/srt-2022.xsd#srt_LitigationCaseAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_ayi_OtherCurrentLiabilitiesTable_c9a6f8a5-3b3b-409c-a5c4-ae6b2c7de45b" xlink:to="loc_srt_LitigationCaseAxis_debdd355-50f9-4d11-a313-7b035efca728" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_LitigationCaseTypeDomain_debdd355-50f9-4d11-a313-7b035efca728_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2022/elts/srt-2022.xsd#srt_LitigationCaseTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_LitigationCaseAxis_debdd355-50f9-4d11-a313-7b035efca728" xlink:to="loc_srt_LitigationCaseTypeDomain_debdd355-50f9-4d11-a313-7b035efca728_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_LitigationCaseTypeDomain_90344303-754c-4dea-8bf2-aba59f48b577" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2022/elts/srt-2022.xsd#srt_LitigationCaseTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_LitigationCaseAxis_debdd355-50f9-4d11-a313-7b035efca728" xlink:to="loc_srt_LitigationCaseTypeDomain_90344303-754c-4dea-8bf2-aba59f48b577" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ayi_SecuritiesClassActionMember_0040260c-9353-46c1-b3cb-50691348d112" xlink:href="ayi-20220531.xsd#ayi_SecuritiesClassActionMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_LitigationCaseTypeDomain_90344303-754c-4dea-8bf2-aba59f48b577" xlink:to="loc_ayi_SecuritiesClassActionMember_0040260c-9353-46c1-b3cb-50691348d112" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.acuitybrands.com/role/DebtandLinesofCreditDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="ayi-20220531.xsd#DebtandLinesofCreditDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.acuitybrands.com/role/DebtandLinesofCreditDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i722cd7b638e24e6685579f592c4eba94_DebtandLinesofCreditDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_29095e89-c151-4837-aa84-48de0bbdc2c5" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAbstract_17c5aa82-491d-4c5c-bf15-5b5f29b6dc88" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_29095e89-c151-4837-aa84-48de0bbdc2c5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAbstract_17c5aa82-491d-4c5c-bf15-5b5f29b6dc88" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount_b6a7bf98-ac11-44e9-9f05-eff00c80a1b8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAbstract_17c5aa82-491d-4c5c-bf15-5b5f29b6dc88" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount_b6a7bf98-ac11-44e9-9f05-eff00c80a1b8" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage_b7c94c6b-af6f-4d01-89cb-d524011a14e0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAbstract_17c5aa82-491d-4c5c-bf15-5b5f29b6dc88" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage_b7c94c6b-af6f-4d01-89cb-d524011a14e0" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ayi_DebtIssuancePricePercentageOfFaceValue_497a7b16-037a-47c3-bf97-379401f79771" xlink:href="ayi-20220531.xsd#ayi_DebtIssuancePricePercentageOfFaceValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAbstract_17c5aa82-491d-4c5c-bf15-5b5f29b6dc88" xlink:to="loc_ayi_DebtIssuancePricePercentageOfFaceValue_497a7b16-037a-47c3-bf97-379401f79771" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DeferredFinanceCostsGross_d5548af1-59d2-4d58-82a2-85b00fe2839e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_DeferredFinanceCostsGross"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAbstract_17c5aa82-491d-4c5c-bf15-5b5f29b6dc88" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DeferredFinanceCostsGross_d5548af1-59d2-4d58-82a2-85b00fe2839e" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTerm_f926b195-4444-456f-88af-a1226b1deaea" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTerm"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAbstract_17c5aa82-491d-4c5c-bf15-5b5f29b6dc88" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTerm_f926b195-4444-456f-88af-a1226b1deaea" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebt_823927dd-11ae-4b01-8f58-6127c65ce768" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_LongTermDebt"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAbstract_17c5aa82-491d-4c5c-bf15-5b5f29b6dc88" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebt_823927dd-11ae-4b01-8f58-6127c65ce768" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity_7ae541c2-d7be-446b-8a42-3cf1c7047738" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAbstract_17c5aa82-491d-4c5c-bf15-5b5f29b6dc88" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity_7ae541c2-d7be-446b-8a42-3cf1c7047738" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShortTermBorrowings_e92d19c3-dfc6-4336-8fd7-8b1076c7db4d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_ShortTermBorrowings"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAbstract_17c5aa82-491d-4c5c-bf15-5b5f29b6dc88" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShortTermBorrowings_e92d19c3-dfc6-4336-8fd7-8b1076c7db4d" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1_6f7b9194-eafd-4aa2-9114-2a86d3dfccb1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAbstract_17c5aa82-491d-4c5c-bf15-5b5f29b6dc88" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1_6f7b9194-eafd-4aa2-9114-2a86d3dfccb1" xlink:type="arc" order="9"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCommitmentFeePercentage_e2491f62-a84b-491d-90ae-4688ebf279d4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCommitmentFeePercentage"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAbstract_17c5aa82-491d-4c5c-bf15-5b5f29b6dc88" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCommitmentFeePercentage_e2491f62-a84b-491d-90ae-4688ebf279d4" xlink:type="arc" order="10"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ayi_LineOfCreditFacilityCovenantTermsInterestCoverageRatioMinimum_bcc0067b-1bb6-4c30-9d02-015c5a621e04" xlink:href="ayi-20220531.xsd#ayi_LineOfCreditFacilityCovenantTermsInterestCoverageRatioMinimum"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAbstract_17c5aa82-491d-4c5c-bf15-5b5f29b6dc88" xlink:to="loc_ayi_LineOfCreditFacilityCovenantTermsInterestCoverageRatioMinimum_bcc0067b-1bb6-4c30-9d02-015c5a621e04" xlink:type="arc" order="11"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ayi_LineOfCreditFacilityCovenantTermsLeverageRatioMaximum_40a03e4b-4969-4af4-88ce-a178d4b071be" xlink:href="ayi-20220531.xsd#ayi_LineOfCreditFacilityCovenantTermsLeverageRatioMaximum"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAbstract_17c5aa82-491d-4c5c-bf15-5b5f29b6dc88" xlink:to="loc_ayi_LineOfCreditFacilityCovenantTermsLeverageRatioMaximum_40a03e4b-4969-4af4-88ce-a178d4b071be" xlink:type="arc" order="12"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount_99b1565f-ecfd-4102-a162-bc74e9dc1aa5" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAbstract_17c5aa82-491d-4c5c-bf15-5b5f29b6dc88" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount_99b1565f-ecfd-4102-a162-bc74e9dc1aa5" xlink:type="arc" order="13"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCurrentBorrowingCapacity_b7fc1adb-67a2-49b2-854f-fc90d5f7aa21" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCurrentBorrowingCapacity"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAbstract_17c5aa82-491d-4c5c-bf15-5b5f29b6dc88" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCurrentBorrowingCapacity_b7fc1adb-67a2-49b2-854f-fc90d5f7aa21" xlink:type="arc" order="14"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InterestRevenueOrExpenseNetAbstract_efd3056b-e88c-42d2-9dd3-ea8625b2fb44" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_InterestRevenueOrExpenseNetAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_29095e89-c151-4837-aa84-48de0bbdc2c5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InterestRevenueOrExpenseNetAbstract_efd3056b-e88c-42d2-9dd3-ea8625b2fb44" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InterestExpense_0bc3eac3-4f73-4e85-8d0e-380e71346d11" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_InterestExpense"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_InterestRevenueOrExpenseNetAbstract_efd3056b-e88c-42d2-9dd3-ea8625b2fb44" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InterestExpense_0bc3eac3-4f73-4e85-8d0e-380e71346d11" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeInterest_39911429-5b94-46a4-b721-f25c4b9a5541" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeInterest"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_InterestRevenueOrExpenseNetAbstract_efd3056b-e88c-42d2-9dd3-ea8625b2fb44" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeInterest_39911429-5b94-46a4-b721-f25c4b9a5541" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InterestRevenueExpenseNet_bbc2ff49-ce8f-4ddb-b11f-a99a052e7b79" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_InterestRevenueExpenseNet"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_InterestRevenueOrExpenseNetAbstract_efd3056b-e88c-42d2-9dd3-ea8625b2fb44" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InterestRevenueExpenseNet_bbc2ff49-ce8f-4ddb-b11f-a99a052e7b79" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_2fa5a815-da3f-4848-941d-599e21e171a8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_29095e89-c151-4837-aa84-48de0bbdc2c5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_2fa5a815-da3f-4848-941d-599e21e171a8" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_3bbb5687-a475-4d45-b5cc-6fee0869c78f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2022/dei-2022.xsd#dei_LegalEntityAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_2fa5a815-da3f-4848-941d-599e21e171a8" xlink:to="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_3bbb5687-a475-4d45-b5cc-6fee0869c78f" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_3bbb5687-a475-4d45-b5cc-6fee0869c78f_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2022/dei-2022.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_3bbb5687-a475-4d45-b5cc-6fee0869c78f" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_3bbb5687-a475-4d45-b5cc-6fee0869c78f_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_dbba5366-9265-45c0-9bf2-a20627a63421" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2022/dei-2022.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_3bbb5687-a475-4d45-b5cc-6fee0869c78f" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_dbba5366-9265-45c0-9bf2-a20627a63421" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ayi_AcuityBrandsLightingIncMember_db8598d8-65e1-4751-8a0c-41d5c67851ab" xlink:href="ayi-20220531.xsd#ayi_AcuityBrandsLightingIncMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityDomain_dbba5366-9265-45c0-9bf2-a20627a63421" xlink:to="loc_ayi_AcuityBrandsLightingIncMember_db8598d8-65e1-4751-8a0c-41d5c67851ab" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateAxis_dfb03cc7-9606-47c5-aa15-c75779f1d6f4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_VariableRateAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_2fa5a815-da3f-4848-941d-599e21e171a8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateAxis_dfb03cc7-9606-47c5-aa15-c75779f1d6f4" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateDomain_dfb03cc7-9606-47c5-aa15-c75779f1d6f4_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_VariableRateDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateAxis_dfb03cc7-9606-47c5-aa15-c75779f1d6f4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateDomain_dfb03cc7-9606-47c5-aa15-c75779f1d6f4_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateDomain_d9dea344-3ed8-4de8-9ca3-207653785c00" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_VariableRateDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateAxis_dfb03cc7-9606-47c5-aa15-c75779f1d6f4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateDomain_d9dea344-3ed8-4de8-9ca3-207653785c00" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ayi_EurocurrencyRateMember_e5b8528b-72bd-455c-9a7c-1520dfea6d03" xlink:href="ayi-20220531.xsd#ayi_EurocurrencyRateMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateDomain_d9dea344-3ed8-4de8-9ca3-207653785c00" xlink:to="loc_ayi_EurocurrencyRateMember_e5b8528b-72bd-455c-9a7c-1520dfea6d03" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BaseRateMember_304d10c2-6180-422d-b345-6340c12fb0c3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_BaseRateMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateDomain_d9dea344-3ed8-4de8-9ca3-207653785c00" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BaseRateMember_304d10c2-6180-422d-b345-6340c12fb0c3" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_270bcd68-566c-4421-8e7d-05b20f26f963" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_2fa5a815-da3f-4848-941d-599e21e171a8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_270bcd68-566c-4421-8e7d-05b20f26f963" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_270bcd68-566c-4421-8e7d-05b20f26f963_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_270bcd68-566c-4421-8e7d-05b20f26f963" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_270bcd68-566c-4421-8e7d-05b20f26f963_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_afdf058a-3b75-4a39-9b8f-774143f3a6af" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_270bcd68-566c-4421-8e7d-05b20f26f963" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_afdf058a-3b75-4a39-9b8f-774143f3a6af" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember_692b9a29-85a9-4d93-842d-0cc28e7ff750" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_afdf058a-3b75-4a39-9b8f-774143f3a6af" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember_692b9a29-85a9-4d93-842d-0cc28e7ff750" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_6bd9e34f-77d7-4bbd-afbf-f61afe887fd1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_2fa5a815-da3f-4848-941d-599e21e171a8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_6bd9e34f-77d7-4bbd-afbf-f61afe887fd1" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_6bd9e34f-77d7-4bbd-afbf-f61afe887fd1_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_6bd9e34f-77d7-4bbd-afbf-f61afe887fd1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_6bd9e34f-77d7-4bbd-afbf-f61afe887fd1_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_50fc077e-d0d6-4b4c-ad92-be039fedb7b2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_6bd9e34f-77d7-4bbd-afbf-f61afe887fd1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_50fc077e-d0d6-4b4c-ad92-be039fedb7b2" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember_a36e8c99-08fb-4c19-a9a3-03f23a1ae4b7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_50fc077e-d0d6-4b4c-ad92-be039fedb7b2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember_a36e8c99-08fb-4c19-a9a3-03f23a1ae4b7" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember_4c9d0233-cfcd-4dde-aec0-3ef5188552c9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_50fc077e-d0d6-4b4c-ad92-be039fedb7b2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember_4c9d0233-cfcd-4dde-aec0-3ef5188552c9" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LetterOfCreditMember_6b20fd4a-8d80-4a47-b9aa-053298ec71cf" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_LetterOfCreditMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_50fc077e-d0d6-4b4c-ad92-be039fedb7b2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LetterOfCreditMember_6b20fd4a-8d80-4a47-b9aa-053298ec71cf" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_04d777a3-e14f-4198-9cd5-5ae63ee6790a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_2fa5a815-da3f-4848-941d-599e21e171a8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_04d777a3-e14f-4198-9cd5-5ae63ee6790a" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_04d777a3-e14f-4198-9cd5-5ae63ee6790a_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_04d777a3-e14f-4198-9cd5-5ae63ee6790a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_04d777a3-e14f-4198-9cd5-5ae63ee6790a_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_3d5f9aca-e88b-4114-8b09-1e22e342dae8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_04d777a3-e14f-4198-9cd5-5ae63ee6790a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_3d5f9aca-e88b-4114-8b09-1e22e342dae8" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ayi_A2150SeniorUnsecuredNotesDueDecember2030Member_204dc3cb-895b-4361-ba81-ca8b5c9124c9" xlink:href="ayi-20220531.xsd#ayi_A2150SeniorUnsecuredNotesDueDecember2030Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_3d5f9aca-e88b-4114-8b09-1e22e342dae8" xlink:to="loc_ayi_A2150SeniorUnsecuredNotesDueDecember2030Member_204dc3cb-895b-4361-ba81-ca8b5c9124c9" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ayi_The2018RevolvingCreditFacilityMember_b9b2ae4b-9ec5-4848-9258-26e0796cf47e" xlink:href="ayi-20220531.xsd#ayi_The2018RevolvingCreditFacilityMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_3d5f9aca-e88b-4114-8b09-1e22e342dae8" xlink:to="loc_ayi_The2018RevolvingCreditFacilityMember_b9b2ae4b-9ec5-4848-9258-26e0796cf47e" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeAxis_d8a33cd2-873c-4a45-abce-5bbc6181acba" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2022/elts/srt-2022.xsd#srt_RangeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_2fa5a815-da3f-4848-941d-599e21e171a8" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeAxis_d8a33cd2-873c-4a45-abce-5bbc6181acba" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeMember_d8a33cd2-873c-4a45-abce-5bbc6181acba_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2022/elts/srt-2022.xsd#srt_RangeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeAxis_d8a33cd2-873c-4a45-abce-5bbc6181acba" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeMember_d8a33cd2-873c-4a45-abce-5bbc6181acba_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeMember_3a830d9d-fcf7-4f97-a472-681e718bf208" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2022/elts/srt-2022.xsd#srt_RangeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeAxis_d8a33cd2-873c-4a45-abce-5bbc6181acba" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeMember_3a830d9d-fcf7-4f97-a472-681e718bf208" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_MinimumMember_5ed59af3-6cac-455a-84b7-7b2cbd16c223" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2022/elts/srt-2022.xsd#srt_MinimumMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeMember_3a830d9d-fcf7-4f97-a472-681e718bf208" xlink:to="loc_srt_MinimumMember_5ed59af3-6cac-455a-84b7-7b2cbd16c223" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_MaximumMember_0dda453c-7236-40f6-afca-9b3c7fdcc539" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2022/elts/srt-2022.xsd#srt_MaximumMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeMember_3a830d9d-fcf7-4f97-a472-681e718bf208" xlink:to="loc_srt_MaximumMember_0dda453c-7236-40f6-afca-9b3c7fdcc539" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.acuitybrands.com/role/CommitmentsandContingenciesDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="ayi-20220531.xsd#CommitmentsandContingenciesDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.acuitybrands.com/role/CommitmentsandContingenciesDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="iefde25e0ee8e4991829ed54cfc6839e7_CommitmentsandContingenciesDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems_38c3434e-74f4-478e-8ebb-ef16581e14ec" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LitigationReserveCurrent_df419938-e1c4-443b-9f50-f86370ea37c1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_LitigationReserveCurrent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems_38c3434e-74f4-478e-8ebb-ef16581e14ec" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LitigationReserveCurrent_df419938-e1c4-443b-9f50-f86370ea37c1" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LossContingencyNumberOfDefendants_43541c8b-2fc0-47b2-8da3-d233b829b4e9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_LossContingencyNumberOfDefendants"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems_38c3434e-74f4-478e-8ebb-ef16581e14ec" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LossContingencyNumberOfDefendants_43541c8b-2fc0-47b2-8da3-d233b829b4e9" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesTable_dcc2382f-fb03-4ada-9805-f2efdca6b252" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_LossContingenciesTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems_38c3434e-74f4-478e-8ebb-ef16581e14ec" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesTable_dcc2382f-fb03-4ada-9805-f2efdca6b252" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_LitigationCaseAxis_cdfa241b-b50e-4b71-ba67-e83c1245c37a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2022/elts/srt-2022.xsd#srt_LitigationCaseAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesTable_dcc2382f-fb03-4ada-9805-f2efdca6b252" xlink:to="loc_srt_LitigationCaseAxis_cdfa241b-b50e-4b71-ba67-e83c1245c37a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_LitigationCaseTypeDomain_cdfa241b-b50e-4b71-ba67-e83c1245c37a_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2022/elts/srt-2022.xsd#srt_LitigationCaseTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_LitigationCaseAxis_cdfa241b-b50e-4b71-ba67-e83c1245c37a" xlink:to="loc_srt_LitigationCaseTypeDomain_cdfa241b-b50e-4b71-ba67-e83c1245c37a_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_LitigationCaseTypeDomain_8665b242-701d-4062-8e80-2db608a0ca6b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2022/elts/srt-2022.xsd#srt_LitigationCaseTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_LitigationCaseAxis_cdfa241b-b50e-4b71-ba67-e83c1245c37a" xlink:to="loc_srt_LitigationCaseTypeDomain_8665b242-701d-4062-8e80-2db608a0ca6b" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ayi_SecuritiesClassActionMember_394f5c0f-742f-4213-b094-c94d756ac164" xlink:href="ayi-20220531.xsd#ayi_SecuritiesClassActionMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_LitigationCaseTypeDomain_8665b242-701d-4062-8e80-2db608a0ca6b" xlink:to="loc_ayi_SecuritiesClassActionMember_394f5c0f-742f-4213-b094-c94d756ac164" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ayi_ShareholderDerivativeComplaintMember_37e2128c-419b-4e18-8e71-24a5e65033ed" xlink:href="ayi-20220531.xsd#ayi_ShareholderDerivativeComplaintMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_LitigationCaseTypeDomain_8665b242-701d-4062-8e80-2db608a0ca6b" xlink:to="loc_ayi_ShareholderDerivativeComplaintMember_37e2128c-419b-4e18-8e71-24a5e65033ed" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.acuitybrands.com/role/ChangesinStockholdersEquityDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="ayi-20220531.xsd#ChangesinStockholdersEquityDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.acuitybrands.com/role/ChangesinStockholdersEquityDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i3af8bc1161b345f4a5d030b2d5980bf1_ChangesinStockholdersEquityDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockLineItems_1ffbb587-69c4-45ad-869c-7ebfe5394639" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_ClassOfStockLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_120a264e-5175-4291-9933-680c6befd039" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockLineItems_1ffbb587-69c4-45ad-869c-7ebfe5394639" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_120a264e-5175-4291-9933-680c6befd039" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SharesIssued_96dda3ed-1f22-47a1-9ed7-3429c26a487e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_SharesIssued"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_120a264e-5175-4291-9933-680c6befd039" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SharesIssued_96dda3ed-1f22-47a1-9ed7-3429c26a487e" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquity_80ef25b8-ecbc-4398-8442-5112617b38e7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_StockholdersEquity"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_120a264e-5175-4291-9933-680c6befd039" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquity_80ef25b8-ecbc-4398-8442-5112617b38e7" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss_cf7aa473-1ed1-49c5-b22d-eb0ce0267104" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_120a264e-5175-4291-9933-680c6befd039" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss_cf7aa473-1ed1-49c5-b22d-eb0ce0267104" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax_d22f1f3f-e3dc-414a-8c01-751b3ebe22aa" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_120a264e-5175-4291-9933-680c6befd039" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax_d22f1f3f-e3dc-414a-8c01-751b3ebe22aa" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesRestrictedStockAwardNetOfForfeitures_5338c99d-95d6-4852-a44d-3fbe88682a75" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesRestrictedStockAwardNetOfForfeitures"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_120a264e-5175-4291-9933-680c6befd039" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesRestrictedStockAwardNetOfForfeitures_5338c99d-95d6-4852-a44d-3fbe88682a75" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueRestrictedStockAwardNetOfForfeitures_7a6a6627-abac-45e1-9e62-22ea024b023b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueRestrictedStockAwardNetOfForfeitures"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_120a264e-5175-4291-9933-680c6befd039" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueRestrictedStockAwardNetOfForfeitures_7a6a6627-abac-45e1-9e62-22ea024b023b" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueEmployeeStockPurchasePlan_1c5401c5-ab41-45f9-9894-8e64289f50af" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueEmployeeStockPurchasePlan"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_120a264e-5175-4291-9933-680c6befd039" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueEmployeeStockPurchasePlan_1c5401c5-ab41-45f9-9894-8e64289f50af" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_Dividends_ca484630-4fd7-4ce5-a410-3804eb3b4a14" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_Dividends"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_120a264e-5175-4291-9933-680c6befd039" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_Dividends_ca484630-4fd7-4ce5-a410-3804eb3b4a14" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised_10c2a8de-5b1e-4a3a-a495-a6b1e7af92e1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_120a264e-5175-4291-9933-680c6befd039" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised_10c2a8de-5b1e-4a3a-a495-a6b1e7af92e1" xlink:type="arc" order="9"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueStockOptionsExercised_633fb66f-9b91-40b8-ab6f-0fb8e70ff3ba" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueStockOptionsExercised"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_120a264e-5175-4291-9933-680c6befd039" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueStockOptionsExercised_633fb66f-9b91-40b8-ab6f-0fb8e70ff3ba" xlink:type="arc" order="10"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodShares_465474ba-dc84-4f7c-812c-5275cbf2a3f1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodShares"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_120a264e-5175-4291-9933-680c6befd039" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodShares_465474ba-dc84-4f7c-812c-5275cbf2a3f1" xlink:type="arc" order="11"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodValue_cb3f552b-9bb3-4e6f-92be-bc6fc876a735" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_120a264e-5175-4291-9933-680c6befd039" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodValue_cb3f552b-9bb3-4e6f-92be-bc6fc876a735" xlink:type="arc" order="12"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SharesIssued_dcf4444b-862e-49b0-95f9-c9d4b1d2444c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_SharesIssued"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquity_97335ce1-862c-4e35-ae7f-736f43604fea" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_StockholdersEquity"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareCashPaid_aaa9f0ba-ca72-4bd7-96c5-7d447b6bbb01" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareCashPaid"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockLineItems_1ffbb587-69c4-45ad-869c-7ebfe5394639" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareCashPaid_aaa9f0ba-ca72-4bd7-96c5-7d447b6bbb01" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfStockByClassTable_61dcfc70-03f4-40d6-a752-bb9804c25362" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfStockByClassTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockLineItems_1ffbb587-69c4-45ad-869c-7ebfe5394639" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfStockByClassTable_61dcfc70-03f4-40d6-a752-bb9804c25362" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAxis_b9dff290-27a6-4fd6-aeab-172223d96169" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2022/elts/srt-2022.xsd#srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfStockByClassTable_61dcfc70-03f4-40d6-a752-bb9804c25362" xlink:to="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAxis_b9dff290-27a6-4fd6-aeab-172223d96169" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionDomain_b9dff290-27a6-4fd6-aeab-172223d96169_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2022/elts/srt-2022.xsd#srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAxis_b9dff290-27a6-4fd6-aeab-172223d96169" xlink:to="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionDomain_b9dff290-27a6-4fd6-aeab-172223d96169_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionDomain_39bc6b3c-e5b4-4a7b-a32e-d781297b0781" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2022/elts/srt-2022.xsd#srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAxis_b9dff290-27a6-4fd6-aeab-172223d96169" xlink:to="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionDomain_39bc6b3c-e5b4-4a7b-a32e-d781297b0781" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAdjustmentMember_a96c21f2-3670-41bf-bcac-d17cbfd44f93" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2022/elts/srt-2022.xsd#srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAdjustmentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionDomain_39bc6b3c-e5b4-4a7b-a32e-d781297b0781" xlink:to="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAdjustmentMember_a96c21f2-3670-41bf-bcac-d17cbfd44f93" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_00bdd051-eb7e-4621-87c1-16818fc9952f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfStockByClassTable_61dcfc70-03f4-40d6-a752-bb9804c25362" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_00bdd051-eb7e-4621-87c1-16818fc9952f" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_00bdd051-eb7e-4621-87c1-16818fc9952f_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_00bdd051-eb7e-4621-87c1-16818fc9952f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_00bdd051-eb7e-4621-87c1-16818fc9952f_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_7ba42c5c-d03b-48e0-9461-c03c5de0f0aa" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_00bdd051-eb7e-4621-87c1-16818fc9952f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_7ba42c5c-d03b-48e0-9461-c03c5de0f0aa" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockMember_a88919f7-cf8f-4a51-b4eb-7013ad1a6c8b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_7ba42c5c-d03b-48e0-9461-c03c5de0f0aa" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockMember_a88919f7-cf8f-4a51-b4eb-7013ad1a6c8b" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember_6fe867a9-597e-4717-8e32-cf455911d426" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_7ba42c5c-d03b-48e0-9461-c03c5de0f0aa" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember_6fe867a9-597e-4717-8e32-cf455911d426" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember_4bfb7cb4-5aff-4731-8021-4a98e19e78b0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_7ba42c5c-d03b-48e0-9461-c03c5de0f0aa" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember_4bfb7cb4-5aff-4731-8021-4a98e19e78b0" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember_e2249ec7-da86-401b-b9b1-3a0f202c1377" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_7ba42c5c-d03b-48e0-9461-c03c5de0f0aa" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember_e2249ec7-da86-401b-b9b1-3a0f202c1377" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember_036545b1-980c-4baa-bfaa-e3d47d09cf1b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_7ba42c5c-d03b-48e0-9461-c03c5de0f0aa" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember_036545b1-980c-4baa-bfaa-e3d47d09cf1b" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.acuitybrands.com/role/RevenueRecognitionDisaggregatedRevenuesDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="ayi-20220531.xsd#RevenueRecognitionDisaggregatedRevenuesDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.acuitybrands.com/role/RevenueRecognitionDisaggregatedRevenuesDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i9031db73af114489b0d9cf8090acca39_RevenueRecognitionDisaggregatedRevenuesDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueLineItems_05612a90-0a00-4c69-b3b3-c1e13179b83a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax_2715f090-a8d3-4c14-ae51-c31385ae3ec1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueLineItems_05612a90-0a00-4c69-b3b3-c1e13179b83a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax_2715f090-a8d3-4c14-ae51-c31385ae3ec1" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueTable_829e4554-436d-4591-a0be-474daaabd8bc" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueLineItems_05612a90-0a00-4c69-b3b3-c1e13179b83a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueTable_829e4554-436d-4591-a0be-474daaabd8bc" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerSalesChannelAxis_a657e788-b2f4-49e7-bfa4-4896f0ab7802" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerSalesChannelAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueTable_829e4554-436d-4591-a0be-474daaabd8bc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerSalesChannelAxis_a657e788-b2f4-49e7-bfa4-4896f0ab7802" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerSalesChannelDomain_a657e788-b2f4-49e7-bfa4-4896f0ab7802_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerSalesChannelDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerSalesChannelAxis_a657e788-b2f4-49e7-bfa4-4896f0ab7802" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerSalesChannelDomain_a657e788-b2f4-49e7-bfa4-4896f0ab7802_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerSalesChannelDomain_08c1db0f-f38a-47fe-a571-0d6ba221c0ae" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerSalesChannelDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerSalesChannelAxis_a657e788-b2f4-49e7-bfa4-4896f0ab7802" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerSalesChannelDomain_08c1db0f-f38a-47fe-a571-0d6ba221c0ae" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ayi_SalesChannelThroughIndependentSalesNetworkMember_3b9ea0bf-d07c-4297-b908-d55e98303314" xlink:href="ayi-20220531.xsd#ayi_SalesChannelThroughIndependentSalesNetworkMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerSalesChannelDomain_08c1db0f-f38a-47fe-a571-0d6ba221c0ae" xlink:to="loc_ayi_SalesChannelThroughIndependentSalesNetworkMember_3b9ea0bf-d07c-4297-b908-d55e98303314" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ayi_SalesChannelThroughDirectSalesNetworkMember_7b0e4012-3c27-4126-aaa1-63b119ffbeec" xlink:href="ayi-20220531.xsd#ayi_SalesChannelThroughDirectSalesNetworkMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerSalesChannelDomain_08c1db0f-f38a-47fe-a571-0d6ba221c0ae" xlink:to="loc_ayi_SalesChannelThroughDirectSalesNetworkMember_7b0e4012-3c27-4126-aaa1-63b119ffbeec" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ayi_SalesChannelThroughRetailMember_332022e7-cd40-4f30-b00d-93da842c2ba5" xlink:href="ayi-20220531.xsd#ayi_SalesChannelThroughRetailMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerSalesChannelDomain_08c1db0f-f38a-47fe-a571-0d6ba221c0ae" xlink:to="loc_ayi_SalesChannelThroughRetailMember_332022e7-cd40-4f30-b00d-93da842c2ba5" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ayi_SalesChannelThroughCorporateAccountsNetworkMember_8e82e111-4c37-4ef6-9695-f0282def2bb9" xlink:href="ayi-20220531.xsd#ayi_SalesChannelThroughCorporateAccountsNetworkMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerSalesChannelDomain_08c1db0f-f38a-47fe-a571-0d6ba221c0ae" xlink:to="loc_ayi_SalesChannelThroughCorporateAccountsNetworkMember_8e82e111-4c37-4ef6-9695-f0282def2bb9" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ayi_SalesChannelThroughOtherMember_d2ca8882-f79a-489e-a5f4-dbc5c1bd867c" xlink:href="ayi-20220531.xsd#ayi_SalesChannelThroughOtherMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerSalesChannelDomain_08c1db0f-f38a-47fe-a571-0d6ba221c0ae" xlink:to="loc_ayi_SalesChannelThroughOtherMember_d2ca8882-f79a-489e-a5f4-dbc5c1bd867c" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis_04928eca-031f-4940-8111-4ed9a25d5cd0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2022/elts/srt-2022.xsd#srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueTable_829e4554-436d-4591-a0be-474daaabd8bc" xlink:to="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis_04928eca-031f-4940-8111-4ed9a25d5cd0" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_04928eca-031f-4940-8111-4ed9a25d5cd0_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2022/elts/srt-2022.xsd#srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis_04928eca-031f-4940-8111-4ed9a25d5cd0" xlink:to="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_04928eca-031f-4940-8111-4ed9a25d5cd0_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_bd6b148c-5d8c-4418-a5bd-291997c086b9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2022/elts/srt-2022.xsd#srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis_04928eca-031f-4940-8111-4ed9a25d5cd0" xlink:to="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_bd6b148c-5d8c-4418-a5bd-291997c086b9" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember_d9649810-e93d-41fb-9e7b-25d942d4fd75" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_bd6b148c-5d8c-4418-a5bd-291997c086b9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember_d9649810-e93d-41fb-9e7b-25d942d4fd75" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IntersegmentEliminationMember_e99b9fa8-aad0-4bdc-b66f-49db4c4433f5" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_IntersegmentEliminationMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_bd6b148c-5d8c-4418-a5bd-291997c086b9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IntersegmentEliminationMember_e99b9fa8-aad0-4bdc-b66f-49db4c4433f5" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_f98ed3a9-0dd8-4691-bffb-92db5ef862ba" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueTable_829e4554-436d-4591-a0be-474daaabd8bc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_f98ed3a9-0dd8-4691-bffb-92db5ef862ba" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_f98ed3a9-0dd8-4691-bffb-92db5ef862ba_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_SegmentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_f98ed3a9-0dd8-4691-bffb-92db5ef862ba" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_f98ed3a9-0dd8-4691-bffb-92db5ef862ba_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_d09cf1e5-b9bb-4244-ad08-5d0e9f118590" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_SegmentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_f98ed3a9-0dd8-4691-bffb-92db5ef862ba" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_d09cf1e5-b9bb-4244-ad08-5d0e9f118590" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ayi_AcuityBrandsLightingAndLightingControlsSegmentMember_8392a826-f10c-462d-bd29-52741c37889a" xlink:href="ayi-20220531.xsd#ayi_AcuityBrandsLightingAndLightingControlsSegmentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_d09cf1e5-b9bb-4244-ad08-5d0e9f118590" xlink:to="loc_ayi_AcuityBrandsLightingAndLightingControlsSegmentMember_8392a826-f10c-462d-bd29-52741c37889a" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ayi_IntelligentSpacesGroupSegmentMember_513266ef-f71e-4781-b072-718fb0a6411c" xlink:href="ayi-20220531.xsd#ayi_IntelligentSpacesGroupSegmentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_d09cf1e5-b9bb-4244-ad08-5d0e9f118590" xlink:to="loc_ayi_IntelligentSpacesGroupSegmentMember_513266ef-f71e-4781-b072-718fb0a6411c" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.acuitybrands.com/role/PensionPlansDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="ayi-20220531.xsd#PensionPlansDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.acuitybrands.com/role/PensionPlansDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="id027558b62b84390b23af03af6f02836_PensionPlansDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanDisclosureLineItems_799176cb-1b62-48b2-98b2-28533756836c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanDisclosureLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCostAbstract_24ee6383-05d1-4035-a312-09327cf264c0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCostAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanDisclosureLineItems_799176cb-1b62-48b2-98b2-28533756836c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCostAbstract_24ee6383-05d1-4035-a312-09327cf264c0" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanServiceCost_6f517a44-8392-4094-a224-daf6de0fb912" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanServiceCost"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCostAbstract_24ee6383-05d1-4035-a312-09327cf264c0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanServiceCost_6f517a44-8392-4094-a224-daf6de0fb912" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanInterestCost_8f2dfd4a-9d97-4257-aecc-fab23f0b5430" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanInterestCost"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCostAbstract_24ee6383-05d1-4035-a312-09327cf264c0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanInterestCost_8f2dfd4a-9d97-4257-aecc-fab23f0b5430" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedReturnOnPlanAssets_8a152b87-8b3e-46cc-bfd2-02440ed5b6e3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedReturnOnPlanAssets"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCostAbstract_24ee6383-05d1-4035-a312-09327cf264c0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedReturnOnPlanAssets_8a152b87-8b3e-46cc-bfd2-02440ed5b6e3" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAmortizationOfPriorServiceCostCredit_b7fabd97-6cd3-4f17-8a4b-40101d810db0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAmortizationOfPriorServiceCostCredit"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCostAbstract_24ee6383-05d1-4035-a312-09327cf264c0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAmortizationOfPriorServiceCostCredit_b7fabd97-6cd3-4f17-8a4b-40101d810db0" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanActuarialGainLoss_dbdd34f5-5f5c-4345-bd50-f60962f8e023" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanActuarialGainLoss"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCostAbstract_24ee6383-05d1-4035-a312-09327cf264c0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanActuarialGainLoss_dbdd34f5-5f5c-4345-bd50-f60962f8e023" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCost_3d584527-4445-48ec-9683-ec73f479bb3d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCost"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCostAbstract_24ee6383-05d1-4035-a312-09327cf264c0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCost_3d584527-4445-48ec-9683-ec73f479bb3d" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfDefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresTable_a9d599de-df01-4e08-a81a-bdc5503971d0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfDefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanDisclosureLineItems_799176cb-1b62-48b2-98b2-28533756836c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfDefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresTable_a9d599de-df01-4e08-a81a-bdc5503971d0" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RetirementPlanTypeAxis_bd846199-71be-4942-8f6a-27dca6676d47" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_RetirementPlanTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfDefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresTable_a9d599de-df01-4e08-a81a-bdc5503971d0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RetirementPlanTypeAxis_bd846199-71be-4942-8f6a-27dca6676d47" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RetirementPlanTypeDomain_bd846199-71be-4942-8f6a-27dca6676d47_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_RetirementPlanTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RetirementPlanTypeAxis_bd846199-71be-4942-8f6a-27dca6676d47" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RetirementPlanTypeDomain_bd846199-71be-4942-8f6a-27dca6676d47_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RetirementPlanTypeDomain_0c5313e7-af85-46b9-9a44-83d87f99ae7d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_RetirementPlanTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RetirementPlanTypeAxis_bd846199-71be-4942-8f6a-27dca6676d47" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RetirementPlanTypeDomain_0c5313e7-af85-46b9-9a44-83d87f99ae7d" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember_bb18f583-7d7e-4405-bc75-54261db686be" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RetirementPlanTypeDomain_0c5313e7-af85-46b9-9a44-83d87f99ae7d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember_bb18f583-7d7e-4405-bc75-54261db686be" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.acuitybrands.com/role/EarningsPerShareAntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedfromEPSComputationDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="ayi-20220531.xsd#EarningsPerShareAntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedfromEPSComputationDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.acuitybrands.com/role/EarningsPerShareAntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedfromEPSComputationDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i5d47ccaaae1047a69610be900f881c55_EarningsPerShareAntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedfromEPSComputationDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareLineItems_0e400347-550e-4f72-884c-01158b89a948" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount_be80cbbb-2416-461f-92da-88dff2ecd50f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareLineItems_0e400347-550e-4f72-884c-01158b89a948" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount_be80cbbb-2416-461f-92da-88dff2ecd50f" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfAntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareTable_94c9e089-e8bc-4eef-aee7-063ec102782d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfAntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareLineItems_0e400347-550e-4f72-884c-01158b89a948" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfAntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareTable_94c9e089-e8bc-4eef-aee7-063ec102782d" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareByAntidilutiveSecuritiesAxis_ddd5c9ee-08d7-4f3f-9c1b-301ba84e013c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareByAntidilutiveSecuritiesAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfAntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareTable_94c9e089-e8bc-4eef-aee7-063ec102782d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareByAntidilutiveSecuritiesAxis_ddd5c9ee-08d7-4f3f-9c1b-301ba84e013c" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesNameDomain_ddd5c9ee-08d7-4f3f-9c1b-301ba84e013c_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareByAntidilutiveSecuritiesAxis_ddd5c9ee-08d7-4f3f-9c1b-301ba84e013c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesNameDomain_ddd5c9ee-08d7-4f3f-9c1b-301ba84e013c_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesNameDomain_9a6103ea-8b3e-4a90-843e-788075622fd3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareByAntidilutiveSecuritiesAxis_ddd5c9ee-08d7-4f3f-9c1b-301ba84e013c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesNameDomain_9a6103ea-8b3e-4a90-843e-788075622fd3" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember_b6e4c749-998c-4330-b02b-bf43db11b061" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesNameDomain_9a6103ea-8b3e-4a90-843e-788075622fd3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember_b6e4c749-998c-4330-b02b-bf43db11b061" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember_f00b8c24-763e-4f47-84de-16a34c13ba15" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesNameDomain_9a6103ea-8b3e-4a90-843e-788075622fd3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember_f00b8c24-763e-4f47-84de-16a34c13ba15" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.acuitybrands.com/role/ComprehensiveIncomeChangesinComponentsofAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossItemsDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="ayi-20220531.xsd#ComprehensiveIncomeChangesinComponentsofAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossItemsDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.acuitybrands.com/role/ComprehensiveIncomeChangesinComponentsofAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossItemsDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i309c28d047a34235b24b97a1a7b7d4f9_ComprehensiveIncomeChangesinComponentsofAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossItemsDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossLineItems_4ac023db-e00a-4e6f-8336-21e261e17712" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AOCIAttributableToParentNetOfTaxRollForward_90d00925-2786-4e2b-ad49-e2297fe17a0b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_AOCIAttributableToParentNetOfTaxRollForward"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossLineItems_4ac023db-e00a-4e6f-8336-21e261e17712" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AOCIAttributableToParentNetOfTaxRollForward_90d00925-2786-4e2b-ad49-e2297fe17a0b" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquity_f13359bc-68d7-40f6-a1a6-63f60d872c27" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_StockholdersEquity"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AOCIAttributableToParentNetOfTaxRollForward_90d00925-2786-4e2b-ad49-e2297fe17a0b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquity_f13359bc-68d7-40f6-a1a6-63f60d872c27" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsNetOfTax_ae173bd3-178c-48fa-bf10-47e2cc62ee10" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsNetOfTax"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AOCIAttributableToParentNetOfTaxRollForward_90d00925-2786-4e2b-ad49-e2297fe17a0b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsNetOfTax_ae173bd3-178c-48fa-bf10-47e2cc62ee10" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodNetOfTax_51331692-0b88-4014-978e-a96b6a454467" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodNetOfTax"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AOCIAttributableToParentNetOfTaxRollForward_90d00925-2786-4e2b-ad49-e2297fe17a0b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodNetOfTax_51331692-0b88-4014-978e-a96b6a454467" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax_7a906e37-e776-41ae-800a-53c48e444231" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AOCIAttributableToParentNetOfTaxRollForward_90d00925-2786-4e2b-ad49-e2297fe17a0b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax_7a906e37-e776-41ae-800a-53c48e444231" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquity_47a35730-bde6-4b87-9948-6858b848519b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_StockholdersEquity"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTable_9d60996f-4bea-4857-a222-e83445f97364" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossLineItems_4ac023db-e00a-4e6f-8336-21e261e17712" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTable_9d60996f-4bea-4857-a222-e83445f97364" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_ef345801-8671-47f8-8a6d-aa3d75b22be4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTable_9d60996f-4bea-4857-a222-e83445f97364" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_ef345801-8671-47f8-8a6d-aa3d75b22be4" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_ef345801-8671-47f8-8a6d-aa3d75b22be4_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_ef345801-8671-47f8-8a6d-aa3d75b22be4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_ef345801-8671-47f8-8a6d-aa3d75b22be4_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_a2cf9a41-a745-483b-a748-0326a9d18422" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_ef345801-8671-47f8-8a6d-aa3d75b22be4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_a2cf9a41-a745-483b-a748-0326a9d18422" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember_ae4caa32-0ab5-4cdd-8240-8ba209385e04" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_a2cf9a41-a745-483b-a748-0326a9d18422" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember_ae4caa32-0ab5-4cdd-8240-8ba209385e04" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember_cb3f344b-af28-4bf0-96c7-dd85166c111a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember_ae4caa32-0ab5-4cdd-8240-8ba209385e04" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember_cb3f344b-af28-4bf0-96c7-dd85166c111a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember_0e5e7dc6-0f82-49c6-bb2b-da8cd9818aa0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember_ae4caa32-0ab5-4cdd-8240-8ba209385e04" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember_0e5e7dc6-0f82-49c6-bb2b-da8cd9818aa0" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.acuitybrands.com/role/ComprehensiveIncomeTaxAmountsAllocatedtoComponentsofOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="ayi-20220531.xsd#ComprehensiveIncomeTaxAmountsAllocatedtoComponentsofOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.acuitybrands.com/role/ComprehensiveIncomeTaxAmountsAllocatedtoComponentsofOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i7d77a45eeb084a5c91bbb538d258caf7_ComprehensiveIncomeTaxAmountsAllocatedtoComponentsofOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossLineItems_1ee7fe45-3fe6-4483-9d3e-5cd354a07da3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeTaxPortionAttributableToParent_5504d641-0d1e-4d7a-8981-938b0c28c9b3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeTaxPortionAttributableToParent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossLineItems_1ee7fe45-3fe6-4483-9d3e-5cd354a07da3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeTaxPortionAttributableToParent_5504d641-0d1e-4d7a-8981-938b0c28c9b3" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTaxPortionAttributableToParent1_d3f2fdbf-9ab8-4ad0-9a1f-6a9f33051c80" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTaxPortionAttributableToParent1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossLineItems_1ee7fe45-3fe6-4483-9d3e-5cd354a07da3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTaxPortionAttributableToParent1_d3f2fdbf-9ab8-4ad0-9a1f-6a9f33051c80" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent_86730d73-5cdf-4ca2-92f9-95ce0c60ed97" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossLineItems_1ee7fe45-3fe6-4483-9d3e-5cd354a07da3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent_86730d73-5cdf-4ca2-92f9-95ce0c60ed97" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAociCurrentPeriodBeforeTaxAttributableToParent_8b7fdd0a-3358-453f-8768-0651f4b5fdc8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAociCurrentPeriodBeforeTaxAttributableToParent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossLineItems_1ee7fe45-3fe6-4483-9d3e-5cd354a07da3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAociCurrentPeriodBeforeTaxAttributableToParent_8b7fdd0a-3358-453f-8768-0651f4b5fdc8" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAociCurrentPeriodTax_2f157e62-cd26-4a71-b67e-a0f495e4d302" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAociCurrentPeriodTax"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossLineItems_1ee7fe45-3fe6-4483-9d3e-5cd354a07da3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAociCurrentPeriodTax_2f157e62-cd26-4a71-b67e-a0f495e4d302" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAociCurrentPeriodNetOfTaxAttributableToParent_e994fa81-2ea6-4a3d-b6e1-000db05d8897" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAociCurrentPeriodNetOfTaxAttributableToParent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossLineItems_1ee7fe45-3fe6-4483-9d3e-5cd354a07da3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAociCurrentPeriodNetOfTaxAttributableToParent_e994fa81-2ea6-4a3d-b6e1-000db05d8897" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OciBeforeReclassificationsBeforeTaxAttributableToParent_7198420a-1f37-4534-a255-4688c1526cbe" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_OciBeforeReclassificationsBeforeTaxAttributableToParent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossLineItems_1ee7fe45-3fe6-4483-9d3e-5cd354a07da3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OciBeforeReclassificationsBeforeTaxAttributableToParent_7198420a-1f37-4534-a255-4688c1526cbe" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsTax_07a0fd58-ba45-4dd3-af99-654fc0d35961" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsTax"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossLineItems_1ee7fe45-3fe6-4483-9d3e-5cd354a07da3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsTax_07a0fd58-ba45-4dd3-af99-654fc0d35961" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OciBeforeReclassificationsNetOfTaxAttributableToParent_b4783855-f04b-4d16-8db2-5027c243037b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_OciBeforeReclassificationsNetOfTaxAttributableToParent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossLineItems_1ee7fe45-3fe6-4483-9d3e-5cd354a07da3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OciBeforeReclassificationsNetOfTaxAttributableToParent_b4783855-f04b-4d16-8db2-5027c243037b" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTable_85c5b7a3-09ca-424d-a4e6-19438cc57409" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossLineItems_1ee7fe45-3fe6-4483-9d3e-5cd354a07da3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTable_85c5b7a3-09ca-424d-a4e6-19438cc57409" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_a4df6fdf-3b36-4799-89cc-37dcfd772a53" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTable_85c5b7a3-09ca-424d-a4e6-19438cc57409" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_a4df6fdf-3b36-4799-89cc-37dcfd772a53" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_a4df6fdf-3b36-4799-89cc-37dcfd772a53_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_a4df6fdf-3b36-4799-89cc-37dcfd772a53" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_a4df6fdf-3b36-4799-89cc-37dcfd772a53_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_08fcc9e4-022e-41db-b4e4-bc6256c7c78b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_a4df6fdf-3b36-4799-89cc-37dcfd772a53" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_08fcc9e4-022e-41db-b4e4-bc6256c7c78b" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember_e80bb754-fe56-4d85-b288-f088c1b92348" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_08fcc9e4-022e-41db-b4e4-bc6256c7c78b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember_e80bb754-fe56-4d85-b288-f088c1b92348" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentNetPriorServiceCostCreditMember_b0ea62f2-98cf-44bd-885c-6d3b3a3bab97" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentNetPriorServiceCostCreditMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_08fcc9e4-022e-41db-b4e4-bc6256c7c78b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentNetPriorServiceCostCreditMember_b0ea62f2-98cf-44bd-885c-6d3b3a3bab97" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentNetUnamortizedGainLossMember_4e354f6e-043c-472a-a46f-bf272b999267" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentNetUnamortizedGainLossMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_08fcc9e4-022e-41db-b4e4-bc6256c7c78b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentNetUnamortizedGainLossMember_4e354f6e-043c-472a-a46f-bf272b999267" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember_14d4eea9-de1d-4899-90c7-f151a4b7e6ce" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_08fcc9e4-022e-41db-b4e4-bc6256c7c78b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember_14d4eea9-de1d-4899-90c7-f151a4b7e6ce" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ayi_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansPlanAmendmentsAttributableToParentMember_3d49654c-33c5-4b76-bda4-4452f85d0a63" xlink:href="ayi-20220531.xsd#ayi_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansPlanAmendmentsAttributableToParentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_08fcc9e4-022e-41db-b4e4-bc6256c7c78b" xlink:to="loc_ayi_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansPlanAmendmentsAttributableToParentMember_3d49654c-33c5-4b76-bda4-4452f85d0a63" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.acuitybrands.com/role/SegmentInformationDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="ayi-20220531.xsd#SegmentInformationDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.acuitybrands.com/role/SegmentInformationDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i099604d45cfa48b5a0d82b6ee06b3a51_SegmentInformationDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_40b3b753-593e-48f7-94ee-b0c7bbb143d4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax_44d1242e-bb5c-4b3a-abee-aa9411f940dc" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_40b3b753-593e-48f7-94ee-b0c7bbb143d4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax_44d1242e-bb5c-4b3a-abee-aa9411f940dc" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss_15f9e768-a4f6-4b8e-9565-21366fa7b0a8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_40b3b753-593e-48f7-94ee-b0c7bbb143d4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss_15f9e768-a4f6-4b8e-9565-21366fa7b0a8" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization_edccf2aa-c3a7-461a-b167-269da4b817de" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_40b3b753-593e-48f7-94ee-b0c7bbb143d4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization_edccf2aa-c3a7-461a-b167-269da4b817de" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InterestRevenueExpenseNet_342a7791-8443-4bb7-baf9-30a8c7d037c8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_InterestRevenueExpenseNet"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_40b3b753-593e-48f7-94ee-b0c7bbb143d4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InterestRevenueExpenseNet_342a7791-8443-4bb7-baf9-30a8c7d037c8" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense_91ca74c0-1882-490f-99db-e3d05a07d86e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_40b3b753-593e-48f7-94ee-b0c7bbb143d4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense_91ca74c0-1882-490f-99db-e3d05a07d86e" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest_00a2239c-1dc2-41a8-97b5-d9179e717de5" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_40b3b753-593e-48f7-94ee-b0c7bbb143d4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest_00a2239c-1dc2-41a8-97b5-d9179e717de5" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_adc479c3-2f2f-430a-a1dd-415232bac746" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_40b3b753-593e-48f7-94ee-b0c7bbb143d4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_adc479c3-2f2f-430a-a1dd-415232bac746" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis_0e104077-de25-487c-91ed-604556c8e9ea" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2022/elts/srt-2022.xsd#srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_adc479c3-2f2f-430a-a1dd-415232bac746" xlink:to="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis_0e104077-de25-487c-91ed-604556c8e9ea" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_0e104077-de25-487c-91ed-604556c8e9ea_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2022/elts/srt-2022.xsd#srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis_0e104077-de25-487c-91ed-604556c8e9ea" xlink:to="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_0e104077-de25-487c-91ed-604556c8e9ea_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_1697827a-1514-4fac-8f73-ca361c1e75c8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2022/elts/srt-2022.xsd#srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis_0e104077-de25-487c-91ed-604556c8e9ea" xlink:to="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_1697827a-1514-4fac-8f73-ca361c1e75c8" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember_e430c1fc-97fd-4b71-88ab-03ec30f765f3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_1697827a-1514-4fac-8f73-ca361c1e75c8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember_e430c1fc-97fd-4b71-88ab-03ec30f765f3" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CorporateNonSegmentMember_bb5c9ad2-38bb-44c0-a52a-c5a46598c2ff" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_CorporateNonSegmentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_1697827a-1514-4fac-8f73-ca361c1e75c8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CorporateNonSegmentMember_bb5c9ad2-38bb-44c0-a52a-c5a46598c2ff" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IntersegmentEliminationMember_e43acf90-03ae-41d5-bf24-d851198fd63c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_IntersegmentEliminationMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_1697827a-1514-4fac-8f73-ca361c1e75c8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IntersegmentEliminationMember_e43acf90-03ae-41d5-bf24-d851198fd63c" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_c8a151d4-3971-42ba-b0ab-4ca309664a44" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_adc479c3-2f2f-430a-a1dd-415232bac746" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_c8a151d4-3971-42ba-b0ab-4ca309664a44" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_c8a151d4-3971-42ba-b0ab-4ca309664a44_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_SegmentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_c8a151d4-3971-42ba-b0ab-4ca309664a44" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_c8a151d4-3971-42ba-b0ab-4ca309664a44_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_a55fdbb6-8e64-4da1-8533-c6387c11ad28" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_SegmentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_c8a151d4-3971-42ba-b0ab-4ca309664a44" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_a55fdbb6-8e64-4da1-8533-c6387c11ad28" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ayi_AcuityBrandsLightingAndLightingControlsSegmentMember_f61953d2-6711-48df-b6ea-fee8583e5922" xlink:href="ayi-20220531.xsd#ayi_AcuityBrandsLightingAndLightingControlsSegmentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_a55fdbb6-8e64-4da1-8533-c6387c11ad28" xlink:to="loc_ayi_AcuityBrandsLightingAndLightingControlsSegmentMember_f61953d2-6711-48df-b6ea-fee8583e5922" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ayi_IntelligentSpacesGroupSegmentMember_938e56ce-766b-421e-9cc1-b8e7c6ff813b" xlink:href="ayi-20220531.xsd#ayi_IntelligentSpacesGroupSegmentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_a55fdbb6-8e64-4da1-8533-c6387c11ad28" xlink:to="loc_ayi_IntelligentSpacesGroupSegmentMember_938e56ce-766b-421e-9cc1-b8e7c6ff813b" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.acuitybrands.com/role/SubsequentEventDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="ayi-20220531.xsd#SubsequentEventDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.acuitybrands.com/role/SubsequentEventDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="ie33be4e4924a4de4807258b78591f324_SubsequentEventDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventLineItems_201fa32c-8215-428f-9b82-2f983cf27859" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_SubsequentEventLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ayi_IncreaseDecreaseInLineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity_6f802264-35ab-4b09-a2da-04b470cd03c0" xlink:href="ayi-20220531.xsd#ayi_IncreaseDecreaseInLineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventLineItems_201fa32c-8215-428f-9b82-2f983cf27859" xlink:to="loc_ayi_IncreaseDecreaseInLineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity_6f802264-35ab-4b09-a2da-04b470cd03c0" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity_fc3ec87b-d939-4cb0-b7b0-c8b17d3f8fa4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventLineItems_201fa32c-8215-428f-9b82-2f983cf27859" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity_fc3ec87b-d939-4cb0-b7b0-c8b17d3f8fa4" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ayi_LineOfCreditFacilityAccordionFeatureIncreaseLimit_90ae14f8-7a45-47e8-a428-b050f6e7a352" xlink:href="ayi-20220531.xsd#ayi_LineOfCreditFacilityAccordionFeatureIncreaseLimit"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventLineItems_201fa32c-8215-428f-9b82-2f983cf27859" xlink:to="loc_ayi_LineOfCreditFacilityAccordionFeatureIncreaseLimit_90ae14f8-7a45-47e8-a428-b050f6e7a352" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ayi_LineOfCreditFacilityCovenantTermsLeverageRatioIncreaseDecrease_984e9a77-6c37-496a-a54a-a60720486bb6" xlink:href="ayi-20220531.xsd#ayi_LineOfCreditFacilityCovenantTermsLeverageRatioIncreaseDecrease"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventLineItems_201fa32c-8215-428f-9b82-2f983cf27859" xlink:to="loc_ayi_LineOfCreditFacilityCovenantTermsLeverageRatioIncreaseDecrease_984e9a77-6c37-496a-a54a-a60720486bb6" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ayi_LineOfCreditFacilityCovenantTermsLeverageRatioMaximum_606ae725-fbba-4d59-899e-821d141433dc" xlink:href="ayi-20220531.xsd#ayi_LineOfCreditFacilityCovenantTermsLeverageRatioMaximum"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventLineItems_201fa32c-8215-428f-9b82-2f983cf27859" xlink:to="loc_ayi_LineOfCreditFacilityCovenantTermsLeverageRatioMaximum_606ae725-fbba-4d59-899e-821d141433dc" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTable_8915f3d0-dcf1-45c3-b132-f7e8cc359086" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_SubsequentEventTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventLineItems_201fa32c-8215-428f-9b82-2f983cf27859" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTable_8915f3d0-dcf1-45c3-b132-f7e8cc359086" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis_791ef6dc-83ed-4f75-aed3-ef705b72be6d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTable_8915f3d0-dcf1-45c3-b132-f7e8cc359086" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis_791ef6dc-83ed-4f75-aed3-ef705b72be6d" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeDomain_791ef6dc-83ed-4f75-aed3-ef705b72be6d_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis_791ef6dc-83ed-4f75-aed3-ef705b72be6d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeDomain_791ef6dc-83ed-4f75-aed3-ef705b72be6d_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeDomain_87118d9b-219c-4dbb-ae35-7b9847efeb89" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis_791ef6dc-83ed-4f75-aed3-ef705b72be6d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeDomain_87118d9b-219c-4dbb-ae35-7b9847efeb89" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember_9dc7dc6b-3a5d-4393-bb60-73bec35a0693" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeDomain_87118d9b-219c-4dbb-ae35-7b9847efeb89" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember_9dc7dc6b-3a5d-4393-bb60-73bec35a0693" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_694e7044-70f8-423c-9be0-ece0db469776" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTable_8915f3d0-dcf1-45c3-b132-f7e8cc359086" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_694e7044-70f8-423c-9be0-ece0db469776" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_694e7044-70f8-423c-9be0-ece0db469776_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_694e7044-70f8-423c-9be0-ece0db469776" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_694e7044-70f8-423c-9be0-ece0db469776_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_79227ec4-e32e-48c0-b87d-b5744f2de603" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_694e7044-70f8-423c-9be0-ece0db469776" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_79227ec4-e32e-48c0-b87d-b5744f2de603" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember_8c7d39c1-c8a7-4160-84c4-9d6bfc88812a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_79227ec4-e32e-48c0-b87d-b5744f2de603" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember_8c7d39c1-c8a7-4160-84c4-9d6bfc88812a" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_b63657d9-553b-4687-b399-33f0de929043" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTable_8915f3d0-dcf1-45c3-b132-f7e8cc359086" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_b63657d9-553b-4687-b399-33f0de929043" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_b63657d9-553b-4687-b399-33f0de929043_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_b63657d9-553b-4687-b399-33f0de929043" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_b63657d9-553b-4687-b399-33f0de929043_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_eb891306-318c-400c-a054-58ece2573ff8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_b63657d9-553b-4687-b399-33f0de929043" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_eb891306-318c-400c-a054-58ece2573ff8" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ayi_New2022RevolvingCreditFacilityMember_a111f01c-8da0-46f3-a2c4-37e0b0fc0b75" xlink:href="ayi-20220531.xsd#ayi_New2022RevolvingCreditFacilityMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_eb891306-318c-400c-a054-58ece2573ff8" xlink:to="loc_ayi_New2022RevolvingCreditFacilityMember_a111f01c-8da0-46f3-a2c4-37e0b0fc0b75" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_9c588a1a-633c-43eb-9fbf-329fb6aa1f04" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTable_8915f3d0-dcf1-45c3-b132-f7e8cc359086" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_9c588a1a-633c-43eb-9fbf-329fb6aa1f04" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_9c588a1a-633c-43eb-9fbf-329fb6aa1f04_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_9c588a1a-633c-43eb-9fbf-329fb6aa1f04" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_9c588a1a-633c-43eb-9fbf-329fb6aa1f04_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_4cadb4ef-8067-433d-ac35-413787985d1f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_9c588a1a-633c-43eb-9fbf-329fb6aa1f04" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_4cadb4ef-8067-433d-ac35-413787985d1f" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember_b76946a7-f52a-40ed-8924-d0c46f0e472b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_4cadb4ef-8067-433d-ac35-413787985d1f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember_b76946a7-f52a-40ed-8924-d0c46f0e472b" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_StatementScenarioAxis_a1bd880b-db10-4871-9508-65c3db635315" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2022/elts/srt-2022.xsd#srt_StatementScenarioAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTable_8915f3d0-dcf1-45c3-b132-f7e8cc359086" xlink:to="loc_srt_StatementScenarioAxis_a1bd880b-db10-4871-9508-65c3db635315" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ScenarioUnspecifiedDomain_a1bd880b-db10-4871-9508-65c3db635315_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2022/elts/srt-2022.xsd#srt_ScenarioUnspecifiedDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_StatementScenarioAxis_a1bd880b-db10-4871-9508-65c3db635315" xlink:to="loc_srt_ScenarioUnspecifiedDomain_a1bd880b-db10-4871-9508-65c3db635315_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ScenarioUnspecifiedDomain_544d005e-71d5-43fa-b09d-84ae2f9fc6a1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2022/elts/srt-2022.xsd#srt_ScenarioUnspecifiedDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_StatementScenarioAxis_a1bd880b-db10-4871-9508-65c3db635315" xlink:to="loc_srt_ScenarioUnspecifiedDomain_544d005e-71d5-43fa-b09d-84ae2f9fc6a1" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProFormaMember_d6314072-c0f7-469f-a29c-8806a7360ace" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2022/elts/srt-2022.xsd#srt_ProFormaMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ScenarioUnspecifiedDomain_544d005e-71d5-43fa-b09d-84ae2f9fc6a1" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProFormaMember_d6314072-c0f7-469f-a29c-8806a7360ace" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
</link:linkbase>
