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

<!--XBRL Document Created with Wdesk from Workiva-->
<!--Copyright 2022 Workiva-->
<!--r:81eb194e-968f-4d39-a174-4616b2c1d8f2,g:e9f6e560-1eca-45ed-8300-c3bb9a6cde39-->
<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.dovercorporation.com/role/Cover" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="dov-20220721.xsd#Cover"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.dovercorporation.com/role/Cover" xlink:type="extended" id="i02ca4c92b0c14b06b33ade3e408f8cf8_Cover">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_603f1ffc-0ce0-409a-8c77-eea59ec88748" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021q4/dei-2021q4.xsd#dei_EntityInformationLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentType_ba33048f-80a2-467d-87cf-3bf665e77204" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021q4/dei-2021q4.xsd#dei_DocumentType"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_603f1ffc-0ce0-409a-8c77-eea59ec88748" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentType_ba33048f-80a2-467d-87cf-3bf665e77204" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_5623d724-d403-47cc-999a-c0964ec72566" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021q4/dei-2021q4.xsd#dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_603f1ffc-0ce0-409a-8c77-eea59ec88748" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_5623d724-d403-47cc-999a-c0964ec72566" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_529f9a76-d1c6-40d7-8260-7fffde79e08e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021q4/dei-2021q4.xsd#dei_EntityRegistrantName"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_603f1ffc-0ce0-409a-8c77-eea59ec88748" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_529f9a76-d1c6-40d7-8260-7fffde79e08e" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_9020ac0c-8374-4b1e-94fb-c06e0e03c662" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021q4/dei-2021q4.xsd#dei_EntityFileNumber"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_603f1ffc-0ce0-409a-8c77-eea59ec88748" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_9020ac0c-8374-4b1e-94fb-c06e0e03c662" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_0f457cad-5637-4f66-97f2-86ec58761bf2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021q4/dei-2021q4.xsd#dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_603f1ffc-0ce0-409a-8c77-eea59ec88748" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_0f457cad-5637-4f66-97f2-86ec58761bf2" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_2abed642-48fe-45ab-a87a-bb100e967d58" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021q4/dei-2021q4.xsd#dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_603f1ffc-0ce0-409a-8c77-eea59ec88748" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_2abed642-48fe-45ab-a87a-bb100e967d58" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_e8707f01-dfd5-43a4-8898-975b007f02f7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021q4/dei-2021q4.xsd#dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_603f1ffc-0ce0-409a-8c77-eea59ec88748" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_e8707f01-dfd5-43a4-8898-975b007f02f7" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_a654c19a-b395-4ee2-98fe-5f7ee3b3763c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021q4/dei-2021q4.xsd#dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_603f1ffc-0ce0-409a-8c77-eea59ec88748" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_a654c19a-b395-4ee2-98fe-5f7ee3b3763c" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_7d6a5c2f-e4c7-49a1-b1ce-d91b623a2d9e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021q4/dei-2021q4.xsd#dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_603f1ffc-0ce0-409a-8c77-eea59ec88748" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_7d6a5c2f-e4c7-49a1-b1ce-d91b623a2d9e" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_904aea31-024a-4726-b13e-6794cc6e0e12" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021q4/dei-2021q4.xsd#dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_603f1ffc-0ce0-409a-8c77-eea59ec88748" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_904aea31-024a-4726-b13e-6794cc6e0e12" xlink:type="arc" order="9"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_294c3236-fb71-4129-931a-deb2d3cd8295" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021q4/dei-2021q4.xsd#dei_CityAreaCode"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_603f1ffc-0ce0-409a-8c77-eea59ec88748" xlink:to="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_294c3236-fb71-4129-931a-deb2d3cd8295" xlink:type="arc" order="10"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_8cef129e-13ab-4ea3-9c04-93a25007b9dc" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021q4/dei-2021q4.xsd#dei_LocalPhoneNumber"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_603f1ffc-0ce0-409a-8c77-eea59ec88748" xlink:to="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_8cef129e-13ab-4ea3-9c04-93a25007b9dc" xlink:type="arc" order="11"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_41647ea6-f596-4ea1-9e13-11934a386ff8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021q4/dei-2021q4.xsd#dei_WrittenCommunications"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_603f1ffc-0ce0-409a-8c77-eea59ec88748" xlink:to="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_41647ea6-f596-4ea1-9e13-11934a386ff8" xlink:type="arc" order="12"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_f9057c56-230b-4e16-9eb4-13a4827e4734" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021q4/dei-2021q4.xsd#dei_SolicitingMaterial"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_603f1ffc-0ce0-409a-8c77-eea59ec88748" xlink:to="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_f9057c56-230b-4e16-9eb4-13a4827e4734" xlink:type="arc" order="13"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_b40309c7-01c1-4424-81a7-6732b716004d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021q4/dei-2021q4.xsd#dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_603f1ffc-0ce0-409a-8c77-eea59ec88748" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_b40309c7-01c1-4424-81a7-6732b716004d" xlink:type="arc" order="14"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_bb0cc940-14ea-4cf6-bd12-9f41e56312c6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021q4/dei-2021q4.xsd#dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_603f1ffc-0ce0-409a-8c77-eea59ec88748" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_bb0cc940-14ea-4cf6-bd12-9f41e56312c6" xlink:type="arc" order="15"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_9515293a-c75e-496a-b429-53716caa8328" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021q4/dei-2021q4.xsd#dei_Security12bTitle"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_603f1ffc-0ce0-409a-8c77-eea59ec88748" xlink:to="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_9515293a-c75e-496a-b429-53716caa8328" xlink:type="arc" order="16"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_3c9357e6-98c4-460a-9d99-e4f550600254" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021q4/dei-2021q4.xsd#dei_TradingSymbol"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_603f1ffc-0ce0-409a-8c77-eea59ec88748" xlink:to="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_3c9357e6-98c4-460a-9d99-e4f550600254" xlink:type="arc" order="17"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_98f639c3-d492-4de8-a3d8-d9727b0b0fd2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021q4/dei-2021q4.xsd#dei_SecurityExchangeName"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_603f1ffc-0ce0-409a-8c77-eea59ec88748" xlink:to="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_98f639c3-d492-4de8-a3d8-d9727b0b0fd2" xlink:type="arc" order="18"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_cfc6cc10-6829-45c2-a60f-72bd4130bb0e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021q4/dei-2021q4.xsd#dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_603f1ffc-0ce0-409a-8c77-eea59ec88748" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_cfc6cc10-6829-45c2-a60f-72bd4130bb0e" xlink:type="arc" order="19"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_8e1fbf9f-4d20-4ac0-86a1-d1e138aed1c3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021q4/dei-2021q4.xsd#dei_EntityCentralIndexKey"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_603f1ffc-0ce0-409a-8c77-eea59ec88748" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_8e1fbf9f-4d20-4ac0-86a1-d1e138aed1c3" xlink:type="arc" order="20"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_eda065dc-7f09-4f2f-a625-a49531c0edc5" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021q4/dei-2021q4.xsd#dei_AmendmentFlag"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_603f1ffc-0ce0-409a-8c77-eea59ec88748" xlink:to="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_eda065dc-7f09-4f2f-a625-a49531c0edc5" xlink:type="arc" order="21"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntitiesTable_4c3906df-47f4-4e24-b0b1-b693f45c8a89" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021q4/dei-2021q4.xsd#dei_EntitiesTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_603f1ffc-0ce0-409a-8c77-eea59ec88748" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntitiesTable_4c3906df-47f4-4e24-b0b1-b693f45c8a89" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_8ab44522-c0b8-46fa-b27e-d5c16e141ed1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021q4/dei-2021q4.xsd#dei_LegalEntityAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntitiesTable_4c3906df-47f4-4e24-b0b1-b693f45c8a89" xlink:to="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_8ab44522-c0b8-46fa-b27e-d5c16e141ed1" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_8ab44522-c0b8-46fa-b27e-d5c16e141ed1_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021q4/dei-2021q4.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_8ab44522-c0b8-46fa-b27e-d5c16e141ed1" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_8ab44522-c0b8-46fa-b27e-d5c16e141ed1_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_f83cb974-d016-4fef-a725-a91002eb83a5" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021q4/dei-2021q4.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_8ab44522-c0b8-46fa-b27e-d5c16e141ed1" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_f83cb974-d016-4fef-a725-a91002eb83a5" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_1572f60f-041d-41c1-ab96-62e42fd8639a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntitiesTable_4c3906df-47f4-4e24-b0b1-b693f45c8a89" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_1572f60f-041d-41c1-ab96-62e42fd8639a" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_1572f60f-041d-41c1-ab96-62e42fd8639a_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_1572f60f-041d-41c1-ab96-62e42fd8639a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_1572f60f-041d-41c1-ab96-62e42fd8639a_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_16904274-ea26-447b-90d4-9e38370982d9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_1572f60f-041d-41c1-ab96-62e42fd8639a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_16904274-ea26-447b-90d4-9e38370982d9" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dov_A0750NotesDue2027Member_6a49c844-98f9-43f2-8336-a4debfad3cf6" xlink:href="dov-20220721.xsd#dov_A0750NotesDue2027Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_16904274-ea26-447b-90d4-9e38370982d9" xlink:to="loc_dov_A0750NotesDue2027Member_6a49c844-98f9-43f2-8336-a4debfad3cf6" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dov_A1250NotesDue2026Member_60d7418f-2616-49d3-84dd-25aa13989631" xlink:href="dov-20220721.xsd#dov_A1250NotesDue2026Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_16904274-ea26-447b-90d4-9e38370982d9" xlink:to="loc_dov_A1250NotesDue2026Member_60d7418f-2616-49d3-84dd-25aa13989631" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockMember_f850bce6-4c60-40d3-bf33-2f5b70cb794e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_16904274-ea26-447b-90d4-9e38370982d9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockMember_f850bce6-4c60-40d3-bf33-2f5b70cb794e" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
</link:linkbase>
