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

<!--XBRL Document Created with the Workiva Platform-->
<!--Copyright 2024 Workiva-->
<!--r:ca5efe13-5691-4e35-84c5-b3af1d175b48,g:0371159d-00f5-4419-87a0-b1c852e8935c-->
<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.eastgroup.net/role/CONSOLIDATEDBALANCESHEETSUnaudited" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#CONSOLIDATEDBALANCESHEETSUnaudited"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.eastgroup.net/role/CONSOLIDATEDBALANCESHEETSUnaudited" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_a26a63e2-43fd-4f57-866a-b821cd14d4f4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_StatementLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementTable_87ed03b2-9d50-4970-bac2-ff9990f4bdae" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_StatementTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_a26a63e2-43fd-4f57-866a-b821cd14d4f4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementTable_87ed03b2-9d50-4970-bac2-ff9990f4bdae" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AssetsAbstract_0a611ba4-8176-4b38-a7d5-0041ac5d4c0a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_AssetsAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_a26a63e2-43fd-4f57-866a-b821cd14d4f4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AssetsAbstract_0a611ba4-8176-4b38-a7d5-0041ac5d4c0a" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RentalProperties_a8821054-f2bb-4e3b-bc21-3d49a1aee570" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_RentalProperties"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetsAbstract_0a611ba4-8176-4b38-a7d5-0041ac5d4c0a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RentalProperties_a8821054-f2bb-4e3b-bc21-3d49a1aee570" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DevelopmentInProcess_23146838-98bc-4ae0-9be5-5a7ea22e45eb" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_DevelopmentInProcess"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetsAbstract_0a611ba4-8176-4b38-a7d5-0041ac5d4c0a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DevelopmentInProcess_23146838-98bc-4ae0-9be5-5a7ea22e45eb" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RealEstateInvestmentPropertyAtCost_9e0ab4e7-347b-4a47-a923-b7e9b445eee2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_RealEstateInvestmentPropertyAtCost"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetsAbstract_0a611ba4-8176-4b38-a7d5-0041ac5d4c0a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RealEstateInvestmentPropertyAtCost_9e0ab4e7-347b-4a47-a923-b7e9b445eee2" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RealEstateInvestmentPropertyAccumulatedDepreciation_cd5cd967-1674-4482-b561-4f802a49f008" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_RealEstateInvestmentPropertyAccumulatedDepreciation"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetsAbstract_0a611ba4-8176-4b38-a7d5-0041ac5d4c0a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RealEstateInvestmentPropertyAccumulatedDepreciation_cd5cd967-1674-4482-b561-4f802a49f008" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RealEstateInvestmentPropertyNet_d9e7c8f9-2560-4ee5-bc2e-98236378d6fd" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_RealEstateInvestmentPropertyNet"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetsAbstract_0a611ba4-8176-4b38-a7d5-0041ac5d4c0a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RealEstateInvestmentPropertyNet_d9e7c8f9-2560-4ee5-bc2e-98236378d6fd" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments_cdc85817-08b8-486b-ae0b-d35a56de6097" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetsAbstract_0a611ba4-8176-4b38-a7d5-0041ac5d4c0a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments_cdc85817-08b8-486b-ae0b-d35a56de6097" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue_368678f9-465c-41b5-a6c5-440ead19e4ea" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetsAbstract_0a611ba4-8176-4b38-a7d5-0041ac5d4c0a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue_368678f9-465c-41b5-a6c5-440ead19e4ea" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherAssets_756ffdba-d25a-4037-8d35-a8d23b893bae" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_OtherAssets"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetsAbstract_0a611ba4-8176-4b38-a7d5-0041ac5d4c0a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherAssets_756ffdba-d25a-4037-8d35-a8d23b893bae" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_Assets_295d18eb-2877-47cd-b1b9-de9fcf8f5ab7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_Assets"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetsAbstract_0a611ba4-8176-4b38-a7d5-0041ac5d4c0a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_Assets_295d18eb-2877-47cd-b1b9-de9fcf8f5ab7" xlink:type="arc" order="9"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquityAbstract_46e70ba7-ff34-4abf-a822-2125b073a3bd" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquityAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_a26a63e2-43fd-4f57-866a-b821cd14d4f4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquityAbstract_46e70ba7-ff34-4abf-a822-2125b073a3bd" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LiabilitiesAbstract_68a79b0f-30d8-4d60-b9f9-4d53fa88947f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_LiabilitiesAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquityAbstract_46e70ba7-ff34-4abf-a822-2125b073a3bd" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LiabilitiesAbstract_68a79b0f-30d8-4d60-b9f9-4d53fa88947f" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCredit_a2ea6d1b-b8dc-47b2-a70a-b32a44e23364" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCredit"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LiabilitiesAbstract_68a79b0f-30d8-4d60-b9f9-4d53fa88947f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCredit_a2ea6d1b-b8dc-47b2-a70a-b32a44e23364" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_UnsecuredDebt_1a760c3b-b044-458b-b3ca-37a801627e98" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_UnsecuredDebt"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LiabilitiesAbstract_68a79b0f-30d8-4d60-b9f9-4d53fa88947f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_UnsecuredDebt_1a760c3b-b044-458b-b3ca-37a801627e98" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilitiesCurrentAndNoncurrent_271bf0f9-9dd4-411f-8aef-21316934533a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_AccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilitiesCurrentAndNoncurrent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LiabilitiesAbstract_68a79b0f-30d8-4d60-b9f9-4d53fa88947f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilitiesCurrentAndNoncurrent_271bf0f9-9dd4-411f-8aef-21316934533a" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherLiabilities_f63ff9a9-5dca-42d2-9fac-811d9ae66ece" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_OtherLiabilities"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LiabilitiesAbstract_68a79b0f-30d8-4d60-b9f9-4d53fa88947f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherLiabilities_f63ff9a9-5dca-42d2-9fac-811d9ae66ece" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_Liabilities_5d8a478f-bc41-47b8-8fee-5b2a5e08aa7b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_Liabilities"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LiabilitiesAbstract_68a79b0f-30d8-4d60-b9f9-4d53fa88947f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_Liabilities_5d8a478f-bc41-47b8-8fee-5b2a5e08aa7b" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterestAbstract_fc1f0afb-82a4-4d75-a1f1-47164b2c9a8e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterestAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_a26a63e2-43fd-4f57-866a-b821cd14d4f4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterestAbstract_fc1f0afb-82a4-4d75-a1f1-47164b2c9a8e" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquityAbstract_7bb85594-ea73-4cde-9b39-b0d03184b271" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_StockholdersEquityAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterestAbstract_fc1f0afb-82a4-4d75-a1f1-47164b2c9a8e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquityAbstract_7bb85594-ea73-4cde-9b39-b0d03184b271" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockValue_734ba053-2c07-4c12-b195-5e55ad2d8117" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquityAbstract_7bb85594-ea73-4cde-9b39-b0d03184b271" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockValue_734ba053-2c07-4c12-b195-5e55ad2d8117" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockOtherValueOutstanding_b5037745-d2cf-485e-9620-710a9fb39ee3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockOtherValueOutstanding"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquityAbstract_7bb85594-ea73-4cde-9b39-b0d03184b271" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockOtherValueOutstanding_b5037745-d2cf-485e-9620-710a9fb39ee3" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalCommonStock_1fb1ebca-f545-430f-b959-62146cb43405" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalCommonStock"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquityAbstract_7bb85594-ea73-4cde-9b39-b0d03184b271" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalCommonStock_1fb1ebca-f545-430f-b959-62146cb43405" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedDistributionsInExcessOfNetIncome_97af4a11-44ec-4bb7-87b5-3ab2ed382773" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_AccumulatedDistributionsInExcessOfNetIncome"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquityAbstract_7bb85594-ea73-4cde-9b39-b0d03184b271" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedDistributionsInExcessOfNetIncome_97af4a11-44ec-4bb7-87b5-3ab2ed382773" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax_16241054-8fa3-47a4-a4e8-0d1b07bb9882" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquityAbstract_7bb85594-ea73-4cde-9b39-b0d03184b271" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax_16241054-8fa3-47a4-a4e8-0d1b07bb9882" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquity_e5f4f489-faa7-45a0-bca4-ad827df2abf9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_StockholdersEquity"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquityAbstract_7bb85594-ea73-4cde-9b39-b0d03184b271" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquity_e5f4f489-faa7-45a0-bca4-ad827df2abf9" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_MinorityInterest_357dcc79-fede-4eca-801b-20f9031670ea" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_MinorityInterest"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquityAbstract_7bb85594-ea73-4cde-9b39-b0d03184b271" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_MinorityInterest_357dcc79-fede-4eca-801b-20f9031670ea" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest_06a94dc5-e459-4eed-b40e-b01de75558cb" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquityAbstract_7bb85594-ea73-4cde-9b39-b0d03184b271" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest_06a94dc5-e459-4eed-b40e-b01de75558cb" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity_69f31335-78c2-4947-953e-a4494ef9dbf1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterestAbstract_fc1f0afb-82a4-4d75-a1f1-47164b2c9a8e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity_69f31335-78c2-4947-953e-a4494ef9dbf1" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BalanceSheetRelatedDisclosuresAbstract_18c3c9bc-e0bc-4be2-8255-50e5ee80eef7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_BalanceSheetRelatedDisclosuresAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_a26a63e2-43fd-4f57-866a-b821cd14d4f4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BalanceSheetRelatedDisclosuresAbstract_18c3c9bc-e0bc-4be2-8255-50e5ee80eef7" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare_ae329c84-f6d8-4735-b758-f3884bf38d57" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BalanceSheetRelatedDisclosuresAbstract_18c3c9bc-e0bc-4be2-8255-50e5ee80eef7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare_ae329c84-f6d8-4735-b758-f3884bf38d57" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockSharesAuthorized_97c9a69c-f35c-4c4d-bb35-03d4d4f78e8d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockSharesAuthorized"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BalanceSheetRelatedDisclosuresAbstract_18c3c9bc-e0bc-4be2-8255-50e5ee80eef7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockSharesAuthorized_97c9a69c-f35c-4c4d-bb35-03d4d4f78e8d" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued_9711f4b6-5b0e-4120-9853-b1f1f04eb233" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BalanceSheetRelatedDisclosuresAbstract_18c3c9bc-e0bc-4be2-8255-50e5ee80eef7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued_9711f4b6-5b0e-4120-9853-b1f1f04eb233" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding_c9c7b775-7446-446a-b2a0-32be76a5725c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BalanceSheetRelatedDisclosuresAbstract_18c3c9bc-e0bc-4be2-8255-50e5ee80eef7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding_c9c7b775-7446-446a-b2a0-32be76a5725c" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_ExcessSharesParValue_26d273d0-035a-4adf-ac41-aeb25d120803" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_ExcessSharesParValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BalanceSheetRelatedDisclosuresAbstract_18c3c9bc-e0bc-4be2-8255-50e5ee80eef7" xlink:to="loc_egp_ExcessSharesParValue_26d273d0-035a-4adf-ac41-aeb25d120803" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ExcessStockSharesAuthorized_5c06a80d-5fa3-49df-b3e9-b5d193b4d49a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_ExcessStockSharesAuthorized"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BalanceSheetRelatedDisclosuresAbstract_18c3c9bc-e0bc-4be2-8255-50e5ee80eef7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ExcessStockSharesAuthorized_5c06a80d-5fa3-49df-b3e9-b5d193b4d49a" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ExcessStockSharesIssued_e24b87d8-5005-41ed-a158-e7b9e3b9994b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_ExcessStockSharesIssued"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BalanceSheetRelatedDisclosuresAbstract_18c3c9bc-e0bc-4be2-8255-50e5ee80eef7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ExcessStockSharesIssued_e24b87d8-5005-41ed-a158-e7b9e3b9994b" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.eastgroup.net/role/CONSOLIDATEDSTATEMENTSOFCHANGESINEQUITYUnaudited" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#CONSOLIDATEDSTATEMENTSOFCHANGESINEQUITYUnaudited"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.eastgroup.net/role/CONSOLIDATEDSTATEMENTSOFCHANGESINEQUITYUnaudited" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_396585b5-0594-4335-8e3d-235aaec4433b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_StatementLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementTable_344ee4d7-f041-4fe0-8531-cd776e6c81db" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_StatementTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_396585b5-0594-4335-8e3d-235aaec4433b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementTable_344ee4d7-f041-4fe0-8531-cd776e6c81db" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_f5aeec6f-31ab-488b-918b-29c14a81f76d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementTable_344ee4d7-f041-4fe0-8531-cd776e6c81db" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_f5aeec6f-31ab-488b-918b-29c14a81f76d" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_f5aeec6f-31ab-488b-918b-29c14a81f76d_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_f5aeec6f-31ab-488b-918b-29c14a81f76d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_f5aeec6f-31ab-488b-918b-29c14a81f76d_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_5f75c06e-c0da-4f86-951a-a489d656b1b5" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_f5aeec6f-31ab-488b-918b-29c14a81f76d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_5f75c06e-c0da-4f86-951a-a489d656b1b5" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockMember_71be7ec0-e512-47c9-8357-8b4a26446d0f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_5f75c06e-c0da-4f86-951a-a489d656b1b5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockMember_71be7ec0-e512-47c9-8357-8b4a26446d0f" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember_dd33458d-7828-4cbc-bc81-17cc651baa47" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_5f75c06e-c0da-4f86-951a-a489d656b1b5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember_dd33458d-7828-4cbc-bc81-17cc651baa47" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedDistributionsInExcessOfNetIncomeMember_0595b0c2-d89d-49df-a10b-c3396ed42637" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_AccumulatedDistributionsInExcessOfNetIncomeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_5f75c06e-c0da-4f86-951a-a489d656b1b5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedDistributionsInExcessOfNetIncomeMember_0595b0c2-d89d-49df-a10b-c3396ed42637" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember_d3ed76e6-4415-40d4-8bbb-1e4c138c6898" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_5f75c06e-c0da-4f86-951a-a489d656b1b5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember_d3ed76e6-4415-40d4-8bbb-1e4c138c6898" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NoncontrollingInterestMember_645fe970-8a00-4d63-9c00-936559557cd4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_NoncontrollingInterestMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_5f75c06e-c0da-4f86-951a-a489d656b1b5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NoncontrollingInterestMember_645fe970-8a00-4d63-9c00-936559557cd4" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_72ccad70-550d-4f85-a65e-c9cc84b1e080" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_396585b5-0594-4335-8e3d-235aaec4433b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_72ccad70-550d-4f85-a65e-c9cc84b1e080" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest_e44c4398-ad9c-4dd7-9721-593430e502f5" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_72ccad70-550d-4f85-a65e-c9cc84b1e080" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest_e44c4398-ad9c-4dd7-9721-593430e502f5" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ProfitLoss_023395e0-0587-47c3-a0ae-7d431e32c278" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_ProfitLoss"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_72ccad70-550d-4f85-a65e-c9cc84b1e080" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ProfitLoss_023395e0-0587-47c3-a0ae-7d431e32c278" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AociCashFlowHedgeReferenceRateReformIncreaseDecreaseAfterTax_8b1a0373-c5bd-4ad0-8cd4-2a9a4f7c044d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_AociCashFlowHedgeReferenceRateReformIncreaseDecreaseAfterTax"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_72ccad70-550d-4f85-a65e-c9cc84b1e080" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AociCashFlowHedgeReferenceRateReformIncreaseDecreaseAfterTax_8b1a0373-c5bd-4ad0-8cd4-2a9a4f7c044d" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DividendsCommonStockCash_693af08f-5fdc-4f99-8870-5b68b7d16829" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_DividendsCommonStockCash"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_72ccad70-550d-4f85-a65e-c9cc84b1e080" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DividendsCommonStockCash_693af08f-5fdc-4f99-8870-5b68b7d16829" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockGrantedDuringPeriodValueSharebasedCompensation_7995db4f-2915-4699-afd4-18b7ca877db6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_StockGrantedDuringPeriodValueSharebasedCompensation"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_72ccad70-550d-4f85-a65e-c9cc84b1e080" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockGrantedDuringPeriodValueSharebasedCompensation_7995db4f-2915-4699-afd4-18b7ca877db6" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueNewIssues_e3284333-4a5c-4432-82e2-76b62f5cd91f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueNewIssues"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_72ccad70-550d-4f85-a65e-c9cc84b1e080" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueNewIssues_e3284333-4a5c-4432-82e2-76b62f5cd91f" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AdjustmentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation_60a85e0e-f73e-4540-873c-4a2e31da460a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_AdjustmentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_72ccad70-550d-4f85-a65e-c9cc84b1e080" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AdjustmentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation_60a85e0e-f73e-4540-873c-4a2e31da460a" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockGrantedDuringPeriodValueSharebasedCompensationForfeited_864d5ad0-6552-4cf5-90d1-118f13bd053e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_StockGrantedDuringPeriodValueSharebasedCompensationForfeited"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_72ccad70-550d-4f85-a65e-c9cc84b1e080" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockGrantedDuringPeriodValueSharebasedCompensationForfeited_864d5ad0-6552-4cf5-90d1-118f13bd053e" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_MinorityInterestDecreaseFromDistributionsToNoncontrollingInterestHolders_eae1049e-726d-4000-8bd3-609c88d5519d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_MinorityInterestDecreaseFromDistributionsToNoncontrollingInterestHolders"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_72ccad70-550d-4f85-a65e-c9cc84b1e080" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_MinorityInterestDecreaseFromDistributionsToNoncontrollingInterestHolders_eae1049e-726d-4000-8bd3-609c88d5519d" xlink:type="arc" order="9"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NoncontrollingInterestIncreaseFromBusinessCombination_deaf235c-8cdd-4080-b8c3-a262db636bd3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_NoncontrollingInterestIncreaseFromBusinessCombination"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_72ccad70-550d-4f85-a65e-c9cc84b1e080" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NoncontrollingInterestIncreaseFromBusinessCombination_deaf235c-8cdd-4080-b8c3-a262db636bd3" xlink:type="arc" order="10"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest_d40287a2-3351-415c-9727-5811cc07e357" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared_9387b894-273e-410c-8fb3-38daf28b57de" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_396585b5-0594-4335-8e3d-235aaec4433b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared_9387b894-273e-410c-8fb3-38daf28b57de" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesNewIssues_f6e563ef-627f-46b0-b24e-2505446c751a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesNewIssues"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_396585b5-0594-4335-8e3d-235aaec4433b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesNewIssues_f6e563ef-627f-46b0-b24e-2505446c751a" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SharesPaidForTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation_12e789fd-e53b-421d-9327-c87a32a4b7b0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_SharesPaidForTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_396585b5-0594-4335-8e3d-235aaec4433b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SharesPaidForTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation_12e789fd-e53b-421d-9327-c87a32a4b7b0" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensation_65638c64-94e1-4dfb-85d7-aa8dd1b69897" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensation"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_396585b5-0594-4335-8e3d-235aaec4433b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensation_65638c64-94e1-4dfb-85d7-aa8dd1b69897" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.eastgroup.net/role/PRINCIPLESOFCONSOLIDATIONDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#PRINCIPLESOFCONSOLIDATIONDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.eastgroup.net/role/PRINCIPLESOFCONSOLIDATIONDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SubsidiaryOrEquityMethodInvesteeLineItems_6754acc1-561c-4598-b763-aeafea58c4ab" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_SubsidiaryOrEquityMethodInvesteeLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSubsidiaryOrEquityMethodInvesteeTable_82e22ec7-dd45-4468-8369-bac275f893f1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfSubsidiaryOrEquityMethodInvesteeTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SubsidiaryOrEquityMethodInvesteeLineItems_6754acc1-561c-4598-b763-aeafea58c4ab" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSubsidiaryOrEquityMethodInvesteeTable_82e22ec7-dd45-4468-8369-bac275f893f1" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis_11c7550d-b862-4c6b-bafc-e6947ad5a406" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2023/elts/srt-2023.xsd#srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSubsidiaryOrEquityMethodInvesteeTable_82e22ec7-dd45-4468-8369-bac275f893f1" xlink:to="loc_srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis_11c7550d-b862-4c6b-bafc-e6947ad5a406" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_EquityMethodInvesteeNameDomain_11c7550d-b862-4c6b-bafc-e6947ad5a406_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2023/elts/srt-2023.xsd#srt_EquityMethodInvesteeNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis_11c7550d-b862-4c6b-bafc-e6947ad5a406" xlink:to="loc_srt_EquityMethodInvesteeNameDomain_11c7550d-b862-4c6b-bafc-e6947ad5a406_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_EquityMethodInvesteeNameDomain_ecb66b8f-59e5-42ae-83a5-21828e24573d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2023/elts/srt-2023.xsd#srt_EquityMethodInvesteeNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis_11c7550d-b862-4c6b-bafc-e6947ad5a406" xlink:to="loc_srt_EquityMethodInvesteeNameDomain_ecb66b8f-59e5-42ae-83a5-21828e24573d" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_IndustryDistributionCenterIiUndividedTenantMember_0d9a1378-9303-4239-b576-fe8599da9fb5" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_IndustryDistributionCenterIiUndividedTenantMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_EquityMethodInvesteeNameDomain_ecb66b8f-59e5-42ae-83a5-21828e24573d" xlink:to="loc_egp_IndustryDistributionCenterIiUndividedTenantMember_0d9a1378-9303-4239-b576-fe8599da9fb5" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_OwnershipAxis_dc3f8365-745d-4fb4-959f-31560a71d06f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2023/elts/srt-2023.xsd#srt_OwnershipAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSubsidiaryOrEquityMethodInvesteeTable_82e22ec7-dd45-4468-8369-bac275f893f1" xlink:to="loc_srt_OwnershipAxis_dc3f8365-745d-4fb4-959f-31560a71d06f" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_OwnershipDomain_dc3f8365-745d-4fb4-959f-31560a71d06f_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2023/elts/srt-2023.xsd#srt_OwnershipDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_OwnershipAxis_dc3f8365-745d-4fb4-959f-31560a71d06f" xlink:to="loc_srt_OwnershipDomain_dc3f8365-745d-4fb4-959f-31560a71d06f_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_OwnershipDomain_8e3bb25b-8d7a-4555-9037-641b7d8de984" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2023/elts/srt-2023.xsd#srt_OwnershipDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_OwnershipAxis_dc3f8365-745d-4fb4-959f-31560a71d06f" xlink:to="loc_srt_OwnershipDomain_8e3bb25b-8d7a-4555-9037-641b7d8de984" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_MiramarLandMember_648172d8-a19d-4c5d-a90e-bb376a895644" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_MiramarLandMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_OwnershipDomain_8e3bb25b-8d7a-4555-9037-641b7d8de984" xlink:to="loc_egp_MiramarLandMember_648172d8-a19d-4c5d-a90e-bb376a895644" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_Arista36BusinessParkLandMember_1254cdec-6218-4273-b960-db18b0855302" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_Arista36BusinessParkLandMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_OwnershipDomain_8e3bb25b-8d7a-4555-9037-641b7d8de984" xlink:to="loc_egp_Arista36BusinessParkLandMember_1254cdec-6218-4273-b960-db18b0855302" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_SpeedDistributionCenterMember_871edce9-b059-4b68-9594-ea4e8ccd62db" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_SpeedDistributionCenterMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_OwnershipDomain_8e3bb25b-8d7a-4555-9037-641b7d8de984" xlink:to="loc_egp_SpeedDistributionCenterMember_871edce9-b059-4b68-9594-ea4e8ccd62db" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AreaOfLand_693d50da-05c9-4cb6-955c-d8a40322d006" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_AreaOfLand"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SubsidiaryOrEquityMethodInvesteeLineItems_6754acc1-561c-4598-b763-aeafea58c4ab" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AreaOfLand_693d50da-05c9-4cb6-955c-d8a40322d006" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage_54033466-cd8e-4663-8d79-81e15cf3c999" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SubsidiaryOrEquityMethodInvesteeLineItems_6754acc1-561c-4598-b763-aeafea58c4ab" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage_54033466-cd8e-4663-8d79-81e15cf3c999" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AreaOfRealEstateProperty_c8834eac-83fb-4f12-a879-91b97a227c3e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_AreaOfRealEstateProperty"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SubsidiaryOrEquityMethodInvesteeLineItems_6754acc1-561c-4598-b763-aeafea58c4ab" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AreaOfRealEstateProperty_c8834eac-83fb-4f12-a879-91b97a227c3e" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByNoncontrollingOwners_8705c170-5993-4797-ba8f-a23854ed4878" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByNoncontrollingOwners"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SubsidiaryOrEquityMethodInvesteeLineItems_6754acc1-561c-4598-b763-aeafea58c4ab" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByNoncontrollingOwners_8705c170-5993-4797-ba8f-a23854ed4878" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByParent_518adee1-5fc5-4629-975f-3ad5f07ff655" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByParent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SubsidiaryOrEquityMethodInvesteeLineItems_6754acc1-561c-4598-b763-aeafea58c4ab" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByParent_518adee1-5fc5-4629-975f-3ad5f07ff655" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.eastgroup.net/role/REALESTATEPROPERTIESDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#REALESTATEPROPERTIESDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.eastgroup.net/role/REALESTATEPROPERTIESDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RealEstatePropertiesLineItems_d16b653c-65ce-4e33-b4bf-abcafbed8352" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_RealEstatePropertiesLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfRealEstatePropertiesTable_50d3dd8e-d3da-4b5a-be4f-ae77ed96b974" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfRealEstatePropertiesTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RealEstatePropertiesLineItems_d16b653c-65ce-4e33-b4bf-abcafbed8352" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfRealEstatePropertiesTable_50d3dd8e-d3da-4b5a-be4f-ae77ed96b974" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeAxis_cd7763be-9037-4c4f-a4d8-7827769bdc49" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2023/elts/srt-2023.xsd#srt_RangeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfRealEstatePropertiesTable_50d3dd8e-d3da-4b5a-be4f-ae77ed96b974" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeAxis_cd7763be-9037-4c4f-a4d8-7827769bdc49" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeMember_cd7763be-9037-4c4f-a4d8-7827769bdc49_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2023/elts/srt-2023.xsd#srt_RangeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeAxis_cd7763be-9037-4c4f-a4d8-7827769bdc49" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeMember_cd7763be-9037-4c4f-a4d8-7827769bdc49_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeMember_4a3f9cdf-f6ec-457e-989a-06a9582c071a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2023/elts/srt-2023.xsd#srt_RangeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeAxis_cd7763be-9037-4c4f-a4d8-7827769bdc49" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeMember_4a3f9cdf-f6ec-457e-989a-06a9582c071a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_MinimumMember_8004f847-0b01-463a-949f-ecd56ba02ac3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2023/elts/srt-2023.xsd#srt_MinimumMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeMember_4a3f9cdf-f6ec-457e-989a-06a9582c071a" xlink:to="loc_srt_MinimumMember_8004f847-0b01-463a-949f-ecd56ba02ac3" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_MaximumMember_442a3ddc-0f0a-4ca6-93e0-2f6c58019af0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2023/elts/srt-2023.xsd#srt_MaximumMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeMember_4a3f9cdf-f6ec-457e-989a-06a9582c071a" xlink:to="loc_srt_MaximumMember_442a3ddc-0f0a-4ca6-93e0-2f6c58019af0" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis_9c381d20-f4d2-49e0-9451-8fb5fb98efcc" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfRealEstatePropertiesTable_50d3dd8e-d3da-4b5a-be4f-ae77ed96b974" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis_9c381d20-f4d2-49e0-9451-8fb5fb98efcc" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain_9c381d20-f4d2-49e0-9451-8fb5fb98efcc_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis_9c381d20-f4d2-49e0-9451-8fb5fb98efcc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain_9c381d20-f4d2-49e0-9451-8fb5fb98efcc_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain_22bee9a7-b845-45d4-9be3-e00025f6d3dc" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis_9c381d20-f4d2-49e0-9451-8fb5fb98efcc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain_22bee9a7-b845-45d4-9be3-e00025f6d3dc" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BuildingMember_23efa7aa-9586-4c05-b3c3-3dbd973e8970" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_BuildingMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain_22bee9a7-b845-45d4-9be3-e00025f6d3dc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BuildingMember_23efa7aa-9586-4c05-b3c3-3dbd973e8970" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BuildingAndBuildingImprovementsMember_2f2db2c2-f94a-4276-b8b7-eb5df9b8b236" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_BuildingAndBuildingImprovementsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain_22bee9a7-b845-45d4-9be3-e00025f6d3dc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BuildingAndBuildingImprovementsMember_2f2db2c2-f94a-4276-b8b7-eb5df9b8b236" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NumberOfReportingUnits_26a3ae74-c7d0-4776-bbee-ae0624e15c19" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_NumberOfReportingUnits"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RealEstatePropertiesLineItems_d16b653c-65ce-4e33-b4bf-abcafbed8352" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NumberOfReportingUnits_26a3ae74-c7d0-4776-bbee-ae0624e15c19" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentUsefulLife_b58a2c82-3a26-4065-ad52-acd2b6d75886" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentUsefulLife"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RealEstatePropertiesLineItems_d16b653c-65ce-4e33-b4bf-abcafbed8352" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentUsefulLife_b58a2c82-3a26-4065-ad52-acd2b6d75886" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_Depreciation_1ed72856-136a-4b72-9729-0ad8f09d248d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_Depreciation"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RealEstatePropertiesLineItems_d16b653c-65ce-4e33-b4bf-abcafbed8352" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_Depreciation_1ed72856-136a-4b72-9729-0ad8f09d248d" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RealEstateInvestmentsAbstract_8bad0967-af2c-4335-bc51-06902a5d2474" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_RealEstateInvestmentsAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RealEstatePropertiesLineItems_d16b653c-65ce-4e33-b4bf-abcafbed8352" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RealEstateInvestmentsAbstract_8bad0967-af2c-4335-bc51-06902a5d2474" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_Land_6bf2e3ee-f4c6-44b8-b70a-58d25e199900" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_Land"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RealEstateInvestmentsAbstract_8bad0967-af2c-4335-bc51-06902a5d2474" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_Land_6bf2e3ee-f4c6-44b8-b70a-58d25e199900" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BuildingsAndImprovementsGross_b0885f66-4067-46fb-a7a4-52ca89b434cf" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_BuildingsAndImprovementsGross"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RealEstateInvestmentsAbstract_8bad0967-af2c-4335-bc51-06902a5d2474" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BuildingsAndImprovementsGross_b0885f66-4067-46fb-a7a4-52ca89b434cf" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_TenantImprovements_30e0e525-73cc-4809-8ad3-a9367742089d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_TenantImprovements"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RealEstateInvestmentsAbstract_8bad0967-af2c-4335-bc51-06902a5d2474" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_TenantImprovements_30e0e525-73cc-4809-8ad3-a9367742089d" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OperatingLeaseRightOfUseAsset_639178da-89f7-4380-9ce7-7833a4985dc4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_OperatingLeaseRightOfUseAsset"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RealEstateInvestmentsAbstract_8bad0967-af2c-4335-bc51-06902a5d2474" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OperatingLeaseRightOfUseAsset_639178da-89f7-4380-9ce7-7833a4985dc4" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DevelopmentInProcess_06ffd58a-2985-4973-96d5-81151b3ff263" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_DevelopmentInProcess"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RealEstateInvestmentsAbstract_8bad0967-af2c-4335-bc51-06902a5d2474" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DevelopmentInProcess_06ffd58a-2985-4973-96d5-81151b3ff263" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RealEstateInvestmentPropertyAtCost_0ee0106c-1a88-4f09-9787-40e7cda55118" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_RealEstateInvestmentPropertyAtCost"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RealEstateInvestmentsAbstract_8bad0967-af2c-4335-bc51-06902a5d2474" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RealEstateInvestmentPropertyAtCost_0ee0106c-1a88-4f09-9787-40e7cda55118" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RealEstateInvestmentPropertyAccumulatedDepreciation_faa8f7c2-cdbf-438a-a078-d9b1c6883cd8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_RealEstateInvestmentPropertyAccumulatedDepreciation"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RealEstateInvestmentsAbstract_8bad0967-af2c-4335-bc51-06902a5d2474" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RealEstateInvestmentPropertyAccumulatedDepreciation_faa8f7c2-cdbf-438a-a078-d9b1c6883cd8" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RealEstateInvestmentPropertyNet_dc6d97d0-75fa-47bf-833b-a713ed3eee0c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_RealEstateInvestmentPropertyNet"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RealEstateInvestmentsAbstract_8bad0967-af2c-4335-bc51-06902a5d2474" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RealEstateInvestmentPropertyNet_dc6d97d0-75fa-47bf-833b-a713ed3eee0c" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.eastgroup.net/role/REALESTATEPROPERTYACQUISITIONSANDACQUIREDINTANGIBLESDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#REALESTATEPROPERTYACQUISITIONSANDACQUIREDINTANGIBLESDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.eastgroup.net/role/REALESTATEPROPERTYACQUISITIONSANDACQUIREDINTANGIBLESDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionLineItems_85c2be2e-37c6-4633-acb9-799c6a7f9d30" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionTable_7bb31c40-4dbc-4a15-8705-b4691cf8108b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionLineItems_85c2be2e-37c6-4633-acb9-799c6a7f9d30" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionTable_7bb31c40-4dbc-4a15-8705-b4691cf8108b" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionAxis_b6aae0b6-e92f-46c2-aeb3-f5405737652a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionTable_7bb31c40-4dbc-4a15-8705-b4691cf8108b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionAxis_b6aae0b6-e92f-46c2-aeb3-f5405737652a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionDomain_b6aae0b6-e92f-46c2-aeb3-f5405737652a_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionAxis_b6aae0b6-e92f-46c2-aeb3-f5405737652a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionDomain_b6aae0b6-e92f-46c2-aeb3-f5405737652a_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionDomain_873e7212-c307-4f03-ab6d-3e9b6d64c332" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionAxis_b6aae0b6-e92f-46c2-aeb3-f5405737652a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionDomain_873e7212-c307-4f03-ab6d-3e9b6d64c332" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_A2024AcquisitionsMember_19609edb-10e4-488b-9cec-c00e4ce76715" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_A2024AcquisitionsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionDomain_873e7212-c307-4f03-ab6d-3e9b6d64c332" xlink:to="loc_egp_A2024AcquisitionsMember_19609edb-10e4-488b-9cec-c00e4ce76715" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_A2024OperatingPropertyAcquisitionsMember_b9a5e79c-1bca-4c1f-b902-b5e78b02c1f0" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_A2024OperatingPropertyAcquisitionsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionDomain_873e7212-c307-4f03-ab6d-3e9b6d64c332" xlink:to="loc_egp_A2024OperatingPropertyAcquisitionsMember_b9a5e79c-1bca-4c1f-b902-b5e78b02c1f0" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_A2024DevelopmentLandAcquisitionsMember_17ee27ca-c884-4018-ae8b-102a773d0fdc" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_A2024DevelopmentLandAcquisitionsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionDomain_873e7212-c307-4f03-ab6d-3e9b6d64c332" xlink:to="loc_egp_A2024DevelopmentLandAcquisitionsMember_17ee27ca-c884-4018-ae8b-102a773d0fdc" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_A2023AcquisitionsMember_ed7d256d-6203-4241-b9fa-cb0f40c78f6a" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_A2023AcquisitionsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionDomain_873e7212-c307-4f03-ab6d-3e9b6d64c332" xlink:to="loc_egp_A2023AcquisitionsMember_ed7d256d-6203-4241-b9fa-cb0f40c78f6a" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_A2023OperatingPropertyAcquisitionsMember_8a5eca3c-1570-4c1f-addb-f8ede1c356ca" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_A2023OperatingPropertyAcquisitionsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionDomain_873e7212-c307-4f03-ab6d-3e9b6d64c332" xlink:to="loc_egp_A2023OperatingPropertyAcquisitionsMember_8a5eca3c-1570-4c1f-addb-f8ede1c356ca" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_A2023DevelopmentLandAcquisitionsMember_cd7ff946-9bfe-4dbe-aadb-2fb6636e94a0" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_A2023DevelopmentLandAcquisitionsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionDomain_873e7212-c307-4f03-ab6d-3e9b6d64c332" xlink:to="loc_egp_A2023DevelopmentLandAcquisitionsMember_cd7ff946-9bfe-4dbe-aadb-2fb6636e94a0" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis_2b3e6640-dd46-4a00-a084-103373199fd7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionTable_7bb31c40-4dbc-4a15-8705-b4691cf8108b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis_2b3e6640-dd46-4a00-a084-103373199fd7" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain_2b3e6640-dd46-4a00-a084-103373199fd7_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis_2b3e6640-dd46-4a00-a084-103373199fd7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain_2b3e6640-dd46-4a00-a084-103373199fd7_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain_53daab47-3ac8-48ab-8fee-1a85cb3cf028" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis_2b3e6640-dd46-4a00-a084-103373199fd7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain_53daab47-3ac8-48ab-8fee-1a85cb3cf028" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LeasesAcquiredInPlaceMarketAdjustmentMember_6f807b7b-a40c-47bf-849a-0b9ec26c4666" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_LeasesAcquiredInPlaceMarketAdjustmentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain_53daab47-3ac8-48ab-8fee-1a85cb3cf028" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LeasesAcquiredInPlaceMarketAdjustmentMember_6f807b7b-a40c-47bf-849a-0b9ec26c4666" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis_5d9e440c-d243-4a86-bed2-05764d4e8b98" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2023/elts/srt-2023.xsd#srt_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionTable_7bb31c40-4dbc-4a15-8705-b4691cf8108b" xlink:to="loc_srt_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis_5d9e440c-d243-4a86-bed2-05764d4e8b98" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationNameOfPropertyDomain_5d9e440c-d243-4a86-bed2-05764d4e8b98_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2023/elts/srt-2023.xsd#srt_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationNameOfPropertyDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis_5d9e440c-d243-4a86-bed2-05764d4e8b98" xlink:to="loc_srt_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationNameOfPropertyDomain_5d9e440c-d243-4a86-bed2-05764d4e8b98_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationNameOfPropertyDomain_be39b075-02ea-4ca9-bdfc-bece59c3ce9f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2023/elts/srt-2023.xsd#srt_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationNameOfPropertyDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis_5d9e440c-d243-4a86-bed2-05764d4e8b98" xlink:to="loc_srt_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationNameOfPropertyDomain_be39b075-02ea-4ca9-bdfc-bece59c3ce9f" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_SpanishRidgeIndustrialParkMember_23953099-7518-4b29-8056-f30e63def86d" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_SpanishRidgeIndustrialParkMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationNameOfPropertyDomain_be39b075-02ea-4ca9-bdfc-bece59c3ce9f" xlink:to="loc_egp_SpanishRidgeIndustrialParkMember_23953099-7518-4b29-8056-f30e63def86d" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_CraigCorporateCenterMember_a2fd52dd-b280-484e-867b-c22a03802e9c" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_CraigCorporateCenterMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationNameOfPropertyDomain_be39b075-02ea-4ca9-bdfc-bece59c3ce9f" xlink:to="loc_egp_CraigCorporateCenterMember_a2fd52dd-b280-484e-867b-c22a03802e9c" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_BlueDiamondBusinessParkMember_37148eff-ecb7-4b84-bb57-1676ebcf218e" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_BlueDiamondBusinessParkMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationNameOfPropertyDomain_be39b075-02ea-4ca9-bdfc-bece59c3ce9f" xlink:to="loc_egp_BlueDiamondBusinessParkMember_37148eff-ecb7-4b84-bb57-1676ebcf218e" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_McKinneyLogisticsCenterMember_91f4bfbb-5883-40e9-859b-a427aaa7ded8" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_McKinneyLogisticsCenterMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationNameOfPropertyDomain_be39b075-02ea-4ca9-bdfc-bece59c3ce9f" xlink:to="loc_egp_McKinneyLogisticsCenterMember_91f4bfbb-5883-40e9-859b-a427aaa7ded8" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_ParkAtMyattMember_b6fdec94-f22a-44d1-8182-be35e4bf94f9" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_ParkAtMyattMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationNameOfPropertyDomain_be39b075-02ea-4ca9-bdfc-bece59c3ce9f" xlink:to="loc_egp_ParkAtMyattMember_b6fdec94-f22a-44d1-8182-be35e4bf94f9" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_PelzerPointCommerceCenter1Member_28777bcc-5022-4f13-aaf7-608b81e32c84" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_PelzerPointCommerceCenter1Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationNameOfPropertyDomain_be39b075-02ea-4ca9-bdfc-bece59c3ce9f" xlink:to="loc_egp_PelzerPointCommerceCenter1Member_28777bcc-5022-4f13-aaf7-608b81e32c84" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_A147ExchangeMember_b6ba42b0-5b30-48ec-8ad5-562b7e896139" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_A147ExchangeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationNameOfPropertyDomain_be39b075-02ea-4ca9-bdfc-bece59c3ce9f" xlink:to="loc_egp_A147ExchangeMember_b6ba42b0-5b30-48ec-8ad5-562b7e896139" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_OwnershipAxis_360ea7fd-7e00-4253-92c5-ad88c49772d1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2023/elts/srt-2023.xsd#srt_OwnershipAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionTable_7bb31c40-4dbc-4a15-8705-b4691cf8108b" xlink:to="loc_srt_OwnershipAxis_360ea7fd-7e00-4253-92c5-ad88c49772d1" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_OwnershipDomain_360ea7fd-7e00-4253-92c5-ad88c49772d1_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2023/elts/srt-2023.xsd#srt_OwnershipDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_OwnershipAxis_360ea7fd-7e00-4253-92c5-ad88c49772d1" xlink:to="loc_srt_OwnershipDomain_360ea7fd-7e00-4253-92c5-ad88c49772d1_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_OwnershipDomain_9f842e25-660d-4dce-94f9-0a8150714e6a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2023/elts/srt-2023.xsd#srt_OwnershipDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_OwnershipAxis_360ea7fd-7e00-4253-92c5-ad88c49772d1" xlink:to="loc_srt_OwnershipDomain_9f842e25-660d-4dce-94f9-0a8150714e6a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_SpeedDistributionCenterMember_0a4d1e90-e1e5-4c1a-ba8d-c9ce6ef11626" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_SpeedDistributionCenterMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_OwnershipDomain_9f842e25-660d-4dce-94f9-0a8150714e6a" xlink:to="loc_egp_SpeedDistributionCenterMember_0a4d1e90-e1e5-4c1a-ba8d-c9ce6ef11626" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets_658934f1-38b7-4c5e-99b1-22c05bcd1d1c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionLineItems_85c2be2e-37c6-4633-acb9-799c6a7f9d30" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets_658934f1-38b7-4c5e-99b1-22c05bcd1d1c" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AmortizationOfAboveAndBelowMarketLeases_e4ebd9f0-c46c-4cb3-a145-d9650f28c46d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_AmortizationOfAboveAndBelowMarketLeases"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionLineItems_85c2be2e-37c6-4633-acb9-799c6a7f9d30" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AmortizationOfAboveAndBelowMarketLeases_e4ebd9f0-c46c-4cb3-a145-d9650f28c46d" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AreaOfRealEstateProperty_cb22eb36-3e3b-484b-be85-10ac1646a7c2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_AreaOfRealEstateProperty"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionLineItems_85c2be2e-37c6-4633-acb9-799c6a7f9d30" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AreaOfRealEstateProperty_cb22eb36-3e3b-484b-be85-10ac1646a7c2" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionEffectiveDateOfAcquisition_958bad6d-3fab-49f0-8f7b-4b980120824f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionEffectiveDateOfAcquisition"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionLineItems_85c2be2e-37c6-4633-acb9-799c6a7f9d30" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionEffectiveDateOfAcquisition_958bad6d-3fab-49f0-8f7b-4b980120824f" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_Land_c0fbed55-2b0c-4da2-a29c-67c12bf0f0d6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_Land"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionLineItems_85c2be2e-37c6-4633-acb9-799c6a7f9d30" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_Land_c0fbed55-2b0c-4da2-a29c-67c12bf0f0d6" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BuildingsAndImprovementsGross_c3824152-82b3-40cc-a27b-26d5ecbe30e9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_BuildingsAndImprovementsGross"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionLineItems_85c2be2e-37c6-4633-acb9-799c6a7f9d30" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BuildingsAndImprovementsGross_c3824152-82b3-40cc-a27b-26d5ecbe30e9" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_TenantImprovements_5a79818b-d980-4e07-a405-0f1dabe4c72f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_TenantImprovements"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionLineItems_85c2be2e-37c6-4633-acb9-799c6a7f9d30" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_TenantImprovements_5a79818b-d980-4e07-a405-0f1dabe4c72f" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_TotalRealEstatePropertiesAcquired_e1f67809-ee5b-457f-82a8-c48ad11ef83f" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_TotalRealEstatePropertiesAcquired"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionLineItems_85c2be2e-37c6-4633-acb9-799c6a7f9d30" xlink:to="loc_egp_TotalRealEstatePropertiesAcquired_e1f67809-ee5b-457f-82a8-c48ad11ef83f" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetAcquiredInPlaceLeases_65bfbc65-e269-44af-8c76-0fac3ee5357e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetAcquiredInPlaceLeases"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionLineItems_85c2be2e-37c6-4633-acb9-799c6a7f9d30" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetAcquiredInPlaceLeases_65bfbc65-e269-44af-8c76-0fac3ee5357e" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BelowMarketLeaseGross_a0df508a-8483-411e-9cc6-859a5f74cddc" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_BelowMarketLeaseGross"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionLineItems_85c2be2e-37c6-4633-acb9-799c6a7f9d30" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BelowMarketLeaseGross_a0df508a-8483-411e-9cc6-859a5f74cddc" xlink:type="arc" order="9"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_AssetsAcquiredNetOfLiabilitiesAssumed_89f70b25-4b09-4a4f-ab9e-5ffb2a55f8a0" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_AssetsAcquiredNetOfLiabilitiesAssumed"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionLineItems_85c2be2e-37c6-4633-acb9-799c6a7f9d30" xlink:to="loc_egp_AssetsAcquiredNetOfLiabilitiesAssumed_89f70b25-4b09-4a4f-ab9e-5ffb2a55f8a0" xlink:type="arc" order="10"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageRemainingLeaseTerm1_ac0597de-c9ee-4f27-9b07-89f67f44ab1d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageRemainingLeaseTerm1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionLineItems_85c2be2e-37c6-4633-acb9-799c6a7f9d30" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageRemainingLeaseTerm1_ac0597de-c9ee-4f27-9b07-89f67f44ab1d" xlink:type="arc" order="11"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NoncashOrPartNoncashAcquisitionDebtAssumed1_830af657-efb8-433c-8742-c157c9185e28" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_NoncashOrPartNoncashAcquisitionDebtAssumed1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionLineItems_85c2be2e-37c6-4633-acb9-799c6a7f9d30" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NoncashOrPartNoncashAcquisitionDebtAssumed1_830af657-efb8-433c-8742-c157c9185e28" xlink:type="arc" order="12"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NoncashOrPartNoncashAcquisitionNoncashFinancialOrEquityInstrumentConsiderationSharesIssued1_c4a94757-fd50-4cb6-b143-b2e290ee3529" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_NoncashOrPartNoncashAcquisitionNoncashFinancialOrEquityInstrumentConsiderationSharesIssued1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionLineItems_85c2be2e-37c6-4633-acb9-799c6a7f9d30" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NoncashOrPartNoncashAcquisitionNoncashFinancialOrEquityInstrumentConsiderationSharesIssued1_c4a94757-fd50-4cb6-b143-b2e290ee3529" xlink:type="arc" order="13"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherSignificantNoncashTransactionValueOfConsiderationGiven1_91dafc92-ccdc-4f8b-a505-0f2e624f6ec4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_OtherSignificantNoncashTransactionValueOfConsiderationGiven1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionLineItems_85c2be2e-37c6-4633-acb9-799c6a7f9d30" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherSignificantNoncashTransactionValueOfConsiderationGiven1_91dafc92-ccdc-4f8b-a505-0f2e624f6ec4" xlink:type="arc" order="14"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LoansAssumed1_8e6bebf3-1e5c-4376-aa60-40baa1ef9985" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_LoansAssumed1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionLineItems_85c2be2e-37c6-4633-acb9-799c6a7f9d30" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LoansAssumed1_8e6bebf3-1e5c-4376-aa60-40baa1ef9985" xlink:type="arc" order="15"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AreaOfLand_7be47a2a-9ee3-4a33-90fb-21302af42b78" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_AreaOfLand"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionLineItems_85c2be2e-37c6-4633-acb9-799c6a7f9d30" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AreaOfLand_7be47a2a-9ee3-4a33-90fb-21302af42b78" xlink:type="arc" order="16"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireLand_57be098f-373f-41bb-b8b8-919b97fafe81" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireLand"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionLineItems_85c2be2e-37c6-4633-acb9-799c6a7f9d30" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireLand_57be098f-373f-41bb-b8b8-919b97fafe81" xlink:type="arc" order="17"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByNoncontrollingOwners_734e304f-1e02-4268-8671-8ec33796f128" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByNoncontrollingOwners"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionLineItems_85c2be2e-37c6-4633-acb9-799c6a7f9d30" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByNoncontrollingOwners_734e304f-1e02-4268-8671-8ec33796f128" xlink:type="arc" order="18"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionConsiderationTransferredTransactionCost_d8aa686e-17d2-4e34-adbf-5683ae06c07e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionConsiderationTransferredTransactionCost"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionLineItems_85c2be2e-37c6-4633-acb9-799c6a7f9d30" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionConsiderationTransferredTransactionCost_d8aa686e-17d2-4e34-adbf-5683ae06c07e" xlink:type="arc" order="19"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByParent_f99cf182-2a2b-4bbe-b34c-cfa22031a269" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByParent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionLineItems_85c2be2e-37c6-4633-acb9-799c6a7f9d30" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByParent_f99cf182-2a2b-4bbe-b34c-cfa22031a269" xlink:type="arc" order="20"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetOffMarketLeaseFavorableGross_3c22fe86-e710-4bd3-9e8b-a4ece56b6e03" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetOffMarketLeaseFavorableGross"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionLineItems_85c2be2e-37c6-4633-acb9-799c6a7f9d30" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetOffMarketLeaseFavorableGross_3c22fe86-e710-4bd3-9e8b-a4ece56b6e03" xlink:type="arc" order="21"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionConsiderationTransferred_8903c3bf-cc3e-4289-a6eb-6a3c9b1589e9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionConsiderationTransferred"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionLineItems_85c2be2e-37c6-4633-acb9-799c6a7f9d30" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionConsiderationTransferred_8903c3bf-cc3e-4289-a6eb-6a3c9b1589e9" xlink:type="arc" order="22"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.eastgroup.net/role/REALESTATESOLDANDHELDFORSALEDISCONTINUEDOPERATIONSDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#REALESTATESOLDANDHELDFORSALEDISCONTINUEDOPERATIONSDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.eastgroup.net/role/REALESTATESOLDANDHELDFORSALEDISCONTINUEDOPERATIONSDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongLivedAssetsHeldForSaleLineItems_c397f7f5-e828-4e02-a26f-9af4ed4e3d45" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_LongLivedAssetsHeldForSaleLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsTable_3fddc0c4-85fe-46bc-adce-90e235970212" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongLivedAssetsHeldForSaleLineItems_c397f7f5-e828-4e02-a26f-9af4ed4e3d45" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsTable_3fddc0c4-85fe-46bc-adce-90e235970212" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis_6ed356ae-0e66-47a5-b98a-890e0934dad9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2023/elts/srt-2023.xsd#srt_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsTable_3fddc0c4-85fe-46bc-adce-90e235970212" xlink:to="loc_srt_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis_6ed356ae-0e66-47a5-b98a-890e0934dad9" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationNameOfPropertyDomain_6ed356ae-0e66-47a5-b98a-890e0934dad9_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2023/elts/srt-2023.xsd#srt_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationNameOfPropertyDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis_6ed356ae-0e66-47a5-b98a-890e0934dad9" xlink:to="loc_srt_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationNameOfPropertyDomain_6ed356ae-0e66-47a5-b98a-890e0934dad9_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationNameOfPropertyDomain_b8185f55-7bca-4586-8ee2-6321df5bc2f6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2023/elts/srt-2023.xsd#srt_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationNameOfPropertyDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis_6ed356ae-0e66-47a5-b98a-890e0934dad9" xlink:to="loc_srt_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationNameOfPropertyDomain_b8185f55-7bca-4586-8ee2-6321df5bc2f6" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_WorldHouston23Member_7d05cc8a-05cc-4294-a250-8c26e7b7a25c" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_WorldHouston23Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationNameOfPropertyDomain_b8185f55-7bca-4586-8ee2-6321df5bc2f6" xlink:to="loc_egp_WorldHouston23Member_7d05cc8a-05cc-4294-a250-8c26e7b7a25c" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_A2023DevelopmentLandDispositionsMember_3ec2534c-d208-415e-87ac-8b090d86f8af" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_A2023DevelopmentLandDispositionsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationNameOfPropertyDomain_b8185f55-7bca-4586-8ee2-6321df5bc2f6" xlink:to="loc_egp_A2023DevelopmentLandDispositionsMember_3ec2534c-d208-415e-87ac-8b090d86f8af" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_EttieBusinessCenterMember_64bb84b4-468a-4779-bbcf-927728a0d658" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_EttieBusinessCenterMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationNameOfPropertyDomain_b8185f55-7bca-4586-8ee2-6321df5bc2f6" xlink:to="loc_egp_EttieBusinessCenterMember_64bb84b4-468a-4779-bbcf-927728a0d658" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_LosAngelesCorporateCenterMember_81e6e721-1802-47b8-aee7-76da6c5b87cf" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_LosAngelesCorporateCenterMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationNameOfPropertyDomain_b8185f55-7bca-4586-8ee2-6321df5bc2f6" xlink:to="loc_egp_LosAngelesCorporateCenterMember_81e6e721-1802-47b8-aee7-76da6c5b87cf" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_InterchangeBusinessParkAndMetroAirportCommerceCenterMember_206a90e4-88d7-4061-bcaf-c056488761e8" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_InterchangeBusinessParkAndMetroAirportCommerceCenterMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationNameOfPropertyDomain_b8185f55-7bca-4586-8ee2-6321df5bc2f6" xlink:to="loc_egp_InterchangeBusinessParkAndMetroAirportCommerceCenterMember_206a90e4-88d7-4061-bcaf-c056488761e8" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_A2024DevelopmentLandDispositionsMember_78108fbc-3d2a-41d7-ab77-06308283f301" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_A2024DevelopmentLandDispositionsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationNameOfPropertyDomain_b8185f55-7bca-4586-8ee2-6321df5bc2f6" xlink:to="loc_egp_A2024DevelopmentLandDispositionsMember_78108fbc-3d2a-41d7-ab77-06308283f301" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationAxis_f4cfa136-788c-420d-b192-22d02f70aa6e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsTable_3fddc0c4-85fe-46bc-adce-90e235970212" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationAxis_f4cfa136-788c-420d-b192-22d02f70aa6e" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationDomain_f4cfa136-788c-420d-b192-22d02f70aa6e_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationAxis_f4cfa136-788c-420d-b192-22d02f70aa6e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationDomain_f4cfa136-788c-420d-b192-22d02f70aa6e_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationDomain_e7490a88-9f46-4f06-8e38-db5dc1805597" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationAxis_f4cfa136-788c-420d-b192-22d02f70aa6e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationDomain_e7490a88-9f46-4f06-8e38-db5dc1805597" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_A2023DispositionsMember_e76a5e13-cd7a-415d-add3-93435c11a857" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_A2023DispositionsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationDomain_e7490a88-9f46-4f06-8e38-db5dc1805597" xlink:to="loc_egp_A2023DispositionsMember_e76a5e13-cd7a-415d-add3-93435c11a857" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AreaOfRealEstateProperty_e1b7f35b-15ba-4ad0-860a-350cc059a2f9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_AreaOfRealEstateProperty"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongLivedAssetsHeldForSaleLineItems_c397f7f5-e828-4e02-a26f-9af4ed4e3d45" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AreaOfRealEstateProperty_e1b7f35b-15ba-4ad0-860a-350cc059a2f9" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DisposalDate1_c0a880bb-cc32-4875-a0d7-54b70ff0f8b0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_DisposalDate1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongLivedAssetsHeldForSaleLineItems_c397f7f5-e828-4e02-a26f-9af4ed4e3d45" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DisposalDate1_c0a880bb-cc32-4875-a0d7-54b70ff0f8b0" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_NetSalesPrice_a391c1c5-0efe-4c0b-8205-df65a9c19364" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_NetSalesPrice"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongLivedAssetsHeldForSaleLineItems_c397f7f5-e828-4e02-a26f-9af4ed4e3d45" xlink:to="loc_egp_NetSalesPrice_a391c1c5-0efe-4c0b-8205-df65a9c19364" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RealEstateInvestmentPropertyNet_ffac2097-62e8-44be-bd16-6c48944e3812" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_RealEstateInvestmentPropertyNet"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongLivedAssetsHeldForSaleLineItems_c397f7f5-e828-4e02-a26f-9af4ed4e3d45" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RealEstateInvestmentPropertyNet_ffac2097-62e8-44be-bd16-6c48944e3812" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_GainsLossesOnSalesOfInvestmentRealEstate_2f36606a-4acb-4f48-bd65-6fff4b45229c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_GainsLossesOnSalesOfInvestmentRealEstate"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongLivedAssetsHeldForSaleLineItems_c397f7f5-e828-4e02-a26f-9af4ed4e3d45" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_GainsLossesOnSalesOfInvestmentRealEstate_2f36606a-4acb-4f48-bd65-6fff4b45229c" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OperatingLeaseRightOfUseAsset_158dc9fd-0c47-4ca4-898d-f4f5a665ed85" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_OperatingLeaseRightOfUseAsset"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongLivedAssetsHeldForSaleLineItems_c397f7f5-e828-4e02-a26f-9af4ed4e3d45" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OperatingLeaseRightOfUseAsset_158dc9fd-0c47-4ca4-898d-f4f5a665ed85" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RightOfUseAssetObtainedInExchangeForOperatingLeaseLiability_de78cd0f-8b66-4e83-9541-eb1cd96ae753" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_RightOfUseAssetObtainedInExchangeForOperatingLeaseLiability"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongLivedAssetsHeldForSaleLineItems_c397f7f5-e828-4e02-a26f-9af4ed4e3d45" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RightOfUseAssetObtainedInExchangeForOperatingLeaseLiability_de78cd0f-8b66-4e83-9541-eb1cd96ae753" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AreaOfLand_b93ca5ee-b3ef-44dc-9de8-a686dee8b206" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_AreaOfLand"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongLivedAssetsHeldForSaleLineItems_c397f7f5-e828-4e02-a26f-9af4ed4e3d45" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AreaOfLand_b93ca5ee-b3ef-44dc-9de8-a686dee8b206" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationConsideration_845b6c7e-746e-4925-b153-a6093a214dc8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationConsideration"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongLivedAssetsHeldForSaleLineItems_c397f7f5-e828-4e02-a26f-9af4ed4e3d45" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationConsideration_845b6c7e-746e-4925-b153-a6093a214dc8" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_GainOnSaleOfInvestments_9e809096-afbd-4881-ab36-9bf2b7731b19" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_GainOnSaleOfInvestments"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongLivedAssetsHeldForSaleLineItems_c397f7f5-e828-4e02-a26f-9af4ed4e3d45" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_GainOnSaleOfInvestments_9e809096-afbd-4881-ab36-9bf2b7731b19" xlink:type="arc" order="9"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.eastgroup.net/role/DEBTDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#DEBTDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.eastgroup.net/role/DEBTDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_ddc8b25c-27f7-4aae-b919-3bbb03be115b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfHeldToMaturitySecuritiesTable_b1dc673f-b4d3-4295-8403-e9a35bc005aa" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfHeldToMaturitySecuritiesTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_ddc8b25c-27f7-4aae-b919-3bbb03be115b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfHeldToMaturitySecuritiesTable_b1dc673f-b4d3-4295-8403-e9a35bc005aa" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_732e9399-0a01-45f1-9ea6-759ea96e5983" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfHeldToMaturitySecuritiesTable_b1dc673f-b4d3-4295-8403-e9a35bc005aa" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_732e9399-0a01-45f1-9ea6-759ea96e5983" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_732e9399-0a01-45f1-9ea6-759ea96e5983_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_732e9399-0a01-45f1-9ea6-759ea96e5983" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_732e9399-0a01-45f1-9ea6-759ea96e5983_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_735b8b4c-0cdd-4468-8190-3a606cf9d7a1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_732e9399-0a01-45f1-9ea6-759ea96e5983" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_735b8b4c-0cdd-4468-8190-3a606cf9d7a1" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember_3ba6279b-4e4c-47b2-bb16-c7d479c00d2f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_735b8b4c-0cdd-4468-8190-3a606cf9d7a1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember_3ba6279b-4e4c-47b2-bb16-c7d479c00d2f" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember_2b409e2e-2c0e-45ac-9d15-9e011c32979b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_735b8b4c-0cdd-4468-8190-3a606cf9d7a1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember_2b409e2e-2c0e-45ac-9d15-9e011c32979b" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_4c638cfa-f4ab-4262-bb5e-3087324e9e09" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfHeldToMaturitySecuritiesTable_b1dc673f-b4d3-4295-8403-e9a35bc005aa" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_4c638cfa-f4ab-4262-bb5e-3087324e9e09" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_4c638cfa-f4ab-4262-bb5e-3087324e9e09_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_4c638cfa-f4ab-4262-bb5e-3087324e9e09" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_4c638cfa-f4ab-4262-bb5e-3087324e9e09_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_aec22a96-2253-4070-8ab8-b8aad1e9a8ac" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_4c638cfa-f4ab-4262-bb5e-3087324e9e09" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_aec22a96-2253-4070-8ab8-b8aad1e9a8ac" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember_297588c6-c393-4fc3-a343-0f439470819e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_aec22a96-2253-4070-8ab8-b8aad1e9a8ac" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember_297588c6-c393-4fc3-a343-0f439470819e" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_1489ffb4-0203-4e20-bef1-bc130982b71d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfHeldToMaturitySecuritiesTable_b1dc673f-b4d3-4295-8403-e9a35bc005aa" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_1489ffb4-0203-4e20-bef1-bc130982b71d" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_1489ffb4-0203-4e20-bef1-bc130982b71d_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_1489ffb4-0203-4e20-bef1-bc130982b71d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_1489ffb4-0203-4e20-bef1-bc130982b71d_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_1666d79f-e795-4cb2-b6ed-188cc75a3ca0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_1489ffb4-0203-4e20-bef1-bc130982b71d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_1666d79f-e795-4cb2-b6ed-188cc75a3ca0" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember_b672e80b-1069-4ec8-afe4-d210ddd0ff51" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_1666d79f-e795-4cb2-b6ed-188cc75a3ca0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember_b672e80b-1069-4ec8-afe4-d210ddd0ff51" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember_c64ae62c-4086-43e6-96f9-09ef01d778ce" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_1666d79f-e795-4cb2-b6ed-188cc75a3ca0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember_c64ae62c-4086-43e6-96f9-09ef01d778ce" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount_85f49d02-12bc-403e-84e0-8a2fe4feb94d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_ddc8b25c-27f7-4aae-b919-3bbb03be115b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount_85f49d02-12bc-403e-84e0-8a2fe4feb94d" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DeferredFinanceCostsGross_1708f9fa-291b-4355-8f31-cab9c4a5a008" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_DeferredFinanceCostsGross"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_ddc8b25c-27f7-4aae-b919-3bbb03be115b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DeferredFinanceCostsGross_1708f9fa-291b-4355-8f31-cab9c4a5a008" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebt_5d5b414f-f7c7-4d08-855d-d232d93d6463" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_LongTermDebt"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_ddc8b25c-27f7-4aae-b919-3bbb03be115b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebt_5d5b414f-f7c7-4d08-855d-d232d93d6463" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_SustainabilityPerformanceLinkedBasisPointReduction_f92ed606-1b68-4347-9d69-881176fef5e6" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_SustainabilityPerformanceLinkedBasisPointReduction"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_ddc8b25c-27f7-4aae-b919-3bbb03be115b" xlink:to="loc_egp_SustainabilityPerformanceLinkedBasisPointReduction_f92ed606-1b68-4347-9d69-881176fef5e6" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentDescriptionOfVariableRateBasis_fae71c61-5dab-4e28-ac98-7e93086444d6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentDescriptionOfVariableRateBasis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_ddc8b25c-27f7-4aae-b919-3bbb03be115b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentDescriptionOfVariableRateBasis_fae71c61-5dab-4e28-ac98-7e93086444d6" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityInterestRateAtPeriodEnd_be943292-7a49-4a80-9cc2-00fb34e63d52" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityInterestRateAtPeriodEnd"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_ddc8b25c-27f7-4aae-b919-3bbb03be115b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityInterestRateAtPeriodEnd_be943292-7a49-4a80-9cc2-00fb34e63d52" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCurrentBorrowingCapacity_db9a662a-a3a5-4d04-9aa5-b20a03106bb4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCurrentBorrowingCapacity"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_ddc8b25c-27f7-4aae-b919-3bbb03be115b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCurrentBorrowingCapacity_db9a662a-a3a5-4d04-9aa5-b20a03106bb4" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_Lineofcreditfacilityfeeinbasispoints_655c0886-1008-4316-b2f2-914e8ee4916c" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_Lineofcreditfacilityfeeinbasispoints"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_ddc8b25c-27f7-4aae-b919-3bbb03be115b" xlink:to="loc_egp_Lineofcreditfacilityfeeinbasispoints_655c0886-1008-4316-b2f2-914e8ee4916c" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentMaturityDateDescription_3e94a475-59ea-4d8a-8ae5-0e2d59c1a95f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentMaturityDateDescription"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_ddc8b25c-27f7-4aae-b919-3bbb03be115b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentMaturityDateDescription_3e94a475-59ea-4d8a-8ae5-0e2d59c1a95f" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_Creditfacilityextensionoption_1671f343-4857-43c8-91aa-9247b67448c3" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_Creditfacilityextensionoption"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_ddc8b25c-27f7-4aae-b919-3bbb03be115b" xlink:to="loc_egp_Creditfacilityextensionoption_1671f343-4857-43c8-91aa-9247b67448c3" xlink:type="arc" order="9"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_LineOfCreditFacilityAccordion_68989d42-4cac-4b91-9980-5b1313f36fa5" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_LineOfCreditFacilityAccordion"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_ddc8b25c-27f7-4aae-b919-3bbb03be115b" xlink:to="loc_egp_LineOfCreditFacilityAccordion_68989d42-4cac-4b91-9980-5b1313f36fa5" xlink:type="arc" order="10"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityIncreaseDecreaseForPeriodNet_b605f340-92a7-49bd-ab50-a49ade6cbc06" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityIncreaseDecreaseForPeriodNet"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_ddc8b25c-27f7-4aae-b919-3bbb03be115b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityIncreaseDecreaseForPeriodNet_b605f340-92a7-49bd-ab50-a49ade6cbc06" xlink:type="arc" order="11"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount_609de046-907d-43f8-aef9-9e1f56eb8cd8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_ddc8b25c-27f7-4aae-b919-3bbb03be115b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount_609de046-907d-43f8-aef9-9e1f56eb8cd8" xlink:type="arc" order="12"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCovenantDescription_eb409647-9e0a-472b-9ac3-161418f9c6b4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCovenantDescription"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_ddc8b25c-27f7-4aae-b919-3bbb03be115b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCovenantDescription_eb409647-9e0a-472b-9ac3-161418f9c6b4" xlink:type="arc" order="13"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebtByMaturityAbstract_7392ffab-19d3-4d9d-9a6e-46cdb7140ee9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_LongTermDebtByMaturityAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_ddc8b25c-27f7-4aae-b919-3bbb03be115b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebtByMaturityAbstract_7392ffab-19d3-4d9d-9a6e-46cdb7140ee9" xlink:type="arc" order="14"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalRemainderOfFiscalYear_6e961504-ef51-4d61-a247-adc39a477c10" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalRemainderOfFiscalYear"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebtByMaturityAbstract_7392ffab-19d3-4d9d-9a6e-46cdb7140ee9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalRemainderOfFiscalYear_6e961504-ef51-4d61-a247-adc39a477c10" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInNextTwelveMonths_577eb1de-421a-4e95-ab94-97ca3d4f261c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInNextTwelveMonths"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebtByMaturityAbstract_7392ffab-19d3-4d9d-9a6e-46cdb7140ee9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInNextTwelveMonths_577eb1de-421a-4e95-ab94-97ca3d4f261c" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearTwo_9522d9c1-57d1-48e0-8205-7d9cfadca35c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearTwo"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebtByMaturityAbstract_7392ffab-19d3-4d9d-9a6e-46cdb7140ee9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearTwo_9522d9c1-57d1-48e0-8205-7d9cfadca35c" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearThree_84b5639e-deb3-4ec4-81d4-ef3b7e337ef0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearThree"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebtByMaturityAbstract_7392ffab-19d3-4d9d-9a6e-46cdb7140ee9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearThree_84b5639e-deb3-4ec4-81d4-ef3b7e337ef0" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearFour_df1ea5b8-6bcc-43f6-bea3-059003c521a0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearFour"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebtByMaturityAbstract_7392ffab-19d3-4d9d-9a6e-46cdb7140ee9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearFour_df1ea5b8-6bcc-43f6-bea3-059003c521a0" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalAfterYearFive_04d1951c-e341-4103-bd0b-9deb152f618e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalAfterYearFive"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebtByMaturityAbstract_7392ffab-19d3-4d9d-9a6e-46cdb7140ee9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalAfterYearFive_04d1951c-e341-4103-bd0b-9deb152f618e" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount_b0b5605c-ea8a-49a6-bc39-b22d0e0fcdc7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.eastgroup.net/role/DERIVATIVEINSTRUMENTSANDHEDGINGACTIVITIESDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#DERIVATIVEINSTRUMENTSANDHEDGINGACTIVITIESDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.eastgroup.net/role/DERIVATIVEINSTRUMENTSANDHEDGINGACTIVITIESDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems_b377cc21-507f-4b96-a6b9-6425da20c875" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeTable_515c183b-6880-45b7-80cb-05e3d2a30eb8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems_b377cc21-507f-4b96-a6b9-6425da20c875" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeTable_515c183b-6880-45b7-80cb-05e3d2a30eb8" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_45af3e56-0c38-47d6-9f45-b83ae8ae518f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeTable_515c183b-6880-45b7-80cb-05e3d2a30eb8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_45af3e56-0c38-47d6-9f45-b83ae8ae518f" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_45af3e56-0c38-47d6-9f45-b83ae8ae518f_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_45af3e56-0c38-47d6-9f45-b83ae8ae518f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_45af3e56-0c38-47d6-9f45-b83ae8ae518f_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_99c17188-e0e3-4216-bae5-5149e56101dc" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_45af3e56-0c38-47d6-9f45-b83ae8ae518f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_99c17188-e0e3-4216-bae5-5149e56101dc" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember_03e4970a-899b-4dbe-aa2c-260e80ec96d3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_99c17188-e0e3-4216-bae5-5149e56101dc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember_03e4970a-899b-4dbe-aa2c-260e80ec96d3" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_InterestRateSwapIdentifierAxis_2e9a55d0-5128-495b-a47c-150634c49cf0" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_InterestRateSwapIdentifierAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeTable_515c183b-6880-45b7-80cb-05e3d2a30eb8" xlink:to="loc_egp_InterestRateSwapIdentifierAxis_2e9a55d0-5128-495b-a47c-150634c49cf0" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_InterestRateSwapIdentifierDomain_2e9a55d0-5128-495b-a47c-150634c49cf0_default" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_InterestRateSwapIdentifierDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_egp_InterestRateSwapIdentifierAxis_2e9a55d0-5128-495b-a47c-150634c49cf0" xlink:to="loc_egp_InterestRateSwapIdentifierDomain_2e9a55d0-5128-495b-a47c-150634c49cf0_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_InterestRateSwapIdentifierDomain_29a03560-95bd-4f32-8024-48012d52cdec" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_InterestRateSwapIdentifierDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_egp_InterestRateSwapIdentifierAxis_2e9a55d0-5128-495b-a47c-150634c49cf0" xlink:to="loc_egp_InterestRateSwapIdentifierDomain_29a03560-95bd-4f32-8024-48012d52cdec" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_A100millioninterestrateswap2019Domain_08483e0b-44b0-42cf-a49a-9bde17d399b8" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_A100millioninterestrateswap2019Domain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_egp_InterestRateSwapIdentifierDomain_29a03560-95bd-4f32-8024-48012d52cdec" xlink:to="loc_egp_A100millioninterestrateswap2019Domain_08483e0b-44b0-42cf-a49a-9bde17d399b8" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_A100millioninterestrateswap2020Member_8b735c3f-7360-4f19-80e8-ba493d40fa04" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_A100millioninterestrateswap2020Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_egp_InterestRateSwapIdentifierDomain_29a03560-95bd-4f32-8024-48012d52cdec" xlink:to="loc_egp_A100millioninterestrateswap2020Member_8b735c3f-7360-4f19-80e8-ba493d40fa04" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_A50MillionInterestRateSwapExecutedIn2021Member_5d9799af-b213-4e9e-9961-5b10cce3fdf7" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_A50MillionInterestRateSwapExecutedIn2021Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_egp_InterestRateSwapIdentifierDomain_29a03560-95bd-4f32-8024-48012d52cdec" xlink:to="loc_egp_A50MillionInterestRateSwapExecutedIn2021Member_5d9799af-b213-4e9e-9961-5b10cce3fdf7" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_A100MillionInterestRateSwapExecutedIn2022Member_56a22acf-dc47-44af-a191-c7729007912f" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_A100MillionInterestRateSwapExecutedIn2022Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_egp_InterestRateSwapIdentifierDomain_29a03560-95bd-4f32-8024-48012d52cdec" xlink:to="loc_egp_A100MillionInterestRateSwapExecutedIn2022Member_56a22acf-dc47-44af-a191-c7729007912f" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_A75MillionInterestRateSwapExecutedIn2022Member_7eec2743-c1da-4def-b834-9208a93810d2" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_A75MillionInterestRateSwapExecutedIn2022Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_egp_InterestRateSwapIdentifierDomain_29a03560-95bd-4f32-8024-48012d52cdec" xlink:to="loc_egp_A75MillionInterestRateSwapExecutedIn2022Member_7eec2743-c1da-4def-b834-9208a93810d2" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_A50MillionInterestRateSwapExecutedIn2022Member_3081de82-89ac-495b-bacc-b5b2f5e05d16" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_A50MillionInterestRateSwapExecutedIn2022Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_egp_InterestRateSwapIdentifierDomain_29a03560-95bd-4f32-8024-48012d52cdec" xlink:to="loc_egp_A50MillionInterestRateSwapExecutedIn2022Member_3081de82-89ac-495b-bacc-b5b2f5e05d16" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_A100MillionInterestRateSwapExecutedInDec2022Member_a967605d-b09f-4211-801b-e4a29bb5d832" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_A100MillionInterestRateSwapExecutedInDec2022Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_egp_InterestRateSwapIdentifierDomain_29a03560-95bd-4f32-8024-48012d52cdec" xlink:to="loc_egp_A100MillionInterestRateSwapExecutedInDec2022Member_a967605d-b09f-4211-801b-e4a29bb5d832" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis_d5cc857c-d959-4398-bc37-1c3ffeab9fca" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeTable_515c183b-6880-45b7-80cb-05e3d2a30eb8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis_d5cc857c-d959-4398-bc37-1c3ffeab9fca" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationDomain_d5cc857c-d959-4398-bc37-1c3ffeab9fca_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis_d5cc857c-d959-4398-bc37-1c3ffeab9fca" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationDomain_d5cc857c-d959-4398-bc37-1c3ffeab9fca_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationDomain_9d2f51b1-1d61-4c87-9348-e154a5f3970e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis_d5cc857c-d959-4398-bc37-1c3ffeab9fca" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationDomain_9d2f51b1-1d61-4c87-9348-e154a5f3970e" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember_d6e63f57-fbec-4e1e-b3f3-0d33e269c42e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationDomain_9d2f51b1-1d61-4c87-9348-e154a5f3970e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember_d6e63f57-fbec-4e1e-b3f3-0d33e269c42e" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember_0166f009-36e0-4baf-b3b7-8cf4e7bd01ef" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationDomain_9d2f51b1-1d61-4c87-9348-e154a5f3970e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember_0166f009-36e0-4baf-b3b7-8cf4e7bd01ef" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CashFlowHedgeGainLossToBeReclassifiedWithinTwelveMonths_219ee55e-1c4e-4dbc-a25c-8b473bb443da" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_CashFlowHedgeGainLossToBeReclassifiedWithinTwelveMonths"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems_b377cc21-507f-4b96-a6b9-6425da20c875" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CashFlowHedgeGainLossToBeReclassifiedWithinTwelveMonths_219ee55e-1c4e-4dbc-a25c-8b473bb443da" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeNotionalAmount_e29ce7f4-2d0a-45ab-b523-057c2bfc9952" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeNotionalAmount"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems_b377cc21-507f-4b96-a6b9-6425da20c875" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeNotionalAmount_e29ce7f4-2d0a-45ab-b523-057c2bfc9952" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InterestRateCashFlowHedgeAssetAtFairValue_405374d4-520d-484d-b370-725270de9ca9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_InterestRateCashFlowHedgeAssetAtFairValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems_b377cc21-507f-4b96-a6b9-6425da20c875" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InterestRateCashFlowHedgeAssetAtFairValue_405374d4-520d-484d-b370-725270de9ca9" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InterestRateCashFlowHedgeLiabilityAtFairValue_96876444-83e7-4221-8801-8f84d45374fc" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_InterestRateCashFlowHedgeLiabilityAtFairValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems_b377cc21-507f-4b96-a6b9-6425da20c875" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InterestRateCashFlowHedgeLiabilityAtFairValue_96876444-83e7-4221-8801-8f84d45374fc" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCashFlowHedgeGainLossBeforeReclassificationAndTax_7df7196c-ffb7-4edb-b79a-f2cefa1daf28" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCashFlowHedgeGainLossBeforeReclassificationAndTax"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems_b377cc21-507f-4b96-a6b9-6425da20c875" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCashFlowHedgeGainLossBeforeReclassificationAndTax_7df7196c-ffb7-4edb-b79a-f2cefa1daf28" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIOnDerivativesNetOfTax_6113c03f-59c6-430c-a1df-2fe6e250dd58" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIOnDerivativesNetOfTax"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems_b377cc21-507f-4b96-a6b9-6425da20c875" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIOnDerivativesNetOfTax_6113c03f-59c6-430c-a1df-2fe6e250dd58" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.eastgroup.net/role/EQUITYOFFERINGSDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#EQUITYOFFERINGSDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.eastgroup.net/role/EQUITYOFFERINGSDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_MarketableSecuritiesLineItems_c2b66293-ea5c-4d7c-baf0-a1b6bee22917" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_MarketableSecuritiesLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_MarketableSecuritiesTable_b64bb8b3-4fb5-4de6-a956-112b3550c598" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_MarketableSecuritiesTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_MarketableSecuritiesLineItems_c2b66293-ea5c-4d7c-baf0-a1b6bee22917" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_MarketableSecuritiesTable_b64bb8b3-4fb5-4de6-a956-112b3550c598" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SubsidiarySaleOfStockAxis_1ed0a05c-51ef-42c8-80ea-4b6f4d918cbe" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_SubsidiarySaleOfStockAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_MarketableSecuritiesTable_b64bb8b3-4fb5-4de6-a956-112b3550c598" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SubsidiarySaleOfStockAxis_1ed0a05c-51ef-42c8-80ea-4b6f4d918cbe" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SaleOfStockNameOfTransactionDomain_1ed0a05c-51ef-42c8-80ea-4b6f4d918cbe_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_SaleOfStockNameOfTransactionDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SubsidiarySaleOfStockAxis_1ed0a05c-51ef-42c8-80ea-4b6f4d918cbe" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SaleOfStockNameOfTransactionDomain_1ed0a05c-51ef-42c8-80ea-4b6f4d918cbe_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SaleOfStockNameOfTransactionDomain_3a0b3e0e-f616-43f8-a36f-cc14ec0e3a42" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_SaleOfStockNameOfTransactionDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SubsidiarySaleOfStockAxis_1ed0a05c-51ef-42c8-80ea-4b6f4d918cbe" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SaleOfStockNameOfTransactionDomain_3a0b3e0e-f616-43f8-a36f-cc14ec0e3a42" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_ATMProgramDecember2022Member_70f97194-fa3b-4b56-b5ea-d47089cd96a8" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_ATMProgramDecember2022Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SaleOfStockNameOfTransactionDomain_3a0b3e0e-f616-43f8-a36f-cc14ec0e3a42" xlink:to="loc_egp_ATMProgramDecember2022Member_70f97194-fa3b-4b56-b5ea-d47089cd96a8" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_ATMProgramOctober2023Member_6bbcb7c3-6374-4ae5-9de6-25b2f24afba3" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_ATMProgramOctober2023Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SaleOfStockNameOfTransactionDomain_3a0b3e0e-f616-43f8-a36f-cc14ec0e3a42" xlink:to="loc_egp_ATMProgramOctober2023Member_6bbcb7c3-6374-4ae5-9de6-25b2f24afba3" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_DirectCommonStockIssuancesMember_3b32e52d-4e0f-4256-b78f-2a5c6479499d" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_DirectCommonStockIssuancesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SaleOfStockNameOfTransactionDomain_3a0b3e0e-f616-43f8-a36f-cc14ec0e3a42" xlink:to="loc_egp_DirectCommonStockIssuancesMember_3b32e52d-4e0f-4256-b78f-2a5c6479499d" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_ForwardEquityOfferingsAxis_3b502939-f186-41b5-b6ce-350472152012" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_ForwardEquityOfferingsAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_MarketableSecuritiesTable_b64bb8b3-4fb5-4de6-a956-112b3550c598" xlink:to="loc_egp_ForwardEquityOfferingsAxis_3b502939-f186-41b5-b6ce-350472152012" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_ForwardEquityOfferingsDomain_3b502939-f186-41b5-b6ce-350472152012_default" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_ForwardEquityOfferingsDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_egp_ForwardEquityOfferingsAxis_3b502939-f186-41b5-b6ce-350472152012" xlink:to="loc_egp_ForwardEquityOfferingsDomain_3b502939-f186-41b5-b6ce-350472152012_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_ForwardEquityOfferingsDomain_1aeddbd8-877c-4b28-b034-f27391bd6bea" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_ForwardEquityOfferingsDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_egp_ForwardEquityOfferingsAxis_3b502939-f186-41b5-b6ce-350472152012" xlink:to="loc_egp_ForwardEquityOfferingsDomain_1aeddbd8-877c-4b28-b034-f27391bd6bea" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_CommonStockInSharesMember_bac4a3aa-c191-40c3-a0df-fbb948c4d84c" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_CommonStockInSharesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_egp_ForwardEquityOfferingsAxis_3b502939-f186-41b5-b6ce-350472152012" xlink:to="loc_egp_CommonStockInSharesMember_bac4a3aa-c191-40c3-a0df-fbb948c4d84c" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_WeightedAveragePricePerShareMember_6ad267a3-b22d-42c9-9b81-12207acc4a16" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_WeightedAveragePricePerShareMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_egp_ForwardEquityOfferingsAxis_3b502939-f186-41b5-b6ce-350472152012" xlink:to="loc_egp_WeightedAveragePricePerShareMember_6ad267a3-b22d-42c9-9b81-12207acc4a16" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_GrossProceedsInThousandsMember_b796a91b-775a-4dea-bdfd-c02851ad4f3b" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_GrossProceedsInThousandsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_egp_ForwardEquityOfferingsAxis_3b502939-f186-41b5-b6ce-350472152012" xlink:to="loc_egp_GrossProceedsInThousandsMember_b796a91b-775a-4dea-bdfd-c02851ad4f3b" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_AtTheMarketProgramMaximumAggregateGrossSalesPrice_ee106687-984c-4e8f-aa2d-141d4ef74ddd" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_AtTheMarketProgramMaximumAggregateGrossSalesPrice"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_MarketableSecuritiesLineItems_c2b66293-ea5c-4d7c-baf0-a1b6bee22917" xlink:to="loc_egp_AtTheMarketProgramMaximumAggregateGrossSalesPrice_ee106687-984c-4e8f-aa2d-141d4ef74ddd" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesNewIssues_37acb382-853b-40be-9c25-abe90af73f46" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesNewIssues"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_MarketableSecuritiesLineItems_c2b66293-ea5c-4d7c-baf0-a1b6bee22917" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesNewIssues_37acb382-853b-40be-9c25-abe90af73f46" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_SaleOfStockWeightedAveragePricePerShare_cc356987-1b13-4c40-bcea-06974e881a3c" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_SaleOfStockWeightedAveragePricePerShare"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_MarketableSecuritiesLineItems_c2b66293-ea5c-4d7c-baf0-a1b6bee22917" xlink:to="loc_egp_SaleOfStockWeightedAveragePricePerShare_cc356987-1b13-4c40-bcea-06974e881a3c" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_GrossProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock_946ae533-2946-419a-8a04-ee47cd9f0861" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_GrossProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_MarketableSecuritiesLineItems_c2b66293-ea5c-4d7c-baf0-a1b6bee22917" xlink:to="loc_egp_GrossProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock_946ae533-2946-419a-8a04-ee47cd9f0861" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_NetProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock_801b02af-24f7-468b-893b-bf466cbefb3c" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_NetProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_MarketableSecuritiesLineItems_c2b66293-ea5c-4d7c-baf0-a1b6bee22917" xlink:to="loc_egp_NetProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock_801b02af-24f7-468b-893b-bf466cbefb3c" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_ForwardEquityOfferingActivityRollForward_ec141661-5cab-4279-9c1f-f95cf964cb30" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_ForwardEquityOfferingActivityRollForward"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_MarketableSecuritiesLineItems_c2b66293-ea5c-4d7c-baf0-a1b6bee22917" xlink:to="loc_egp_ForwardEquityOfferingActivityRollForward_ec141661-5cab-4279-9c1f-f95cf964cb30" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_ForwardSaleAgreementsOutstandingShares_202c9ecc-274d-49ac-8ef7-9a882898079b" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_ForwardSaleAgreementsOutstandingShares"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_egp_ForwardEquityOfferingActivityRollForward_ec141661-5cab-4279-9c1f-f95cf964cb30" xlink:to="loc_egp_ForwardSaleAgreementsOutstandingShares_202c9ecc-274d-49ac-8ef7-9a882898079b" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_ForwardSaleAgreementsOutstandingPricePerShare_bda7396a-6b2f-457f-86fe-f736ade40e49" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_ForwardSaleAgreementsOutstandingPricePerShare"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_egp_ForwardEquityOfferingActivityRollForward_ec141661-5cab-4279-9c1f-f95cf964cb30" xlink:to="loc_egp_ForwardSaleAgreementsOutstandingPricePerShare_bda7396a-6b2f-457f-86fe-f736ade40e49" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_ForwardSaleAgreementsOutstandingValue_9ed3a581-f5cf-4802-b6ba-6ad0afadd426" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_ForwardSaleAgreementsOutstandingValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_egp_ForwardEquityOfferingActivityRollForward_ec141661-5cab-4279-9c1f-f95cf964cb30" xlink:to="loc_egp_ForwardSaleAgreementsOutstandingValue_9ed3a581-f5cf-4802-b6ba-6ad0afadd426" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_ForwardSaleAgreementsSettledShares_335b5981-e624-4c00-8d91-c2693e130fe5" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_ForwardSaleAgreementsSettledShares"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_egp_ForwardEquityOfferingActivityRollForward_ec141661-5cab-4279-9c1f-f95cf964cb30" xlink:to="loc_egp_ForwardSaleAgreementsSettledShares_335b5981-e624-4c00-8d91-c2693e130fe5" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_ForwardSaleAgreementsSettledPricePerShare_2989c2b3-559a-445d-b1e2-b0827b19f016" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_ForwardSaleAgreementsSettledPricePerShare"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_egp_ForwardEquityOfferingActivityRollForward_ec141661-5cab-4279-9c1f-f95cf964cb30" xlink:to="loc_egp_ForwardSaleAgreementsSettledPricePerShare_2989c2b3-559a-445d-b1e2-b0827b19f016" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_ForwardSaleAgreementsSettledValue_36fe7093-bbcc-45d1-8cb3-c582b7a85616" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_ForwardSaleAgreementsSettledValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_egp_ForwardEquityOfferingActivityRollForward_ec141661-5cab-4279-9c1f-f95cf964cb30" xlink:to="loc_egp_ForwardSaleAgreementsSettledValue_36fe7093-bbcc-45d1-8cb3-c582b7a85616" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_ForwardAgreementsSettledNetProceeds_205ef62f-70bd-4a1f-bc72-69322315571d" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_ForwardAgreementsSettledNetProceeds"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_egp_ForwardEquityOfferingActivityRollForward_ec141661-5cab-4279-9c1f-f95cf964cb30" xlink:to="loc_egp_ForwardAgreementsSettledNetProceeds_205ef62f-70bd-4a1f-bc72-69322315571d" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_NewForwardSaleAgreements_b0329525-5c02-4345-8404-cc62f9f28994" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_NewForwardSaleAgreements"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_egp_ForwardEquityOfferingActivityRollForward_ec141661-5cab-4279-9c1f-f95cf964cb30" xlink:to="loc_egp_NewForwardSaleAgreements_b0329525-5c02-4345-8404-cc62f9f28994" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_NewForwardSaleAgreementsPricePerShare_26c1e79c-c40a-4411-9627-7806b20fac0e" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_NewForwardSaleAgreementsPricePerShare"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_egp_ForwardEquityOfferingActivityRollForward_ec141661-5cab-4279-9c1f-f95cf964cb30" xlink:to="loc_egp_NewForwardSaleAgreementsPricePerShare_26c1e79c-c40a-4411-9627-7806b20fac0e" xlink:type="arc" order="9"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_NewForwardSaleAgreementsValue_95be898e-6629-4915-948e-b308bcc66bcc" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_NewForwardSaleAgreementsValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_egp_ForwardEquityOfferingActivityRollForward_ec141661-5cab-4279-9c1f-f95cf964cb30" xlink:to="loc_egp_NewForwardSaleAgreementsValue_95be898e-6629-4915-948e-b308bcc66bcc" xlink:type="arc" order="10"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.eastgroup.net/role/STOCKBASEDCOMPENSATIONDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#STOCKBASEDCOMPENSATIONDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.eastgroup.net/role/STOCKBASEDCOMPENSATIONDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_6a4fcca1-5680-4bcc-b04b-392c6b3872c1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_ee97ba49-bedc-436d-9e69-cb1b9ed104ec" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_6a4fcca1-5680-4bcc-b04b-392c6b3872c1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_ee97ba49-bedc-436d-9e69-cb1b9ed104ec" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_ShareBasedPaymentAwardstypeAxis_b0e5e200-f13a-4d7d-a7da-fe5c007d1a7a" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_ShareBasedPaymentAwardstypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_ee97ba49-bedc-436d-9e69-cb1b9ed104ec" xlink:to="loc_egp_ShareBasedPaymentAwardstypeAxis_b0e5e200-f13a-4d7d-a7da-fe5c007d1a7a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_ShareBasedPaymentAwardsTypeDomain_b0e5e200-f13a-4d7d-a7da-fe5c007d1a7a_default" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_ShareBasedPaymentAwardsTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_egp_ShareBasedPaymentAwardstypeAxis_b0e5e200-f13a-4d7d-a7da-fe5c007d1a7a" xlink:to="loc_egp_ShareBasedPaymentAwardsTypeDomain_b0e5e200-f13a-4d7d-a7da-fe5c007d1a7a_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_ShareBasedPaymentAwardsTypeDomain_6e025b79-6041-4bf8-bcf8-16abc419fe4e" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_ShareBasedPaymentAwardsTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_egp_ShareBasedPaymentAwardstypeAxis_b0e5e200-f13a-4d7d-a7da-fe5c007d1a7a" xlink:to="loc_egp_ShareBasedPaymentAwardsTypeDomain_6e025b79-6041-4bf8-bcf8-16abc419fe4e" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember_b86b8793-a577-4cac-be93-d5e5f5a0058c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_egp_ShareBasedPaymentAwardsTypeDomain_6e025b79-6041-4bf8-bcf8-16abc419fe4e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember_b86b8793-a577-4cac-be93-d5e5f5a0058c" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_CompanyPerformanceBasedAwardMember_938b44cb-1687-4178-af32-6be3e060c38d" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_CompanyPerformanceBasedAwardMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_egp_ShareBasedPaymentAwardsTypeDomain_6e025b79-6041-4bf8-bcf8-16abc419fe4e" xlink:to="loc_egp_CompanyPerformanceBasedAwardMember_938b44cb-1687-4178-af32-6be3e060c38d" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_IndividualPerformanceBasedAwardMember_7bf4d36f-701a-4c9c-b26c-acf5c475c23a" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_IndividualPerformanceBasedAwardMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_egp_ShareBasedPaymentAwardsTypeDomain_6e025b79-6041-4bf8-bcf8-16abc419fe4e" xlink:to="loc_egp_IndividualPerformanceBasedAwardMember_7bf4d36f-701a-4c9c-b26c-acf5c475c23a" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_TotalShareholderReturnMember_925a32b7-913a-477f-8bb2-1598706458b2" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_TotalShareholderReturnMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_egp_ShareBasedPaymentAwardsTypeDomain_6e025b79-6041-4bf8-bcf8-16abc419fe4e" xlink:to="loc_egp_TotalShareholderReturnMember_925a32b7-913a-477f-8bb2-1598706458b2" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_ContinuingEmployementAwardsMember_d674cd3b-edb8-4915-b71c-cb8a00a1735a" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_ContinuingEmployementAwardsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_egp_ShareBasedPaymentAwardsTypeDomain_6e025b79-6041-4bf8-bcf8-16abc419fe4e" xlink:to="loc_egp_ContinuingEmployementAwardsMember_d674cd3b-edb8-4915-b71c-cb8a00a1735a" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_AwardRecipientTypeAxis_81909384-ec60-4251-8c10-06c71730f2ea" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_AwardRecipientTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_ee97ba49-bedc-436d-9e69-cb1b9ed104ec" xlink:to="loc_egp_AwardRecipientTypeAxis_81909384-ec60-4251-8c10-06c71730f2ea" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_AwardRecipientTypeDomain_81909384-ec60-4251-8c10-06c71730f2ea_default" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_AwardRecipientTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_egp_AwardRecipientTypeAxis_81909384-ec60-4251-8c10-06c71730f2ea" xlink:to="loc_egp_AwardRecipientTypeDomain_81909384-ec60-4251-8c10-06c71730f2ea_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_AwardRecipientTypeDomain_a9516854-c109-47f3-a156-edec49dec36e" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_AwardRecipientTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_egp_AwardRecipientTypeAxis_81909384-ec60-4251-8c10-06c71730f2ea" xlink:to="loc_egp_AwardRecipientTypeDomain_a9516854-c109-47f3-a156-edec49dec36e" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ExecutiveOfficerMember_c3894cb8-5ae2-491c-8332-4e968c8e19e1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2023/elts/srt-2023.xsd#srt_ExecutiveOfficerMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_egp_AwardRecipientTypeDomain_a9516854-c109-47f3-a156-edec49dec36e" xlink:to="loc_srt_ExecutiveOfficerMember_c3894cb8-5ae2-491c-8332-4e968c8e19e1" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_AwardRecipientTypeEmployeeMember_ee46528b-96d2-4512-88b6-310d19e0963b" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_AwardRecipientTypeEmployeeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_egp_AwardRecipientTypeDomain_a9516854-c109-47f3-a156-edec49dec36e" xlink:to="loc_egp_AwardRecipientTypeEmployeeMember_ee46528b-96d2-4512-88b6-310d19e0963b" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_AwardRecipientTypeDirectorMember_e6dc4cf8-39b7-48a7-840d-d2e9e963afcf" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_AwardRecipientTypeDirectorMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_egp_AwardRecipientTypeDomain_a9516854-c109-47f3-a156-edec49dec36e" xlink:to="loc_egp_AwardRecipientTypeDirectorMember_e6dc4cf8-39b7-48a7-840d-d2e9e963afcf" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_VestingAxis_4a4409de-0a48-430a-8367-c36a28c2750e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_VestingAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_ee97ba49-bedc-436d-9e69-cb1b9ed104ec" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_VestingAxis_4a4409de-0a48-430a-8367-c36a28c2750e" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_VestingDomain_4a4409de-0a48-430a-8367-c36a28c2750e_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_VestingDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_VestingAxis_4a4409de-0a48-430a-8367-c36a28c2750e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_VestingDomain_4a4409de-0a48-430a-8367-c36a28c2750e_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_VestingDomain_fa4cc50b-c674-46e6-a0dc-d14c97a754e1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_VestingDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_VestingAxis_4a4409de-0a48-430a-8367-c36a28c2750e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_VestingDomain_fa4cc50b-c674-46e6-a0dc-d14c97a754e1" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_EndOfOneYearPerformancePeriodMember_e82d50da-5fb7-47eb-829f-0c8f4355531b" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_EndOfOneYearPerformancePeriodMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_VestingDomain_fa4cc50b-c674-46e6-a0dc-d14c97a754e1" xlink:to="loc_egp_EndOfOneYearPerformancePeriodMember_e82d50da-5fb7-47eb-829f-0c8f4355531b" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_FollowingYearAfterPerformancePeriodMember_42c4d17f-0ef6-4a43-ae73-a421e42f5244" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_FollowingYearAfterPerformancePeriodMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_VestingDomain_fa4cc50b-c674-46e6-a0dc-d14c97a754e1" xlink:to="loc_egp_FollowingYearAfterPerformancePeriodMember_42c4d17f-0ef6-4a43-ae73-a421e42f5244" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_EachYearOf4YearServicePeriodMember_6a7944af-de04-40d9-ba02-4d8980088b1f" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_EachYearOf4YearServicePeriodMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_VestingDomain_fa4cc50b-c674-46e6-a0dc-d14c97a754e1" xlink:to="loc_egp_EachYearOf4YearServicePeriodMember_6a7944af-de04-40d9-ba02-4d8980088b1f" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_EachOfTheFollowingTwoYearsMember_f1f716a7-17ef-4337-b63b-33966f160023" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_EachOfTheFollowingTwoYearsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_VestingDomain_fa4cc50b-c674-46e6-a0dc-d14c97a754e1" xlink:to="loc_egp_EachOfTheFollowingTwoYearsMember_f1f716a7-17ef-4337-b63b-33966f160023" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_EndOfThreeYearPerformancePeriodMember_2751879f-ffc3-4950-b4dd-01ce91ee1fa6" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_EndOfThreeYearPerformancePeriodMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_VestingDomain_fa4cc50b-c674-46e6-a0dc-d14c97a754e1" xlink:to="loc_egp_EndOfThreeYearPerformancePeriodMember_2751879f-ffc3-4950-b4dd-01ce91ee1fa6" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense_3fc70371-f994-4e94-8194-6f38b17e9469" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_6a4fcca1-5680-4bcc-b04b-392c6b3872c1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense_3fc70371-f994-4e94-8194-6f38b17e9469" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsCapitalizedAmount_9f4f0fff-d454-4f6e-b960-f8ecff4ac504" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsCapitalizedAmount"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_6a4fcca1-5680-4bcc-b04b-392c6b3872c1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsCapitalizedAmount_9f4f0fff-d454-4f6e-b960-f8ecff4ac504" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SharesPaidForTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation_0822768f-b3d7-493c-8407-7dc2393e9b44" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_SharesPaidForTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_6a4fcca1-5680-4bcc-b04b-392c6b3872c1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SharesPaidForTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation_0822768f-b3d7-493c-8407-7dc2393e9b44" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_FairValueOfSharesVestedAsOfVestingDate_594fad59-db76-4c17-a3de-69ed719e0521" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_FairValueOfSharesVestedAsOfVestingDate"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_6a4fcca1-5680-4bcc-b04b-392c6b3872c1" xlink:to="loc_egp_FairValueOfSharesVestedAsOfVestingDate_594fad59-db76-4c17-a3de-69ed719e0521" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsPotentialGrantsInFuturePeriodMinimum_9a255804-7aaf-4554-b756-bf58eb3b240e" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsPotentialGrantsInFuturePeriodMinimum"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_6a4fcca1-5680-4bcc-b04b-392c6b3872c1" xlink:to="loc_egp_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsPotentialGrantsInFuturePeriodMinimum_9a255804-7aaf-4554-b756-bf58eb3b240e" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsPotentialGrantsInFuturePeriodMaximum_263111c0-cfce-44dd-ad83-9100b6196edb" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsPotentialGrantsInFuturePeriodMaximum"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_6a4fcca1-5680-4bcc-b04b-392c6b3872c1" xlink:to="loc_egp_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsPotentialGrantsInFuturePeriodMaximum_263111c0-cfce-44dd-ad83-9100b6196edb" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber_534643c1-53e6-4f1e-8b15-5cea1fa16bba" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_6a4fcca1-5680-4bcc-b04b-392c6b3872c1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber_534643c1-53e6-4f1e-8b15-5cea1fa16bba" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue_c00d9221-aaa9-4feb-84f5-3bdce77b6567" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_6a4fcca1-5680-4bcc-b04b-392c6b3872c1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue_c00d9221-aaa9-4feb-84f5-3bdce77b6567" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod_ae8683ec-58a4-46c8-9e7a-f26ef1702d1b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_6a4fcca1-5680-4bcc-b04b-392c6b3872c1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod_ae8683ec-58a4-46c8-9e7a-f26ef1702d1b" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue_1dda0f8f-c9f0-4d4b-889a-fe880ac9a87e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_6a4fcca1-5680-4bcc-b04b-392c6b3872c1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue_1dda0f8f-c9f0-4d4b-889a-fe880ac9a87e" xlink:type="arc" order="9"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNonOptionEquityInstrumentsForfeitures_292f0266-90c1-44a6-b057-9b8f7aa95dc6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNonOptionEquityInstrumentsForfeitures"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_6a4fcca1-5680-4bcc-b04b-392c6b3872c1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNonOptionEquityInstrumentsForfeitures_292f0266-90c1-44a6-b057-9b8f7aa95dc6" xlink:type="arc" order="10"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeituresWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue_01b28911-3e94-48e2-9e79-a9a66179eb2c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeituresWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_6a4fcca1-5680-4bcc-b04b-392c6b3872c1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeituresWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue_01b28911-3e94-48e2-9e79-a9a66179eb2c" xlink:type="arc" order="11"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod_4fbf9a6e-d888-4a04-8b2f-00d9c646ed8c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_6a4fcca1-5680-4bcc-b04b-392c6b3872c1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod_4fbf9a6e-d888-4a04-8b2f-00d9c646ed8c" xlink:type="arc" order="12"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue_529a3a3e-6771-42cb-b0d4-f5bd7f0b0d6c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_6a4fcca1-5680-4bcc-b04b-392c6b3872c1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue_529a3a3e-6771-42cb-b0d4-f5bd7f0b0d6c" xlink:type="arc" order="13"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_FairValueOfSharesGrantedAsOfTheGrantDates_22a945f4-0d88-45d3-ab34-4e272705babf" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_FairValueOfSharesGrantedAsOfTheGrantDates"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_6a4fcca1-5680-4bcc-b04b-392c6b3872c1" xlink:to="loc_egp_FairValueOfSharesGrantedAsOfTheGrantDates_22a945f4-0d88-45d3-ab34-4e272705babf" xlink:type="arc" order="14"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingRightsPercentage_ea9e2814-9da8-4ac5-bb33-344785c6ae1f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingRightsPercentage"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_6a4fcca1-5680-4bcc-b04b-392c6b3872c1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingRightsPercentage_ea9e2814-9da8-4ac5-bb33-344785c6ae1f" xlink:type="arc" order="15"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardRequisiteServicePeriod1_c7b0249c-244b-4a2d-a5b8-1ce312e78777" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardRequisiteServicePeriod1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_6a4fcca1-5680-4bcc-b04b-392c6b3872c1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardRequisiteServicePeriod1_c7b0249c-244b-4a2d-a5b8-1ce312e78777" xlink:type="arc" order="16"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.eastgroup.net/role/FAIRVALUEOFFINANCIALINSTRUMENTSDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#FAIRVALUEOFFINANCIALINSTRUMENTSDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.eastgroup.net/role/FAIRVALUEOFFINANCIALINSTRUMENTSDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueBalanceSheetGroupingFinancialStatementCaptionsLineItems_da84ac66-8f59-4445-b1b2-044e9d37b19f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueBalanceSheetGroupingFinancialStatementCaptionsLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingTable_f15e3290-e744-480f-b679-8cb2a6fc21e6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueBalanceSheetGroupingFinancialStatementCaptionsLineItems_da84ac66-8f59-4445-b1b2-044e9d37b19f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingTable_f15e3290-e744-480f-b679-8cb2a6fc21e6" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis_28dcbede-6670-45bc-82b9-f80c3f64da37" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingTable_f15e3290-e744-480f-b679-8cb2a6fc21e6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis_28dcbede-6670-45bc-82b9-f80c3f64da37" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember_28dcbede-6670-45bc-82b9-f80c3f64da37_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis_28dcbede-6670-45bc-82b9-f80c3f64da37" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember_28dcbede-6670-45bc-82b9-f80c3f64da37_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueDisclosureItemAmountsDomain_90e9418f-4ab2-4d17-8a0a-b86e91dafe98" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueDisclosureItemAmountsDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis_28dcbede-6670-45bc-82b9-f80c3f64da37" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueDisclosureItemAmountsDomain_90e9418f-4ab2-4d17-8a0a-b86e91dafe98" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember_4f8f1b04-91b7-4617-95fa-fc82022a4364" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueDisclosureItemAmountsDomain_90e9418f-4ab2-4d17-8a0a-b86e91dafe98" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember_4f8f1b04-91b7-4617-95fa-fc82022a4364" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember_3368ccbb-60cf-4728-9dd9-a5407f318788" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueDisclosureItemAmountsDomain_90e9418f-4ab2-4d17-8a0a-b86e91dafe98" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember_3368ccbb-60cf-4728-9dd9-a5407f318788" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember_8060b6db-4a2f-43be-bb8e-887e6203cb80" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueDisclosureItemAmountsDomain_90e9418f-4ab2-4d17-8a0a-b86e91dafe98" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember_8060b6db-4a2f-43be-bb8e-887e6203cb80" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentsFinancialAssetsBalanceSheetGroupingsAbstract_52108df6-2fc8-4bd6-b3c8-ca03940ae8dc" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentsFinancialAssetsBalanceSheetGroupingsAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueBalanceSheetGroupingFinancialStatementCaptionsLineItems_da84ac66-8f59-4445-b1b2-044e9d37b19f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentsFinancialAssetsBalanceSheetGroupingsAbstract_52108df6-2fc8-4bd6-b3c8-ca03940ae8dc" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure_979d5cba-bb43-4bfd-9fe5-553f96afb924" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentsFinancialAssetsBalanceSheetGroupingsAbstract_52108df6-2fc8-4bd6-b3c8-ca03940ae8dc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure_979d5cba-bb43-4bfd-9fe5-553f96afb924" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InterestRateDerivativeAssetsAtFairValue_bbbccf46-07e2-46e0-bb5c-46374921751c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_InterestRateDerivativeAssetsAtFairValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentsFinancialAssetsBalanceSheetGroupingsAbstract_52108df6-2fc8-4bd6-b3c8-ca03940ae8dc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InterestRateDerivativeAssetsAtFairValue_bbbccf46-07e2-46e0-bb5c-46374921751c" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentsFinancialLiabilitiesBalanceSheetGroupingsAbstract_46a7ea20-6196-4c0c-a02f-5d4967893003" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentsFinancialLiabilitiesBalanceSheetGroupingsAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueBalanceSheetGroupingFinancialStatementCaptionsLineItems_da84ac66-8f59-4445-b1b2-044e9d37b19f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentsFinancialLiabilitiesBalanceSheetGroupingsAbstract_46a7ea20-6196-4c0c-a02f-5d4967893003" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityFairValueOfAmountOutstanding_4cbbd822-db66-4dd8-aa72-e959a367fd4d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityFairValueOfAmountOutstanding"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentsFinancialLiabilitiesBalanceSheetGroupingsAbstract_46a7ea20-6196-4c0c-a02f-5d4967893003" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityFairValueOfAmountOutstanding_4cbbd822-db66-4dd8-aa72-e959a367fd4d" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_UnsecuredDebt_92ec5279-70d8-444c-8832-a0efd79e21e7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_UnsecuredDebt"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentsFinancialLiabilitiesBalanceSheetGroupingsAbstract_46a7ea20-6196-4c0c-a02f-5d4967893003" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_UnsecuredDebt_92ec5279-70d8-444c-8832-a0efd79e21e7" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InterestRateDerivativeLiabilitiesAtFairValue_07bd95ee-fdda-4c92-85f2-ec9d733a1165" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_InterestRateDerivativeLiabilitiesAtFairValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentsFinancialLiabilitiesBalanceSheetGroupingsAbstract_46a7ea20-6196-4c0c-a02f-5d4967893003" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InterestRateDerivativeLiabilitiesAtFairValue_07bd95ee-fdda-4c92-85f2-ec9d733a1165" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.eastgroup.net/role/SUBSEQUENTEVENTSDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#SUBSEQUENTEVENTSDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.eastgroup.net/role/SUBSEQUENTEVENTSDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventLineItems_2472ca8a-31a2-49c5-b497-9642c033cc5f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_SubsequentEventLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTable_6d27cff0-38e5-477c-bcd7-75f27a5f66af" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_SubsequentEventTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventLineItems_2472ca8a-31a2-49c5-b497-9642c033cc5f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTable_6d27cff0-38e5-477c-bcd7-75f27a5f66af" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis_4fe70427-0bad-446a-bdad-05417cc3c01e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTable_6d27cff0-38e5-477c-bcd7-75f27a5f66af" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis_4fe70427-0bad-446a-bdad-05417cc3c01e" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeDomain_4fe70427-0bad-446a-bdad-05417cc3c01e_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis_4fe70427-0bad-446a-bdad-05417cc3c01e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeDomain_4fe70427-0bad-446a-bdad-05417cc3c01e_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeDomain_c4382823-1688-445c-b84a-7aca097cad81" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis_4fe70427-0bad-446a-bdad-05417cc3c01e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeDomain_c4382823-1688-445c-b84a-7aca097cad81" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember_46b94c10-d363-439e-8852-cd9c1cd9cb01" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeDomain_c4382823-1688-445c-b84a-7aca097cad81" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember_46b94c10-d363-439e-8852-cd9c1cd9cb01" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SubsidiarySaleOfStockAxis_ee6922f6-e494-40fc-86ce-7fe7465bb59d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_SubsidiarySaleOfStockAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTable_6d27cff0-38e5-477c-bcd7-75f27a5f66af" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SubsidiarySaleOfStockAxis_ee6922f6-e494-40fc-86ce-7fe7465bb59d" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SaleOfStockNameOfTransactionDomain_ee6922f6-e494-40fc-86ce-7fe7465bb59d_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_SaleOfStockNameOfTransactionDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SubsidiarySaleOfStockAxis_ee6922f6-e494-40fc-86ce-7fe7465bb59d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SaleOfStockNameOfTransactionDomain_ee6922f6-e494-40fc-86ce-7fe7465bb59d_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SaleOfStockNameOfTransactionDomain_872167ec-ca18-406b-9d8e-546bcf04eb3d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_SaleOfStockNameOfTransactionDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SubsidiarySaleOfStockAxis_ee6922f6-e494-40fc-86ce-7fe7465bb59d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SaleOfStockNameOfTransactionDomain_872167ec-ca18-406b-9d8e-546bcf04eb3d" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_egp_DirectCommonStockIssuancesMember_0766de77-3274-4e51-9153-cf58127af3d4" xlink:href="egp-20240630.xsd#egp_DirectCommonStockIssuancesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SaleOfStockNameOfTransactionDomain_872167ec-ca18-406b-9d8e-546bcf04eb3d" xlink:to="loc_egp_DirectCommonStockIssuancesMember_0766de77-3274-4e51-9153-cf58127af3d4" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueNewIssues_f24016b8-7cfc-4de1-9312-9d7c49a61673" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueNewIssues"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventLineItems_2472ca8a-31a2-49c5-b497-9642c033cc5f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueNewIssues_f24016b8-7cfc-4de1-9312-9d7c49a61673" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SaleOfStockPricePerShare_9e306cb2-ccc1-4155-a107-29261b95df64" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_SaleOfStockPricePerShare"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventLineItems_2472ca8a-31a2-49c5-b497-9642c033cc5f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SaleOfStockPricePerShare_9e306cb2-ccc1-4155-a107-29261b95df64" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesNewIssues_1eda2b87-17fb-4eba-b7e1-375cc9e62112" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2023/elts/us-gaap-2023.xsd#us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesNewIssues"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventLineItems_2472ca8a-31a2-49c5-b497-9642c033cc5f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesNewIssues_1eda2b87-17fb-4eba-b7e1-375cc9e62112" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
</link:linkbase>
