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

<!--XBRL Document Created with Wdesk from Workiva-->
<!--Copyright 2021 Workiva-->
<!--r:bbbddde0-8876-47c2-b370-0645024231a0,g:a3ac8b74-ce78-4a7a-8efc-13c38c562eb9-->
<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.intuitivesurgical.com/role/CondensedConsolidatedStatementsofComprehensiveIncomeUnaudited" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="isrg-20210630.xsd#CondensedConsolidatedStatementsofComprehensiveIncomeUnaudited"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.intuitivesurgical.com/role/CondensedConsolidatedStatementsofComprehensiveIncomeUnaudited" xlink:type="extended" id="iceca0ff481004405a11ae15f1631c146_CondensedConsolidatedStatementsofComprehensiveIncomeUnaudited">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_9a4f647d-82e6-44c3-a11e-914c17e63625" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StatementLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevenuesAbstract_dbda7611-5c80-4f7d-a151-cb43d7fe38a1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_RevenuesAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_9a4f647d-82e6-44c3-a11e-914c17e63625" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevenuesAbstract_dbda7611-5c80-4f7d-a151-cb43d7fe38a1" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax_7535d12f-8a2c-411a-9243-c5b0e45da32f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RevenuesAbstract_dbda7611-5c80-4f7d-a151-cb43d7fe38a1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax_7535d12f-8a2c-411a-9243-c5b0e45da32f" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CostOfRevenueAbstract_238d754b-63ee-4304-bbce-38a7795aa570" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CostOfRevenueAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_9a4f647d-82e6-44c3-a11e-914c17e63625" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CostOfRevenueAbstract_238d754b-63ee-4304-bbce-38a7795aa570" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold_5997aca1-675c-49f5-b38a-1a1f7ed24253" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CostOfRevenueAbstract_238d754b-63ee-4304-bbce-38a7795aa570" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold_5997aca1-675c-49f5-b38a-1a1f7ed24253" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_GrossProfit_82af77ff-de03-4118-b4b3-4750dc40be8e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_GrossProfit"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_9a4f647d-82e6-44c3-a11e-914c17e63625" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_GrossProfit_82af77ff-de03-4118-b4b3-4750dc40be8e" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OperatingExpensesAbstract_a5371a96-0243-48e1-a6b2-4bf96723e341" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_OperatingExpensesAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_9a4f647d-82e6-44c3-a11e-914c17e63625" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OperatingExpensesAbstract_a5371a96-0243-48e1-a6b2-4bf96723e341" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense_9631bb57-2626-4937-a55d-a6259096790a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_OperatingExpensesAbstract_a5371a96-0243-48e1-a6b2-4bf96723e341" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense_9631bb57-2626-4937-a55d-a6259096790a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense_cc7d9e23-c317-47a4-8d4b-2cd8f25e9a56" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_OperatingExpensesAbstract_a5371a96-0243-48e1-a6b2-4bf96723e341" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense_cc7d9e23-c317-47a4-8d4b-2cd8f25e9a56" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OperatingExpenses_589df9c4-25d7-4e51-869a-eda552ba48ef" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_OperatingExpenses"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_OperatingExpensesAbstract_a5371a96-0243-48e1-a6b2-4bf96723e341" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OperatingExpenses_589df9c4-25d7-4e51-869a-eda552ba48ef" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss_c480891e-f4f0-4417-a180-f4077eb92c6c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_9a4f647d-82e6-44c3-a11e-914c17e63625" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss_c480891e-f4f0-4417-a180-f4077eb92c6c" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense_83ca4ec8-d3d6-453d-aa74-56f99b08e05d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_9a4f647d-82e6-44c3-a11e-914c17e63625" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense_83ca4ec8-d3d6-453d-aa74-56f99b08e05d" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments_9e721dfe-e774-4a75-a5c0-8cbb569d601a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_9a4f647d-82e6-44c3-a11e-914c17e63625" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments_9e721dfe-e774-4a75-a5c0-8cbb569d601a" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit_52cde0fd-4e34-4b75-b8dd-688d82fc0a07" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_9a4f647d-82e6-44c3-a11e-914c17e63625" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit_52cde0fd-4e34-4b75-b8dd-688d82fc0a07" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ProfitLoss_4b32dba5-3d51-4475-8ddc-162d962c246c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ProfitLoss"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_9a4f647d-82e6-44c3-a11e-914c17e63625" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ProfitLoss_4b32dba5-3d51-4475-8ddc-162d962c246c" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest_9cb75612-0f9e-4b5a-b719-e1716fb4e35e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_9a4f647d-82e6-44c3-a11e-914c17e63625" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest_9cb75612-0f9e-4b5a-b719-e1716fb4e35e" xlink:type="arc" order="9"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss_9255dc3c-3466-4368-9c05-e93cde51d55c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_9a4f647d-82e6-44c3-a11e-914c17e63625" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss_9255dc3c-3466-4368-9c05-e93cde51d55c" xlink:type="arc" order="10"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EarningsPerShareAbstract_4b5eac2f-1ccf-4c9a-8d11-c235d843bc6a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EarningsPerShareAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_9a4f647d-82e6-44c3-a11e-914c17e63625" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EarningsPerShareAbstract_4b5eac2f-1ccf-4c9a-8d11-c235d843bc6a" xlink:type="arc" order="11"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic_f97bee41-aac6-469a-9df0-bad9e1d522d9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EarningsPerShareAbstract_4b5eac2f-1ccf-4c9a-8d11-c235d843bc6a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic_f97bee41-aac6-469a-9df0-bad9e1d522d9" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted_e4a3742b-deb3-4f16-ae78-7b8ac53ecbaf" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EarningsPerShareAbstract_4b5eac2f-1ccf-4c9a-8d11-c235d843bc6a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted_e4a3742b-deb3-4f16-ae78-7b8ac53ecbaf" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingAbstract_e056698a-e97d-4174-8ca1-e2c1d3191031" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_9a4f647d-82e6-44c3-a11e-914c17e63625" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingAbstract_e056698a-e97d-4174-8ca1-e2c1d3191031" xlink:type="arc" order="12"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic_ed759da0-cf01-444c-a42b-199860da11d3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingAbstract_e056698a-e97d-4174-8ca1-e2c1d3191031" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic_ed759da0-cf01-444c-a42b-199860da11d3" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding_3ce26422-0195-4a48-8990-f7efc42586e9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingAbstract_e056698a-e97d-4174-8ca1-e2c1d3191031" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding_3ce26422-0195-4a48-8990-f7efc42586e9" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest_bd409c0e-c8ae-420e-b75a-74353696819e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_9a4f647d-82e6-44c3-a11e-914c17e63625" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest_bd409c0e-c8ae-420e-b75a-74353696819e" xlink:type="arc" order="13"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest_342a1ffb-de29-4d14-8994-9ff591fc8af7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_9a4f647d-82e6-44c3-a11e-914c17e63625" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest_342a1ffb-de29-4d14-8994-9ff591fc8af7" xlink:type="arc" order="14"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax_bcc141eb-1730-4392-bd05-c8efa51dadb0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_9a4f647d-82e6-44c3-a11e-914c17e63625" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax_bcc141eb-1730-4392-bd05-c8efa51dadb0" xlink:type="arc" order="15"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementTable_0e974ff3-ada6-4734-8351-8aad72e5d37e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StatementTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_9a4f647d-82e6-44c3-a11e-914c17e63625" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementTable_0e974ff3-ada6-4734-8351-8aad72e5d37e" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_b64c7cd1-0dac-4c72-a78b-2504386725f2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2021/elts/srt-2021-01-31.xsd#srt_ProductOrServiceAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementTable_0e974ff3-ada6-4734-8351-8aad72e5d37e" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_b64c7cd1-0dac-4c72-a78b-2504386725f2" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_b64c7cd1-0dac-4c72-a78b-2504386725f2_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2021/elts/srt-2021-01-31.xsd#srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_b64c7cd1-0dac-4c72-a78b-2504386725f2" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_b64c7cd1-0dac-4c72-a78b-2504386725f2_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_7cf4e7c0-a4ab-4ad4-9fc6-f6c7987e396e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2021/elts/srt-2021-01-31.xsd#srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_b64c7cd1-0dac-4c72-a78b-2504386725f2" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_7cf4e7c0-a4ab-4ad4-9fc6-f6c7987e396e" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ProductMember_6c548033-23ae-4fc1-b070-d373e3aa1e28" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ProductMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_7cf4e7c0-a4ab-4ad4-9fc6-f6c7987e396e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ProductMember_6c548033-23ae-4fc1-b070-d373e3aa1e28" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ServiceMember_bb4020d2-bf04-45b1-8496-d84ed991b494" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ServiceMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_7cf4e7c0-a4ab-4ad4-9fc6-f6c7987e396e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ServiceMember_bb4020d2-bf04-45b1-8496-d84ed991b494" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.intuitivesurgical.com/role/FINANCIALINSTRUMENTSSummaryofCashandAvailableForSaleSecuritiesDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="isrg-20210630.xsd#FINANCIALINSTRUMENTSSummaryofCashandAvailableForSaleSecuritiesDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.intuitivesurgical.com/role/FINANCIALINSTRUMENTSSummaryofCashandAvailableForSaleSecuritiesDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="icab4877fc69a437c9153191398de94ee_FINANCIALINSTRUMENTSSummaryofCashandAvailableForSaleSecuritiesDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesLineItems_796c567d-275b-4654-b5a7-51fa00efe7ae" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue_4e1a220d-6857-48e6-b768-9eab5f738906" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesLineItems_796c567d-275b-4654-b5a7-51fa00efe7ae" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue_4e1a220d-6857-48e6-b768-9eab5f738906" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure_7eb00998-27d2-497a-b2a4-b06794c8d83b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesLineItems_796c567d-275b-4654-b5a7-51fa00efe7ae" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure_7eb00998-27d2-497a-b2a4-b06794c8d83b" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAmortizedCostBasis_4abd9122-7739-4144-9fe8-44811993096f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAmortizedCostBasis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesLineItems_796c567d-275b-4654-b5a7-51fa00efe7ae" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAmortizedCostBasis_4abd9122-7739-4144-9fe8-44811993096f" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_isrg_CashandCashEquivalentsandDebtSecuritiesAvailableforsaleAmortizedCost_2609d8e3-7ecc-405d-9c15-6535ca3a81d4" xlink:href="isrg-20210630.xsd#isrg_CashandCashEquivalentsandDebtSecuritiesAvailableforsaleAmortizedCost"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesLineItems_796c567d-275b-4654-b5a7-51fa00efe7ae" xlink:to="loc_isrg_CashandCashEquivalentsandDebtSecuritiesAvailableforsaleAmortizedCost_2609d8e3-7ecc-405d-9c15-6535ca3a81d4" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax_5d9f410a-55f5-4a5b-8bec-5506f8511254" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesLineItems_796c567d-275b-4654-b5a7-51fa00efe7ae" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax_5d9f410a-55f5-4a5b-8bec-5506f8511254" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax_7cd68f7b-bdb3-4699-914c-d33e32dd8d21" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesLineItems_796c567d-275b-4654-b5a7-51fa00efe7ae" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax_7cd68f7b-bdb3-4699-914c-d33e32dd8d21" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleAllowanceForCreditLoss_65c7c564-af33-44a8-9984-991e7d8e02aa" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleAllowanceForCreditLoss"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesLineItems_796c567d-275b-4654-b5a7-51fa00efe7ae" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleAllowanceForCreditLoss_65c7c564-af33-44a8-9984-991e7d8e02aa" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities_52f24651-ece1-46a5-b7ff-57ee44af9674" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesLineItems_796c567d-275b-4654-b5a7-51fa00efe7ae" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities_52f24651-ece1-46a5-b7ff-57ee44af9674" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_isrg_CashandCashEquivalentsandDebtSecuritiesAvailableforsaleFairValue_8db01bec-7d2e-4b94-815e-016fc43db9e8" xlink:href="isrg-20210630.xsd#isrg_CashandCashEquivalentsandDebtSecuritiesAvailableforsaleFairValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesLineItems_796c567d-275b-4654-b5a7-51fa00efe7ae" xlink:to="loc_isrg_CashandCashEquivalentsandDebtSecuritiesAvailableforsaleFairValue_8db01bec-7d2e-4b94-815e-016fc43db9e8" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_MarketableSecuritiesCurrent_ac2716cb-7c76-47ec-9c8f-e4a1a648d9bd" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_MarketableSecuritiesCurrent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesLineItems_796c567d-275b-4654-b5a7-51fa00efe7ae" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_MarketableSecuritiesCurrent_ac2716cb-7c76-47ec-9c8f-e4a1a648d9bd" xlink:type="arc" order="9"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_MarketableSecuritiesNoncurrent_f910c859-aa3b-41a6-ae96-128fd630de9c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_MarketableSecuritiesNoncurrent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesLineItems_796c567d-275b-4654-b5a7-51fa00efe7ae" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_MarketableSecuritiesNoncurrent_f910c859-aa3b-41a6-ae96-128fd630de9c" xlink:type="arc" order="10"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesTable_c5789233-7379-4a2b-aa1c-e2b9fc0064e7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesLineItems_796c567d-275b-4654-b5a7-51fa00efe7ae" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesTable_c5789233-7379-4a2b-aa1c-e2b9fc0064e7" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_49fe5914-c256-46a0-b811-4e09fc25c7d3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesTable_c5789233-7379-4a2b-aa1c-e2b9fc0064e7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_49fe5914-c256-46a0-b811-4e09fc25c7d3" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_49fe5914-c256-46a0-b811-4e09fc25c7d3_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_49fe5914-c256-46a0-b811-4e09fc25c7d3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_49fe5914-c256-46a0-b811-4e09fc25c7d3_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_4bbc455e-90bb-49f7-88b1-9f115d763979" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_49fe5914-c256-46a0-b811-4e09fc25c7d3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_4bbc455e-90bb-49f7-88b1-9f115d763979" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member_d712f795-fa6e-4e90-8ba1-9e54df436371" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_4bbc455e-90bb-49f7-88b1-9f115d763979" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member_d712f795-fa6e-4e90-8ba1-9e54df436371" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member_a671a70a-27d6-404a-9828-ada18aab189b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_4bbc455e-90bb-49f7-88b1-9f115d763979" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member_a671a70a-27d6-404a-9828-ada18aab189b" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis_4ed318ac-daea-487a-b641-66c63a222ca9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesTable_c5789233-7379-4a2b-aa1c-e2b9fc0064e7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis_4ed318ac-daea-487a-b641-66c63a222ca9" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain_4ed318ac-daea-487a-b641-66c63a222ca9_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis_4ed318ac-daea-487a-b641-66c63a222ca9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain_4ed318ac-daea-487a-b641-66c63a222ca9_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain_2abd642a-0c2e-48f5-9b57-31438d7f3f5d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis_4ed318ac-daea-487a-b641-66c63a222ca9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain_2abd642a-0c2e-48f5-9b57-31438d7f3f5d" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CashMember_35f6500c-5c1c-425b-be41-efa943d0ac19" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CashMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain_2abd642a-0c2e-48f5-9b57-31438d7f3f5d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CashMember_35f6500c-5c1c-425b-be41-efa943d0ac19" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_MoneyMarketFundsMember_ff4cf1ed-b3eb-42b6-a1c9-c6483ebdc2ad" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_MoneyMarketFundsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain_2abd642a-0c2e-48f5-9b57-31438d7f3f5d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_MoneyMarketFundsMember_ff4cf1ed-b3eb-42b6-a1c9-c6483ebdc2ad" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember_593a8166-2610-4b5f-b230-ce6639a90704" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain_2abd642a-0c2e-48f5-9b57-31438d7f3f5d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember_593a8166-2610-4b5f-b230-ce6639a90704" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommercialPaperMember_1e572c14-381f-4b5c-91ae-92ef94291d55" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CommercialPaperMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain_2abd642a-0c2e-48f5-9b57-31438d7f3f5d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommercialPaperMember_1e572c14-381f-4b5c-91ae-92ef94291d55" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember_01bb581b-9eae-4cac-a9fd-b835b0d61969" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain_2abd642a-0c2e-48f5-9b57-31438d7f3f5d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember_01bb581b-9eae-4cac-a9fd-b835b0d61969" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_USGovernmentAgenciesDebtSecuritiesMember_fb6cfa31-d963-4aeb-9816-5f8b6c9a6ecf" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_USGovernmentAgenciesDebtSecuritiesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain_2abd642a-0c2e-48f5-9b57-31438d7f3f5d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_USGovernmentAgenciesDebtSecuritiesMember_fb6cfa31-d963-4aeb-9816-5f8b6c9a6ecf" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember_270bad10-c4cc-4037-8f46-df4eb54462ea" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain_2abd642a-0c2e-48f5-9b57-31438d7f3f5d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember_270bad10-c4cc-4037-8f46-df4eb54462ea" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_MunicipalNotesMember_c171ba9b-9d0f-40aa-8a68-49f2868d1ec9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_MunicipalNotesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain_2abd642a-0c2e-48f5-9b57-31438d7f3f5d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_MunicipalNotesMember_c171ba9b-9d0f-40aa-8a68-49f2868d1ec9" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.intuitivesurgical.com/role/FINANCIALINSTRUMENTSSummaryofEquityInvestmentActivityDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="isrg-20210630.xsd#FINANCIALINSTRUMENTSSummaryofEquityInvestmentActivityDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.intuitivesurgical.com/role/FINANCIALINSTRUMENTSSummaryofEquityInvestmentActivityDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i5ef5d5c43d6f4aa09fb40b24cb77f2e6_FINANCIALINSTRUMENTSSummaryofEquityInvestmentActivityDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfTradingSecuritiesAndOtherTradingAssetsLineItems_dc48223e-22c5-4d39-8ac6-04baaf8feac3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfTradingSecuritiesAndOtherTradingAssetsLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputReconciliationCalculationRollForward_83e922ba-17e3-4b69-8870-f50073cead5d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputReconciliationCalculationRollForward"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfTradingSecuritiesAndOtherTradingAssetsLineItems_dc48223e-22c5-4d39-8ac6-04baaf8feac3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputReconciliationCalculationRollForward_83e922ba-17e3-4b69-8870-f50073cead5d" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesFvNi_1678993e-3cfe-4304-818e-e2fe7c53bd7b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesFvNi"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputReconciliationCalculationRollForward_83e922ba-17e3-4b69-8870-f50073cead5d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesFvNi_1678993e-3cfe-4304-818e-e2fe7c53bd7b" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesFvNiUnrealizedGainLoss_3fadaff4-e046-4ba0-a861-d439785894ca" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesFvNiUnrealizedGainLoss"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputReconciliationCalculationRollForward_83e922ba-17e3-4b69-8870-f50073cead5d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesFvNiUnrealizedGainLoss_3fadaff4-e046-4ba0-a861-d439785894ca" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_isrg_EquitySecuritiesFVNISalesPurchasesAndOtherAdjustments_8d209aad-5fb7-4830-935e-40efe4f60d0e" xlink:href="isrg-20210630.xsd#isrg_EquitySecuritiesFVNISalesPurchasesAndOtherAdjustments"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputReconciliationCalculationRollForward_83e922ba-17e3-4b69-8870-f50073cead5d" xlink:to="loc_isrg_EquitySecuritiesFVNISalesPurchasesAndOtherAdjustments_8d209aad-5fb7-4830-935e-40efe4f60d0e" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesWithoutReadilyDeterminableFairValueAmount_c86fba01-94a9-4a6d-a996-56fca8ae33d3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesWithoutReadilyDeterminableFairValueAmount"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputReconciliationCalculationRollForward_83e922ba-17e3-4b69-8870-f50073cead5d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesWithoutReadilyDeterminableFairValueAmount_c86fba01-94a9-4a6d-a996-56fca8ae33d3" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_isrg_EquitySecuritiesWithoutReadilyDeterminableFairValueUnrealizedGainLoss_fc07f699-df80-45cc-a413-4f0b9537e8e2" xlink:href="isrg-20210630.xsd#isrg_EquitySecuritiesWithoutReadilyDeterminableFairValueUnrealizedGainLoss"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputReconciliationCalculationRollForward_83e922ba-17e3-4b69-8870-f50073cead5d" xlink:to="loc_isrg_EquitySecuritiesWithoutReadilyDeterminableFairValueUnrealizedGainLoss_fc07f699-df80-45cc-a413-4f0b9537e8e2" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_isrg_EquitySecuritiesWithoutReadilyDeterminableFairValueSalesPurchasesAndOtherAdjustments_6b6a8578-4959-48b5-b280-ea63932827ae" xlink:href="isrg-20210630.xsd#isrg_EquitySecuritiesWithoutReadilyDeterminableFairValueSalesPurchasesAndOtherAdjustments"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputReconciliationCalculationRollForward_83e922ba-17e3-4b69-8870-f50073cead5d" xlink:to="loc_isrg_EquitySecuritiesWithoutReadilyDeterminableFairValueSalesPurchasesAndOtherAdjustments_6b6a8578-4959-48b5-b280-ea63932827ae" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesFvNi_4d9508cb-bed0-45bf-aa39-5513b478f2fa" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesFvNi"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesWithoutReadilyDeterminableFairValueAmount_efb745f0-c34b-487d-9a90-7a094f08ffc5" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesWithoutReadilyDeterminableFairValueAmount"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfTradingSecuritiesAndOtherTradingAssetsTable_7d9efe80-ef46-42f3-8377-df34a2bd8c43" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfTradingSecuritiesAndOtherTradingAssetsTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfTradingSecuritiesAndOtherTradingAssetsLineItems_dc48223e-22c5-4d39-8ac6-04baaf8feac3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfTradingSecuritiesAndOtherTradingAssetsTable_7d9efe80-ef46-42f3-8377-df34a2bd8c43" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis_809a47da-d2bc-41c6-9ba9-1f56ed80037e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfTradingSecuritiesAndOtherTradingAssetsTable_7d9efe80-ef46-42f3-8377-df34a2bd8c43" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis_809a47da-d2bc-41c6-9ba9-1f56ed80037e" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationDomain_809a47da-d2bc-41c6-9ba9-1f56ed80037e_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis_809a47da-d2bc-41c6-9ba9-1f56ed80037e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationDomain_809a47da-d2bc-41c6-9ba9-1f56ed80037e_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationDomain_ba26c30a-0ce8-4a83-8a37-0158ab9de741" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis_809a47da-d2bc-41c6-9ba9-1f56ed80037e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationDomain_ba26c30a-0ce8-4a83-8a37-0158ab9de741" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PrepaidExpensesAndOtherCurrentAssetsMember_3c25fced-ca3b-4dea-a021-8a90f874ec09" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_PrepaidExpensesAndOtherCurrentAssetsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationDomain_ba26c30a-0ce8-4a83-8a37-0158ab9de741" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PrepaidExpensesAndOtherCurrentAssetsMember_3c25fced-ca3b-4dea-a021-8a90f874ec09" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_isrg_IntangibleAndOtherAssetsNetMember_04a7ac87-9e64-423c-becc-842ba06b5815" xlink:href="isrg-20210630.xsd#isrg_IntangibleAndOtherAssetsNetMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationDomain_ba26c30a-0ce8-4a83-8a37-0158ab9de741" xlink:to="loc_isrg_IntangibleAndOtherAssetsNetMember_04a7ac87-9e64-423c-becc-842ba06b5815" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_d68784e2-e640-41b6-9fde-c7e2f53a41e2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfTradingSecuritiesAndOtherTradingAssetsTable_7d9efe80-ef46-42f3-8377-df34a2bd8c43" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_d68784e2-e640-41b6-9fde-c7e2f53a41e2" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_d68784e2-e640-41b6-9fde-c7e2f53a41e2_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_d68784e2-e640-41b6-9fde-c7e2f53a41e2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_d68784e2-e640-41b6-9fde-c7e2f53a41e2_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_3901ba3b-17b0-43d5-8320-8012f0980661" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_d68784e2-e640-41b6-9fde-c7e2f53a41e2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_3901ba3b-17b0-43d5-8320-8012f0980661" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member_2833a614-d628-4aaa-a485-7b9a02043873" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_3901ba3b-17b0-43d5-8320-8012f0980661" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member_2833a614-d628-4aaa-a485-7b9a02043873" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member_0c7823ab-babf-4831-9e54-4d8baf82199d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_3901ba3b-17b0-43d5-8320-8012f0980661" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member_0c7823ab-babf-4831-9e54-4d8baf82199d" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.intuitivesurgical.com/role/FINANCIALINSTRUMENTSDerivativeInstrumentsUsedtoHedgeagainstBalanceSheetForeignCurrencyExposuresDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="isrg-20210630.xsd#FINANCIALINSTRUMENTSDerivativeInstrumentsUsedtoHedgeagainstBalanceSheetForeignCurrencyExposuresDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.intuitivesurgical.com/role/FINANCIALINSTRUMENTSDerivativeInstrumentsUsedtoHedgeagainstBalanceSheetForeignCurrencyExposuresDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i0e4104b8b86a4ecbb8aaa553508b7a65_FINANCIALINSTRUMENTSDerivativeInstrumentsUsedtoHedgeagainstBalanceSheetForeignCurrencyExposuresDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_84a81509-762b-41ca-99ef-489fbd1e2619" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet_ebcf4589-e878-40c8-a081-80244fd39328" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_84a81509-762b-41ca-99ef-489fbd1e2619" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet_ebcf4589-e878-40c8-a081-80244fd39328" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax_ea7247b7-7520-4d95-b16e-e48bd84e4472" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_84a81509-762b-41ca-99ef-489fbd1e2619" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax_ea7247b7-7520-4d95-b16e-e48bd84e4472" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_f95d402f-f656-4cfe-9894-66e8c5c294c9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_84a81509-762b-41ca-99ef-489fbd1e2619" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_f95d402f-f656-4cfe-9894-66e8c5c294c9" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_79145ebd-de41-442d-b6a9-7f4822e11b07" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_f95d402f-f656-4cfe-9894-66e8c5c294c9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_79145ebd-de41-442d-b6a9-7f4822e11b07" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_79145ebd-de41-442d-b6a9-7f4822e11b07_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_79145ebd-de41-442d-b6a9-7f4822e11b07" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_79145ebd-de41-442d-b6a9-7f4822e11b07_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_29e3d79c-4b16-408c-97ee-1ab7dc3023d0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_79145ebd-de41-442d-b6a9-7f4822e11b07" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_29e3d79c-4b16-408c-97ee-1ab7dc3023d0" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember_3875489d-2fd4-4263-b1cd-fa463ccb337d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_29e3d79c-4b16-408c-97ee-1ab7dc3023d0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember_3875489d-2fd4-4263-b1cd-fa463ccb337d" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_isrg_CollarContractMember_fe6ebe86-ca6e-4c69-b647-e55c4b3c7ae9" xlink:href="isrg-20210630.xsd#isrg_CollarContractMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_29e3d79c-4b16-408c-97ee-1ab7dc3023d0" xlink:to="loc_isrg_CollarContractMember_fe6ebe86-ca6e-4c69-b647-e55c4b3c7ae9" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis_68ef70ab-6a17-4210-99d5-2c230c075cbd" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_f95d402f-f656-4cfe-9894-66e8c5c294c9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis_68ef70ab-6a17-4210-99d5-2c230c075cbd" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationDomain_68ef70ab-6a17-4210-99d5-2c230c075cbd_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis_68ef70ab-6a17-4210-99d5-2c230c075cbd" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationDomain_68ef70ab-6a17-4210-99d5-2c230c075cbd_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationDomain_2c05cb45-0e2f-4336-8d1a-b593e7faa416" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis_68ef70ab-6a17-4210-99d5-2c230c075cbd" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationDomain_2c05cb45-0e2f-4336-8d1a-b593e7faa416" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherIncomeMember_da70a301-23e3-444a-ad08-04a34127664d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_OtherIncomeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationDomain_2c05cb45-0e2f-4336-8d1a-b593e7faa416" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherIncomeMember_da70a301-23e3-444a-ad08-04a34127664d" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis_77620204-232d-4d4c-9af8-b4f9c30756c6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_f95d402f-f656-4cfe-9894-66e8c5c294c9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis_77620204-232d-4d4c-9af8-b4f9c30756c6" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationDomain_77620204-232d-4d4c-9af8-b4f9c30756c6_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_HedgingDesignationDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis_77620204-232d-4d4c-9af8-b4f9c30756c6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationDomain_77620204-232d-4d4c-9af8-b4f9c30756c6_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationDomain_30b26401-0bb1-4969-a760-189eb780e52a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_HedgingDesignationDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis_77620204-232d-4d4c-9af8-b4f9c30756c6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationDomain_30b26401-0bb1-4969-a760-189eb780e52a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NondesignatedMember_7096bc63-d272-4f0a-8b4c-62f821f7355a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_NondesignatedMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationDomain_30b26401-0bb1-4969-a760-189eb780e52a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NondesignatedMember_7096bc63-d272-4f0a-8b4c-62f821f7355a" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.intuitivesurgical.com/role/FINANCIALINSTRUMENTSGrossNotionalAmountsforOutstandingDerivativesDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="isrg-20210630.xsd#FINANCIALINSTRUMENTSGrossNotionalAmountsforOutstandingDerivativesDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.intuitivesurgical.com/role/FINANCIALINSTRUMENTSGrossNotionalAmountsforOutstandingDerivativesDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i29322162003a474c85b192bb8fc67d0e_FINANCIALINSTRUMENTSGrossNotionalAmountsforOutstandingDerivativesDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_fc9b1b12-618c-4672-b7d8-596d72660263" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeNotionalAmount_c17bcdd0-87bb-40eb-a93a-aa8169b6ec88" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeNotionalAmount"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_fc9b1b12-618c-4672-b7d8-596d72660263" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeNotionalAmount_c17bcdd0-87bb-40eb-a93a-aa8169b6ec88" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_05469316-8f4d-464f-9418-0fe2cbfb44c8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_fc9b1b12-618c-4672-b7d8-596d72660263" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_05469316-8f4d-464f-9418-0fe2cbfb44c8" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_25a3e543-7dcb-4f95-893a-ee8de258fe5c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_05469316-8f4d-464f-9418-0fe2cbfb44c8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_25a3e543-7dcb-4f95-893a-ee8de258fe5c" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_25a3e543-7dcb-4f95-893a-ee8de258fe5c_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_25a3e543-7dcb-4f95-893a-ee8de258fe5c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_25a3e543-7dcb-4f95-893a-ee8de258fe5c_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_8c5fd35a-db0f-4fb2-8cd6-866bc6685ec7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_25a3e543-7dcb-4f95-893a-ee8de258fe5c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_8c5fd35a-db0f-4fb2-8cd6-866bc6685ec7" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember_0d7dbfa9-23e3-49a2-a2f3-deb585a315ba" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_8c5fd35a-db0f-4fb2-8cd6-866bc6685ec7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember_0d7dbfa9-23e3-49a2-a2f3-deb585a315ba" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis_75921936-2aa0-4f99-8aa3-ab9f4151d7f6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_05469316-8f4d-464f-9418-0fe2cbfb44c8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis_75921936-2aa0-4f99-8aa3-ab9f4151d7f6" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationDomain_75921936-2aa0-4f99-8aa3-ab9f4151d7f6_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_HedgingDesignationDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis_75921936-2aa0-4f99-8aa3-ab9f4151d7f6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationDomain_75921936-2aa0-4f99-8aa3-ab9f4151d7f6_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationDomain_4ed40504-d94e-4418-81a4-cba7c1e777d4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_HedgingDesignationDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis_75921936-2aa0-4f99-8aa3-ab9f4151d7f6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationDomain_4ed40504-d94e-4418-81a4-cba7c1e777d4" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember_2e59ac5e-46d6-4fb7-afed-93e9149e19eb" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationDomain_4ed40504-d94e-4418-81a4-cba7c1e777d4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember_2e59ac5e-46d6-4fb7-afed-93e9149e19eb" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NondesignatedMember_2c730e37-9684-4bfd-9067-78d8c91252e6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_NondesignatedMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationDomain_4ed40504-d94e-4418-81a4-cba7c1e777d4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NondesignatedMember_2c730e37-9684-4bfd-9067-78d8c91252e6" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis_bc67e2ba-1d2c-4ecd-b4bb-74d6cc714426" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_05469316-8f4d-464f-9418-0fe2cbfb44c8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis_bc67e2ba-1d2c-4ecd-b4bb-74d6cc714426" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationDomain_bc67e2ba-1d2c-4ecd-b4bb-74d6cc714426_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis_bc67e2ba-1d2c-4ecd-b4bb-74d6cc714426" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationDomain_bc67e2ba-1d2c-4ecd-b4bb-74d6cc714426_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationDomain_9ab19e2a-1857-4c49-be38-b20bd81db72f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis_bc67e2ba-1d2c-4ecd-b4bb-74d6cc714426" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationDomain_9ab19e2a-1857-4c49-be38-b20bd81db72f" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PrepaidExpensesAndOtherCurrentAssetsMember_66273942-461f-4d79-b7d1-90435b2372ae" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_PrepaidExpensesAndOtherCurrentAssetsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationDomain_9ab19e2a-1857-4c49-be38-b20bd81db72f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PrepaidExpensesAndOtherCurrentAssetsMember_66273942-461f-4d79-b7d1-90435b2372ae" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember_1adbca73-2f46-459e-a569-ef0fce735a08" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationDomain_9ab19e2a-1857-4c49-be38-b20bd81db72f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember_1adbca73-2f46-459e-a569-ef0fce735a08" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.intuitivesurgical.com/role/REVENUEANDCONTRACTACQUISITIONCOSTSRevenueDisaggregatedbyTypesandGeographyDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="isrg-20210630.xsd#REVENUEANDCONTRACTACQUISITIONCOSTSRevenueDisaggregatedbyTypesandGeographyDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.intuitivesurgical.com/role/REVENUEANDCONTRACTACQUISITIONCOSTSRevenueDisaggregatedbyTypesandGeographyDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i00cab96657174e71a548ff5fa4411ea5_REVENUEANDCONTRACTACQUISITIONCOSTSRevenueDisaggregatedbyTypesandGeographyDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueLineItems_57c2b7c3-e795-4f9d-8264-d0dd7a8e80c3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax_5ef27f2b-1e56-41b6-9028-3c82b8c07467" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueLineItems_57c2b7c3-e795-4f9d-8264-d0dd7a8e80c3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax_5ef27f2b-1e56-41b6-9028-3c82b8c07467" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueTable_056525a0-82a5-45e3-b6b5-9d664d80cab6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueLineItems_57c2b7c3-e795-4f9d-8264-d0dd7a8e80c3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueTable_056525a0-82a5-45e3-b6b5-9d664d80cab6" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_GeographicDistributionAxis_b27b5615-859f-48fa-99d0-c37192816e7d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_GeographicDistributionAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueTable_056525a0-82a5-45e3-b6b5-9d664d80cab6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_GeographicDistributionAxis_b27b5615-859f-48fa-99d0-c37192816e7d" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_GeographicDistributionDomain_b27b5615-859f-48fa-99d0-c37192816e7d_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_GeographicDistributionDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_GeographicDistributionAxis_b27b5615-859f-48fa-99d0-c37192816e7d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_GeographicDistributionDomain_b27b5615-859f-48fa-99d0-c37192816e7d_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_GeographicDistributionDomain_bc3a2744-cd5a-42bb-aaf0-bb604fa0b174" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_GeographicDistributionDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_GeographicDistributionAxis_b27b5615-859f-48fa-99d0-c37192816e7d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_GeographicDistributionDomain_bc3a2744-cd5a-42bb-aaf0-bb604fa0b174" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_GeographicDistributionDomesticMember_93a48173-d991-4711-a250-26b96936dddd" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_GeographicDistributionDomesticMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_GeographicDistributionDomain_bc3a2744-cd5a-42bb-aaf0-bb604fa0b174" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_GeographicDistributionDomesticMember_93a48173-d991-4711-a250-26b96936dddd" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_GeographicDistributionForeignMember_30272cd8-68a4-4ab8-b86e-4a8d8f85c9f7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_GeographicDistributionForeignMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_GeographicDistributionDomain_bc3a2744-cd5a-42bb-aaf0-bb604fa0b174" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_GeographicDistributionForeignMember_30272cd8-68a4-4ab8-b86e-4a8d8f85c9f7" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_90dd4e74-4067-4840-bce9-969205b0f9fb" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2021/elts/srt-2021-01-31.xsd#srt_ProductOrServiceAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueTable_056525a0-82a5-45e3-b6b5-9d664d80cab6" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_90dd4e74-4067-4840-bce9-969205b0f9fb" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_90dd4e74-4067-4840-bce9-969205b0f9fb_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2021/elts/srt-2021-01-31.xsd#srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_90dd4e74-4067-4840-bce9-969205b0f9fb" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_90dd4e74-4067-4840-bce9-969205b0f9fb_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_5b135f1a-f0dd-4be6-a11b-71da67f65692" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2021/elts/srt-2021-01-31.xsd#srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_90dd4e74-4067-4840-bce9-969205b0f9fb" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_5b135f1a-f0dd-4be6-a11b-71da67f65692" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_isrg_InstrumentsandAccessoriesMember_bcd858e9-bfbb-4317-8f9b-dbb0f5b9d768" xlink:href="isrg-20210630.xsd#isrg_InstrumentsandAccessoriesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_5b135f1a-f0dd-4be6-a11b-71da67f65692" xlink:to="loc_isrg_InstrumentsandAccessoriesMember_bcd858e9-bfbb-4317-8f9b-dbb0f5b9d768" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_isrg_SystemsMember_51ea4406-71d6-4ea1-95ae-8556eb14f999" xlink:href="isrg-20210630.xsd#isrg_SystemsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_5b135f1a-f0dd-4be6-a11b-71da67f65692" xlink:to="loc_isrg_SystemsMember_51ea4406-71d6-4ea1-95ae-8556eb14f999" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_isrg_ServicesMember_2eda12a1-97a1-42ee-910b-0a59ef13c164" xlink:href="isrg-20210630.xsd#isrg_ServicesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_5b135f1a-f0dd-4be6-a11b-71da67f65692" xlink:to="loc_isrg_ServicesMember_2eda12a1-97a1-42ee-910b-0a59ef13c164" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.intuitivesurgical.com/role/REVENUEANDCONTRACTACQUISITIONCOSTSAdditionalInformationDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="isrg-20210630.xsd#REVENUEANDCONTRACTACQUISITIONCOSTSAdditionalInformationDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.intuitivesurgical.com/role/REVENUEANDCONTRACTACQUISITIONCOSTSAdditionalInformationDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="iede9f0567fd24d1abeacb55d3aef9450_REVENUEANDCONTRACTACQUISITIONCOSTSAdditionalInformationDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionLineItems_081f0d72-8e31-4766-b164-6eeef0bc5d69" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionPeriod1_9ffb0fa0-a083-4e99-8722-55276be9c2a2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionPeriod1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionLineItems_081f0d72-8e31-4766-b164-6eeef0bc5d69" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionPeriod1_9ffb0fa0-a083-4e99-8722-55276be9c2a2" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionTable_88d8c422-ccec-4953-962e-1a986c54bef5" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionLineItems_081f0d72-8e31-4766-b164-6eeef0bc5d69" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionTable_88d8c422-ccec-4953-962e-1a986c54bef5" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionStartDateAxis_e15851e8-ab93-47a3-a362-35b3ff486819" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionStartDateAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionTable_88d8c422-ccec-4953-962e-1a986c54bef5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionStartDateAxis_e15851e8-ab93-47a3-a362-35b3ff486819" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.intuitivesurgical.com/role/REVENUEANDCONTRACTACQUISITIONCOSTSAdditionalInformationDetails_1" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="isrg-20210630.xsd#REVENUEANDCONTRACTACQUISITIONCOSTSAdditionalInformationDetails_1"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.intuitivesurgical.com/role/REVENUEANDCONTRACTACQUISITIONCOSTSAdditionalInformationDetails_1" xlink:type="extended" id="i04909565f62c4046a2f5060035155cf6_REVENUEANDCONTRACTACQUISITIONCOSTSAdditionalInformationDetails_1">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionLineItems_081f0d72-8e31-4766-b164-6eeef0bc5d69" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionPeriod1_9ffb0fa0-a083-4e99-8722-55276be9c2a2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionPeriod1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionLineItems_081f0d72-8e31-4766-b164-6eeef0bc5d69" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionPeriod1_9ffb0fa0-a083-4e99-8722-55276be9c2a2" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionTable_88d8c422-ccec-4953-962e-1a986c54bef5" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionLineItems_081f0d72-8e31-4766-b164-6eeef0bc5d69" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionTable_88d8c422-ccec-4953-962e-1a986c54bef5" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.intuitivesurgical.com/role/LEASESLeaseReceivablesDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="isrg-20210630.xsd#LEASESLeaseReceivablesDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.intuitivesurgical.com/role/LEASESLeaseReceivablesDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i8ac8c2a4ee01487e921a1d92de86fe1b_LEASESLeaseReceivablesDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CapitalLeasedAssetsLineItems_9edd7473-b108-4dba-8a2b-8406687b301c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CapitalLeasedAssetsLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_isrg_SalesTypeLeaseGrossInvestmentInLease_cbdcddca-f242-4ce5-8d2d-9895a2a69530" xlink:href="isrg-20210630.xsd#isrg_SalesTypeLeaseGrossInvestmentInLease"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CapitalLeasedAssetsLineItems_9edd7473-b108-4dba-8a2b-8406687b301c" xlink:to="loc_isrg_SalesTypeLeaseGrossInvestmentInLease_cbdcddca-f242-4ce5-8d2d-9895a2a69530" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_isrg_SalestypeLeaseDeferredSellingProfit_5c1ad603-2749-4753-b99d-fd47d9af9fae" xlink:href="isrg-20210630.xsd#isrg_SalestypeLeaseDeferredSellingProfit"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CapitalLeasedAssetsLineItems_9edd7473-b108-4dba-8a2b-8406687b301c" xlink:to="loc_isrg_SalestypeLeaseDeferredSellingProfit_5c1ad603-2749-4753-b99d-fd47d9af9fae" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SalesTypeLeaseNetInvestmentInLease_8c5f1e72-8cb4-46c4-a32f-ae41dd2a6aa6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_SalesTypeLeaseNetInvestmentInLease"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CapitalLeasedAssetsLineItems_9edd7473-b108-4dba-8a2b-8406687b301c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SalesTypeLeaseNetInvestmentInLease_8c5f1e72-8cb4-46c4-a32f-ae41dd2a6aa6" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SalesTypeLeaseNetInvestmentInLeaseAllowanceForCreditLoss_f6024235-bc26-43c5-b65a-f62ddf81760a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_SalesTypeLeaseNetInvestmentInLeaseAllowanceForCreditLoss"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CapitalLeasedAssetsLineItems_9edd7473-b108-4dba-8a2b-8406687b301c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SalesTypeLeaseNetInvestmentInLeaseAllowanceForCreditLoss_f6024235-bc26-43c5-b65a-f62ddf81760a" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SalesTypeLeaseLeaseReceivable_34c7cee7-9136-45dc-a3a8-855450ec7de3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_SalesTypeLeaseLeaseReceivable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CapitalLeasedAssetsLineItems_9edd7473-b108-4dba-8a2b-8406687b301c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SalesTypeLeaseLeaseReceivable_34c7cee7-9136-45dc-a3a8-855450ec7de3" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfCapitalLeasedAsssetsTable_134b77a3-f594-42b8-acf5-b2a01c945a21" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfCapitalLeasedAsssetsTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CapitalLeasedAssetsLineItems_9edd7473-b108-4dba-8a2b-8406687b301c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfCapitalLeasedAsssetsTable_134b77a3-f594-42b8-acf5-b2a01c945a21" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis_661aae62-936b-46e9-a7d6-19b3207d95cb" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfCapitalLeasedAsssetsTable_134b77a3-f594-42b8-acf5-b2a01c945a21" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis_661aae62-936b-46e9-a7d6-19b3207d95cb" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationDomain_661aae62-936b-46e9-a7d6-19b3207d95cb_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis_661aae62-936b-46e9-a7d6-19b3207d95cb" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationDomain_661aae62-936b-46e9-a7d6-19b3207d95cb_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationDomain_84c21594-cd54-44ed-9168-4f6ecbbc9190" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis_661aae62-936b-46e9-a7d6-19b3207d95cb" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationDomain_84c21594-cd54-44ed-9168-4f6ecbbc9190" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PrepaidExpensesAndOtherCurrentAssetsMember_e8291c55-a745-4453-9e59-a970301bf4e6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_PrepaidExpensesAndOtherCurrentAssetsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationDomain_84c21594-cd54-44ed-9168-4f6ecbbc9190" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PrepaidExpensesAndOtherCurrentAssetsMember_e8291c55-a745-4453-9e59-a970301bf4e6" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherNoncurrentAssetsMember_f53ca375-ae3b-43b5-bc00-432bd6e7386d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_OtherNoncurrentAssetsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationDomain_84c21594-cd54-44ed-9168-4f6ecbbc9190" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherNoncurrentAssetsMember_f53ca375-ae3b-43b5-bc00-432bd6e7386d" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.intuitivesurgical.com/role/LEASESCreditQualityIndicatorDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="isrg-20210630.xsd#LEASESCreditQualityIndicatorDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.intuitivesurgical.com/role/LEASESCreditQualityIndicatorDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="iae811b5854324b27b94315dfb2f8aa15_LEASESCreditQualityIndicatorDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SalesTypeLeaseNetInvestmentInLeaseCreditQualityIndicatorLineItems_a56e3160-960e-412d-a9ba-9883b9b65352" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_SalesTypeLeaseNetInvestmentInLeaseCreditQualityIndicatorLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SalesTypeLeaseNetInvestmentInLeaseOriginatedInCurrentFiscalYear_6ada5ab7-f4fd-45f4-a1ac-fdedc8f7603f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_SalesTypeLeaseNetInvestmentInLeaseOriginatedInCurrentFiscalYear"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SalesTypeLeaseNetInvestmentInLeaseCreditQualityIndicatorLineItems_a56e3160-960e-412d-a9ba-9883b9b65352" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SalesTypeLeaseNetInvestmentInLeaseOriginatedInCurrentFiscalYear_6ada5ab7-f4fd-45f4-a1ac-fdedc8f7603f" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SalesTypeLeaseNetInvestmentInLeaseOriginatedInFiscalYearBeforeLatestFiscalYear_7344632a-9df4-45e4-8f0c-2f21d507db3f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_SalesTypeLeaseNetInvestmentInLeaseOriginatedInFiscalYearBeforeLatestFiscalYear"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SalesTypeLeaseNetInvestmentInLeaseCreditQualityIndicatorLineItems_a56e3160-960e-412d-a9ba-9883b9b65352" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SalesTypeLeaseNetInvestmentInLeaseOriginatedInFiscalYearBeforeLatestFiscalYear_7344632a-9df4-45e4-8f0c-2f21d507db3f" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SalesTypeLeaseNetInvestmentInLeaseOriginatedTwoYearsBeforeLatestFiscalYear_1ebe052e-c29a-4655-a5f8-5b996fef84b3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_SalesTypeLeaseNetInvestmentInLeaseOriginatedTwoYearsBeforeLatestFiscalYear"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SalesTypeLeaseNetInvestmentInLeaseCreditQualityIndicatorLineItems_a56e3160-960e-412d-a9ba-9883b9b65352" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SalesTypeLeaseNetInvestmentInLeaseOriginatedTwoYearsBeforeLatestFiscalYear_1ebe052e-c29a-4655-a5f8-5b996fef84b3" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SalesTypeLeaseNetInvestmentInLeaseOriginatedThreeYearsBeforeLatestFiscalYear_3131872a-7684-4284-9911-8baf253211ea" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_SalesTypeLeaseNetInvestmentInLeaseOriginatedThreeYearsBeforeLatestFiscalYear"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SalesTypeLeaseNetInvestmentInLeaseCreditQualityIndicatorLineItems_a56e3160-960e-412d-a9ba-9883b9b65352" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SalesTypeLeaseNetInvestmentInLeaseOriginatedThreeYearsBeforeLatestFiscalYear_3131872a-7684-4284-9911-8baf253211ea" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SalesTypeLeaseNetInvestmentInLeaseOriginatedFourYearsBeforeLatestFiscalYear_e25ffd17-b4ed-4fa0-bc39-55a4b0b6926e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_SalesTypeLeaseNetInvestmentInLeaseOriginatedFourYearsBeforeLatestFiscalYear"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SalesTypeLeaseNetInvestmentInLeaseCreditQualityIndicatorLineItems_a56e3160-960e-412d-a9ba-9883b9b65352" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SalesTypeLeaseNetInvestmentInLeaseOriginatedFourYearsBeforeLatestFiscalYear_e25ffd17-b4ed-4fa0-bc39-55a4b0b6926e" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SalesTypeLeaseNetInvestmentInLeaseOriginatedFiveOrMoreYearsBeforeLatestFiscalYear_6d14decc-2ab0-4f80-8cc4-c548a6cb5ec2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_SalesTypeLeaseNetInvestmentInLeaseOriginatedFiveOrMoreYearsBeforeLatestFiscalYear"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SalesTypeLeaseNetInvestmentInLeaseCreditQualityIndicatorLineItems_a56e3160-960e-412d-a9ba-9883b9b65352" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SalesTypeLeaseNetInvestmentInLeaseOriginatedFiveOrMoreYearsBeforeLatestFiscalYear_6d14decc-2ab0-4f80-8cc4-c548a6cb5ec2" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SalesTypeLeaseNetInvestmentInLease_ac87b3af-870b-4247-8b36-cc4e245c3954" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_SalesTypeLeaseNetInvestmentInLease"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SalesTypeLeaseNetInvestmentInLeaseCreditQualityIndicatorLineItems_a56e3160-960e-412d-a9ba-9883b9b65352" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SalesTypeLeaseNetInvestmentInLease_ac87b3af-870b-4247-8b36-cc4e245c3954" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SalesTypeLeaseNetInvestmentInLeaseCreditQualityIndicatorTable_205a22a0-807a-40cd-b7d3-5617e4ddef4d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_SalesTypeLeaseNetInvestmentInLeaseCreditQualityIndicatorTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SalesTypeLeaseNetInvestmentInLeaseCreditQualityIndicatorLineItems_a56e3160-960e-412d-a9ba-9883b9b65352" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SalesTypeLeaseNetInvestmentInLeaseCreditQualityIndicatorTable_205a22a0-807a-40cd-b7d3-5617e4ddef4d" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis_06a2066e-6d8d-43c2-b802-c48deb363400" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SalesTypeLeaseNetInvestmentInLeaseCreditQualityIndicatorTable_205a22a0-807a-40cd-b7d3-5617e4ddef4d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis_06a2066e-6d8d-43c2-b802-c48deb363400" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentDomain_06a2066e-6d8d-43c2-b802-c48deb363400_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis_06a2066e-6d8d-43c2-b802-c48deb363400" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentDomain_06a2066e-6d8d-43c2-b802-c48deb363400_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentDomain_b5b78d55-a10b-4c28-9470-cb464b10746a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis_06a2066e-6d8d-43c2-b802-c48deb363400" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentDomain_b5b78d55-a10b-4c28-9470-cb464b10746a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_isrg_HighMember_94af15c0-8083-40fd-9968-cc7cb9763bd9" xlink:href="isrg-20210630.xsd#isrg_HighMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentDomain_b5b78d55-a10b-4c28-9470-cb464b10746a" xlink:to="loc_isrg_HighMember_94af15c0-8083-40fd-9968-cc7cb9763bd9" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_isrg_ModerateMember_999bde1c-342c-4e45-9fcf-8cf30d889164" xlink:href="isrg-20210630.xsd#isrg_ModerateMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentDomain_b5b78d55-a10b-4c28-9470-cb464b10746a" xlink:to="loc_isrg_ModerateMember_999bde1c-342c-4e45-9fcf-8cf30d889164" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_isrg_LowMember_497990a2-84f7-42b4-8d0d-d7434e9be520" xlink:href="isrg-20210630.xsd#isrg_LowMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentDomain_b5b78d55-a10b-4c28-9470-cb464b10746a" xlink:to="loc_isrg_LowMember_497990a2-84f7-42b4-8d0d-d7434e9be520" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.intuitivesurgical.com/role/LEASESAdditionalInformationDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="isrg-20210630.xsd#LEASESAdditionalInformationDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.intuitivesurgical.com/role/LEASESAdditionalInformationDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="ifd192f5c999643338f306a134cb1e370_LEASESAdditionalInformationDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LesseeLeaseDescriptionLineItems_f487db01-64a3-499e-ac0c-6cb3f94690a8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LesseeLeaseDescriptionLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LessorSalesTypeLeaseTermOfContract1_3ddd6029-368c-47da-97dd-aed99f618e24" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LessorSalesTypeLeaseTermOfContract1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LesseeLeaseDescriptionLineItems_f487db01-64a3-499e-ac0c-6cb3f94690a8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LessorSalesTypeLeaseTermOfContract1_3ddd6029-368c-47da-97dd-aed99f618e24" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LesseeLeaseDescriptionTable_1ad7912d-c8df-4894-8980-9393a0b8cbf8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LesseeLeaseDescriptionTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LesseeLeaseDescriptionLineItems_f487db01-64a3-499e-ac0c-6cb3f94690a8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LesseeLeaseDescriptionTable_1ad7912d-c8df-4894-8980-9393a0b8cbf8" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeAxis_c735498e-9c15-46a5-8765-db728a602a8b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2021/elts/srt-2021-01-31.xsd#srt_RangeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LesseeLeaseDescriptionTable_1ad7912d-c8df-4894-8980-9393a0b8cbf8" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeAxis_c735498e-9c15-46a5-8765-db728a602a8b" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeMember_c735498e-9c15-46a5-8765-db728a602a8b_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2021/elts/srt-2021-01-31.xsd#srt_RangeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeAxis_c735498e-9c15-46a5-8765-db728a602a8b" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeMember_c735498e-9c15-46a5-8765-db728a602a8b_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeMember_c10eb53c-d702-40ce-9db8-835fa292981c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2021/elts/srt-2021-01-31.xsd#srt_RangeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeAxis_c735498e-9c15-46a5-8765-db728a602a8b" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeMember_c10eb53c-d702-40ce-9db8-835fa292981c" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_MinimumMember_a26cd5ce-abee-4985-a19a-b641d9d5b83b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2021/elts/srt-2021-01-31.xsd#srt_MinimumMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeMember_c10eb53c-d702-40ce-9db8-835fa292981c" xlink:to="loc_srt_MinimumMember_a26cd5ce-abee-4985-a19a-b641d9d5b83b" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_MaximumMember_3038274e-97db-4a4d-9b70-f32ff004d2e1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2021/elts/srt-2021-01-31.xsd#srt_MaximumMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeMember_c10eb53c-d702-40ce-9db8-835fa292981c" xlink:to="loc_srt_MaximumMember_3038274e-97db-4a4d-9b70-f32ff004d2e1" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.intuitivesurgical.com/role/IntangibleAssetsGoodwillandOtherDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="isrg-20210630.xsd#IntangibleAssetsGoodwillandOtherDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.intuitivesurgical.com/role/IntangibleAssetsGoodwillandOtherDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="icf38ac5b9afc417298679ed95371c1ae_IntangibleAssetsGoodwillandOtherDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_a8595362-b72b-486c-a351-f0ad99f69bc2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1_5965d639-8492-4d26-a061-69ac54c769df" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_a8595362-b72b-486c-a351-f0ad99f69bc2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1_5965d639-8492-4d26-a061-69ac54c769df" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_isrg_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferredPresentValueofFutureCashPayments_9109e36a-3220-41ba-bb87-8699caae9ac7" xlink:href="isrg-20210630.xsd#isrg_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferredPresentValueofFutureCashPayments"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_a8595362-b72b-486c-a351-f0ad99f69bc2" xlink:to="loc_isrg_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferredPresentValueofFutureCashPayments_9109e36a-3220-41ba-bb87-8699caae9ac7" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesGross_160265fb-3696-4ec8-9c0a-6bf899935f80" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesGross"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_a8595362-b72b-486c-a351-f0ad99f69bc2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesGross_160265fb-3696-4ec8-9c0a-6bf899935f80" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_isrg_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationArrangementsUndiscountedExpectedOutcome_0a00ae02-35ad-42b1-8555-4ab5cfe63979" xlink:href="isrg-20210630.xsd#isrg_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationArrangementsUndiscountedExpectedOutcome"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_a8595362-b72b-486c-a351-f0ad99f69bc2" xlink:to="loc_isrg_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationArrangementsUndiscountedExpectedOutcome_0a00ae02-35ad-42b1-8555-4ab5cfe63979" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_isrg_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationArrangementsChangeInUndiscountedExpectedOutcome_ef051b29-017b-4a6e-a005-2f96284726b0" xlink:href="isrg-20210630.xsd#isrg_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationArrangementsChangeInUndiscountedExpectedOutcome"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_a8595362-b72b-486c-a351-f0ad99f69bc2" xlink:to="loc_isrg_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationArrangementsChangeInUndiscountedExpectedOutcome_ef051b29-017b-4a6e-a005-2f96284726b0" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PaymentForContingentConsiderationLiabilityFinancingActivities_cdd4c505-67e8-47dd-8b5e-5ebda164d3d4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_PaymentForContingentConsiderationLiabilityFinancingActivities"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_a8595362-b72b-486c-a351-f0ad99f69bc2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PaymentForContingentConsiderationLiabilityFinancingActivities_cdd4c505-67e8-47dd-8b5e-5ebda164d3d4" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_isrg_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationArrangementsChangeInAmountOfContingentConsiderationExpense_b009c04b-5f7e-46c4-8286-8894a6cccc9e" xlink:href="isrg-20210630.xsd#isrg_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationArrangementsChangeInAmountOfContingentConsiderationExpense"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_a8595362-b72b-486c-a351-f0ad99f69bc2" xlink:to="loc_isrg_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationArrangementsChangeInAmountOfContingentConsiderationExpense_b009c04b-5f7e-46c4-8286-8894a6cccc9e" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_isrg_DeferredPurchaseConsiderationPayments_be82eddc-4a18-450c-96d7-da6694958ea2" xlink:href="isrg-20210630.xsd#isrg_DeferredPurchaseConsiderationPayments"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_a8595362-b72b-486c-a351-f0ad99f69bc2" xlink:to="loc_isrg_DeferredPurchaseConsiderationPayments_be82eddc-4a18-450c-96d7-da6694958ea2" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_isrg_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredandLiabilitiesAssumedNetTangibleAssets_072ca27d-cb94-4bf8-81e4-d2464686d3e2" xlink:href="isrg-20210630.xsd#isrg_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredandLiabilitiesAssumedNetTangibleAssets"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_a8595362-b72b-486c-a351-f0ad99f69bc2" xlink:to="loc_isrg_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredandLiabilitiesAssumedNetTangibleAssets_072ca27d-cb94-4bf8-81e4-d2464686d3e2" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedInventory_748ce57c-0801-4df3-ae93-03b48668c64e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedInventory"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_a8595362-b72b-486c-a351-f0ad99f69bc2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedInventory_748ce57c-0801-4df3-ae93-03b48668c64e" xlink:type="arc" order="9"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCashAndEquivalents_ddfbff5d-9087-4e6e-b53d-c5dbf6b8b5b2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCashAndEquivalents"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_a8595362-b72b-486c-a351-f0ad99f69bc2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCashAndEquivalents_ddfbff5d-9087-4e6e-b53d-c5dbf6b8b5b2" xlink:type="arc" order="10"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibleAssetsOtherThanGoodwill_a4772037-482b-4a53-91b3-406af3206a93" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibleAssetsOtherThanGoodwill"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_a8595362-b72b-486c-a351-f0ad99f69bc2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibleAssetsOtherThanGoodwill_a4772037-482b-4a53-91b3-406af3206a93" xlink:type="arc" order="11"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_Goodwill_ed6b50c2-70ef-40e1-8b0b-10ec9d37ef59" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_Goodwill"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_a8595362-b72b-486c-a351-f0ad99f69bc2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_Goodwill_ed6b50c2-70ef-40e1-8b0b-10ec9d37ef59" xlink:type="arc" order="12"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FinitelivedIntangibleAssetsAcquired1_52a5729e-46af-4c36-a7f1-e934da3f28c4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FinitelivedIntangibleAssetsAcquired1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_a8595362-b72b-486c-a351-f0ad99f69bc2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FinitelivedIntangibleAssetsAcquired1_52a5729e-46af-4c36-a7f1-e934da3f28c4" xlink:type="arc" order="13"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AcquiredFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsWeightedAverageUsefulLife_0d11a95e-8885-4b5c-9b45-137b2506e845" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AcquiredFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsWeightedAverageUsefulLife"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_a8595362-b72b-486c-a351-f0ad99f69bc2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AcquiredFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsWeightedAverageUsefulLife_0d11a95e-8885-4b5c-9b45-137b2506e845" xlink:type="arc" order="14"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets_682a0c8c-4a71-4021-b977-3e5f4c291286" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_a8595362-b72b-486c-a351-f0ad99f69bc2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets_682a0c8c-4a71-4021-b977-3e5f4c291286" xlink:type="arc" order="15"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfBusinessAcquisitionsByAcquisitionTable_c19b2f32-007a-48bb-9609-56d257109b11" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfBusinessAcquisitionsByAcquisitionTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_a8595362-b72b-486c-a351-f0ad99f69bc2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfBusinessAcquisitionsByAcquisitionTable_c19b2f32-007a-48bb-9609-56d257109b11" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis_7c3dda8b-bd6b-4548-bca9-d780608433e6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfBusinessAcquisitionsByAcquisitionTable_c19b2f32-007a-48bb-9609-56d257109b11" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis_7c3dda8b-bd6b-4548-bca9-d780608433e6" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain_7c3dda8b-bd6b-4548-bca9-d780608433e6_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis_7c3dda8b-bd6b-4548-bca9-d780608433e6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain_7c3dda8b-bd6b-4548-bca9-d780608433e6_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain_1c62b6d4-cfd8-43d5-b335-3c5676f9b3aa" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis_7c3dda8b-bd6b-4548-bca9-d780608433e6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain_1c62b6d4-cfd8-43d5-b335-3c5676f9b3aa" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_isrg_ChindexMember_54a58ebf-0e88-4d98-8d44-3569a13c0fcc" xlink:href="isrg-20210630.xsd#isrg_ChindexMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain_1c62b6d4-cfd8-43d5-b335-3c5676f9b3aa" xlink:to="loc_isrg_ChindexMember_54a58ebf-0e88-4d98-8d44-3569a13c0fcc" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_isrg_SchllyFiberopticGmbHMember_fd4041e6-fff8-45a2-8abc-52806f610790" xlink:href="isrg-20210630.xsd#isrg_SchllyFiberopticGmbHMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain_1c62b6d4-cfd8-43d5-b335-3c5676f9b3aa" xlink:to="loc_isrg_SchllyFiberopticGmbHMember_fd4041e6-fff8-45a2-8abc-52806f610790" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis_aa4d21e5-548d-4940-86e8-e307c879608c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfBusinessAcquisitionsByAcquisitionTable_c19b2f32-007a-48bb-9609-56d257109b11" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis_aa4d21e5-548d-4940-86e8-e307c879608c" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain_aa4d21e5-548d-4940-86e8-e307c879608c_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis_aa4d21e5-548d-4940-86e8-e307c879608c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain_aa4d21e5-548d-4940-86e8-e307c879608c_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain_428e7132-b494-4bd6-b509-aac12bc4586a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis_aa4d21e5-548d-4940-86e8-e307c879608c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain_428e7132-b494-4bd6-b509-aac12bc4586a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_isrg_ManufacturingProcessTechnologyMember_09bfb6db-d385-4459-970c-0f918fbfe198" xlink:href="isrg-20210630.xsd#isrg_ManufacturingProcessTechnologyMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain_428e7132-b494-4bd6-b509-aac12bc4586a" xlink:to="loc_isrg_ManufacturingProcessTechnologyMember_09bfb6db-d385-4459-970c-0f918fbfe198" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NoncompeteAgreementsMember_07b99139-5031-48fd-88e0-258fa2ed49a2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_NoncompeteAgreementsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain_428e7132-b494-4bd6-b509-aac12bc4586a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NoncompeteAgreementsMember_07b99139-5031-48fd-88e0-258fa2ed49a2" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.intuitivesurgical.com/role/GOODWILLANDINTANGIBLEASSETSScheduleofIntangibleAssetsDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="isrg-20210630.xsd#GOODWILLANDINTANGIBLEASSETSScheduleofIntangibleAssetsDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.intuitivesurgical.com/role/GOODWILLANDINTANGIBLEASSETSScheduleofIntangibleAssetsDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i34ac1dd982704c5587fc5bd6900f3b37_GOODWILLANDINTANGIBLEASSETSScheduleofIntangibleAssetsDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems_ca318e23-1e4c-4593-9773-5cd3b885b5a3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross_efbfacb8-b4a1-45c4-b600-cfbe9576dca7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems_ca318e23-1e4c-4593-9773-5cd3b885b5a3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross_efbfacb8-b4a1-45c4-b600-cfbe9576dca7" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization_396446a8-ed95-496b-9bbc-449929f35ad1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems_ca318e23-1e4c-4593-9773-5cd3b885b5a3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization_396446a8-ed95-496b-9bbc-449929f35ad1" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet_7167881c-5a7f-435b-a40b-2e8a9a48d34f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems_ca318e23-1e4c-4593-9773-5cd3b885b5a3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet_7167881c-5a7f-435b-a40b-2e8a9a48d34f" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsTable_486dc713-5b22-4f9f-a91b-97da0bc5e828" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems_ca318e23-1e4c-4593-9773-5cd3b885b5a3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsTable_486dc713-5b22-4f9f-a91b-97da0bc5e828" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis_6e4103db-7d58-4f9f-8214-51f15d117346" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsTable_486dc713-5b22-4f9f-a91b-97da0bc5e828" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis_6e4103db-7d58-4f9f-8214-51f15d117346" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain_6e4103db-7d58-4f9f-8214-51f15d117346_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis_6e4103db-7d58-4f9f-8214-51f15d117346" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain_6e4103db-7d58-4f9f-8214-51f15d117346_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain_b03e1661-48b1-492a-9a49-dcb9c3d10069" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis_6e4103db-7d58-4f9f-8214-51f15d117346" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain_b03e1661-48b1-492a-9a49-dcb9c3d10069" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_TechnologyBasedIntangibleAssetsMember_af8d61f9-4ce0-4dba-a866-f2e1916ef3a1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_TechnologyBasedIntangibleAssetsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain_b03e1661-48b1-492a-9a49-dcb9c3d10069" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_TechnologyBasedIntangibleAssetsMember_af8d61f9-4ce0-4dba-a866-f2e1916ef3a1" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DistributionRightsMember_1ff10df3-6422-41ff-9f49-f5eaf16180c1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DistributionRightsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain_b03e1661-48b1-492a-9a49-dcb9c3d10069" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DistributionRightsMember_1ff10df3-6422-41ff-9f49-f5eaf16180c1" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember_1cca2c3e-d627-44df-a431-b4de2384d03c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain_b03e1661-48b1-492a-9a49-dcb9c3d10069" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember_1cca2c3e-d627-44df-a431-b4de2384d03c" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.intuitivesurgical.com/role/STOCKHOLDERSEQUITYScheduleofStockholdersEquityDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="isrg-20210630.xsd#STOCKHOLDERSEQUITYScheduleofStockholdersEquityDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.intuitivesurgical.com/role/STOCKHOLDERSEQUITYScheduleofStockholdersEquityDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="id54c5df518134d099cede92773351084_STOCKHOLDERSEQUITYScheduleofStockholdersEquityDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockLineItems_beed994f-1b05-493c-b82d-f8001f2165a2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ClassOfStockLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_f4853fe0-6322-4b51-97b9-a07daa7af286" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockLineItems_beed994f-1b05-493c-b82d-f8001f2165a2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_f4853fe0-6322-4b51-97b9-a07daa7af286" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding_9de02678-7e41-4d39-8624-32622063414a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_f4853fe0-6322-4b51-97b9-a07daa7af286" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding_9de02678-7e41-4d39-8624-32622063414a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest_84239a29-4d10-4a4c-a4f6-7678897eab4b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_f4853fe0-6322-4b51-97b9-a07daa7af286" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest_84239a29-4d10-4a4c-a4f6-7678897eab4b" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensation_797a42a7-526b-4fcf-b329-6a22fa7cbb0c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensation"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_f4853fe0-6322-4b51-97b9-a07daa7af286" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensation_797a42a7-526b-4fcf-b329-6a22fa7cbb0c" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensation_a479cfaf-ec1f-46c1-8d05-a49ec553237b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensation"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_f4853fe0-6322-4b51-97b9-a07daa7af286" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensation_a479cfaf-ec1f-46c1-8d05-a49ec553237b" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SharesPaidForTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation_7f61b2e5-fb83-4153-9e89-15488b6d951c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_SharesPaidForTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_f4853fe0-6322-4b51-97b9-a07daa7af286" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SharesPaidForTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation_7f61b2e5-fb83-4153-9e89-15488b6d951c" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AdjustmentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation_54b46896-479c-4e2a-a582-64ceb4168ca5" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AdjustmentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_f4853fe0-6322-4b51-97b9-a07daa7af286" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AdjustmentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation_54b46896-479c-4e2a-a582-64ceb4168ca5" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue_cb64a672-5bb3-4efa-8914-5e1d538b4dfc" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_f4853fe0-6322-4b51-97b9-a07daa7af286" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue_cb64a672-5bb3-4efa-8914-5e1d538b4dfc" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodShares_e954c532-a1b0-4c26-b53a-a591ae4d80ee" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodShares"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_f4853fe0-6322-4b51-97b9-a07daa7af286" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodShares_e954c532-a1b0-4c26-b53a-a591ae4d80ee" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodValue_306e3e58-49a6-46ed-93b3-0751be6df4c4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_f4853fe0-6322-4b51-97b9-a07daa7af286" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodValue_306e3e58-49a6-46ed-93b3-0751be6df4c4" xlink:type="arc" order="9"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss_37af63e7-e530-4ebd-a38f-e3501a060352" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_f4853fe0-6322-4b51-97b9-a07daa7af286" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss_37af63e7-e530-4ebd-a38f-e3501a060352" xlink:type="arc" order="10"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax_36aa2812-c603-4708-bf7d-456d9b9d22de" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_f4853fe0-6322-4b51-97b9-a07daa7af286" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax_36aa2812-c603-4708-bf7d-456d9b9d22de" xlink:type="arc" order="11"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ProceedsFromMinorityShareholders_a15127a5-86ae-496f-838b-73ca333ab832" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ProceedsFromMinorityShareholders"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_f4853fe0-6322-4b51-97b9-a07daa7af286" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ProceedsFromMinorityShareholders_a15127a5-86ae-496f-838b-73ca333ab832" xlink:type="arc" order="12"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest_74509646-ea7e-43e7-9489-7a36d79b8e1e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_f4853fe0-6322-4b51-97b9-a07daa7af286" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest_74509646-ea7e-43e7-9489-7a36d79b8e1e" xlink:type="arc" order="13"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding_bf0a138a-8f8c-4743-9c4b-7928862b3306" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest_bab9c360-0e8b-4a0f-9f21-2ae6ca9deeb3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfStockByClassTable_cd64fe33-209c-43ee-a9db-d0dece6fee07" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfStockByClassTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockLineItems_beed994f-1b05-493c-b82d-f8001f2165a2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfStockByClassTable_cd64fe33-209c-43ee-a9db-d0dece6fee07" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_8382cd80-94cd-471c-bd03-b60a07037178" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfStockByClassTable_cd64fe33-209c-43ee-a9db-d0dece6fee07" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_8382cd80-94cd-471c-bd03-b60a07037178" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_8382cd80-94cd-471c-bd03-b60a07037178_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_8382cd80-94cd-471c-bd03-b60a07037178" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_8382cd80-94cd-471c-bd03-b60a07037178_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_0576d7ab-1221-4691-a704-564da3a8916f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_8382cd80-94cd-471c-bd03-b60a07037178" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_0576d7ab-1221-4691-a704-564da3a8916f" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockMember_3e7fc7d4-993e-4cd8-bfb1-95483e087cbe" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_0576d7ab-1221-4691-a704-564da3a8916f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockMember_3e7fc7d4-993e-4cd8-bfb1-95483e087cbe" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember_7da62764-6380-4f23-b8fc-11e52ae2e314" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_0576d7ab-1221-4691-a704-564da3a8916f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember_7da62764-6380-4f23-b8fc-11e52ae2e314" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember_add2311f-e0b8-4e50-87f8-514d1024aea5" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_0576d7ab-1221-4691-a704-564da3a8916f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember_add2311f-e0b8-4e50-87f8-514d1024aea5" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember_eb846f92-f4a4-4ce3-a16b-4b83e86bf06c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_0576d7ab-1221-4691-a704-564da3a8916f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember_eb846f92-f4a4-4ce3-a16b-4b83e86bf06c" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ParentMember_9b3b91d9-55a1-4eda-8af6-aba24e9a0093" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ParentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_0576d7ab-1221-4691-a704-564da3a8916f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ParentMember_9b3b91d9-55a1-4eda-8af6-aba24e9a0093" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NoncontrollingInterestMember_0232de21-a47a-411b-84c3-534dd4252f29" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_NoncontrollingInterestMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_0576d7ab-1221-4691-a704-564da3a8916f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NoncontrollingInterestMember_0232de21-a47a-411b-84c3-534dd4252f29" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAxis_9a107b7a-84fa-4c9c-8dfd-7839e917dfa5" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2021/elts/srt-2021-01-31.xsd#srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfStockByClassTable_cd64fe33-209c-43ee-a9db-d0dece6fee07" xlink:to="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAxis_9a107b7a-84fa-4c9c-8dfd-7839e917dfa5" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionDomain_9a107b7a-84fa-4c9c-8dfd-7839e917dfa5_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2021/elts/srt-2021-01-31.xsd#srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAxis_9a107b7a-84fa-4c9c-8dfd-7839e917dfa5" xlink:to="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionDomain_9a107b7a-84fa-4c9c-8dfd-7839e917dfa5_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionDomain_37ea80fc-af88-4a98-89f4-f448b761e8e7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2021/elts/srt-2021-01-31.xsd#srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAxis_9a107b7a-84fa-4c9c-8dfd-7839e917dfa5" xlink:to="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionDomain_37ea80fc-af88-4a98-89f4-f448b761e8e7" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAdjustmentMember_b37e639a-170d-4dab-ae04-e8654a4374ec" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2021/elts/srt-2021-01-31.xsd#srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAdjustmentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionDomain_37ea80fc-af88-4a98-89f4-f448b761e8e7" xlink:to="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAdjustmentMember_b37e639a-170d-4dab-ae04-e8654a4374ec" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.intuitivesurgical.com/role/STOCKHOLDERSEQUITYScheduleofShareRepurchaseActivitiesDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="isrg-20210630.xsd#STOCKHOLDERSEQUITYScheduleofShareRepurchaseActivitiesDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.intuitivesurgical.com/role/STOCKHOLDERSEQUITYScheduleofShareRepurchaseActivitiesDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i07f73fecfcf9416f8cf862efc688d394_STOCKHOLDERSEQUITYScheduleofShareRepurchaseActivitiesDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityClassOfTreasuryStockLineItems_87a19a7e-50c5-4559-a0c8-a5bb09c13586" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EquityClassOfTreasuryStockLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodShares_11c3ac68-bcb2-4de2-87dd-7ae915ae5982" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodShares"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityClassOfTreasuryStockLineItems_87a19a7e-50c5-4559-a0c8-a5bb09c13586" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodShares_11c3ac68-bcb2-4de2-87dd-7ae915ae5982" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_TreasuryStockAcquiredAverageCostPerShare_be243ad2-14c3-4090-89b5-3eea6fa5683b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_TreasuryStockAcquiredAverageCostPerShare"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityClassOfTreasuryStockLineItems_87a19a7e-50c5-4559-a0c8-a5bb09c13586" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_TreasuryStockAcquiredAverageCostPerShare_be243ad2-14c3-4090-89b5-3eea6fa5683b" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodValue_2598fc2d-287c-4a19-9ba2-b79c2ad9270e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityClassOfTreasuryStockLineItems_87a19a7e-50c5-4559-a0c8-a5bb09c13586" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodValue_2598fc2d-287c-4a19-9ba2-b79c2ad9270e" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfTreasuryStockTable_82495ac0-f7b9-4005-8607-0a9c425ba3c4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ClassOfTreasuryStockTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityClassOfTreasuryStockLineItems_87a19a7e-50c5-4559-a0c8-a5bb09c13586" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfTreasuryStockTable_82495ac0-f7b9-4005-8607-0a9c425ba3c4" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_f6560ec7-a959-4a46-be0b-9453fef7f23e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfTreasuryStockTable_82495ac0-f7b9-4005-8607-0a9c425ba3c4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_f6560ec7-a959-4a46-be0b-9453fef7f23e" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_f6560ec7-a959-4a46-be0b-9453fef7f23e_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_f6560ec7-a959-4a46-be0b-9453fef7f23e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_f6560ec7-a959-4a46-be0b-9453fef7f23e_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_1685543a-1924-4801-be2a-e9de378048d5" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_f6560ec7-a959-4a46-be0b-9453fef7f23e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_1685543a-1924-4801-be2a-e9de378048d5" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockMember_efd3e8e3-1dbe-4571-9455-cacdacab415e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_1685543a-1924-4801-be2a-e9de378048d5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockMember_efd3e8e3-1dbe-4571-9455-cacdacab415e" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis_c1654cef-b6de-40c8-9915-49534cdb3654" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfTreasuryStockTable_82495ac0-f7b9-4005-8607-0a9c425ba3c4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis_c1654cef-b6de-40c8-9915-49534cdb3654" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramDomain_c1654cef-b6de-40c8-9915-49534cdb3654_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis_c1654cef-b6de-40c8-9915-49534cdb3654" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramDomain_c1654cef-b6de-40c8-9915-49534cdb3654_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramDomain_13b14c8e-f13b-4aa2-a57b-c5ddc92e7cb0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis_c1654cef-b6de-40c8-9915-49534cdb3654" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramDomain_13b14c8e-f13b-4aa2-a57b-c5ddc92e7cb0" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_isrg_CommonStockRepurchaseProgramMember_b6614809-f518-4375-a41a-a136e2845638" xlink:href="isrg-20210630.xsd#isrg_CommonStockRepurchaseProgramMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramDomain_13b14c8e-f13b-4aa2-a57b-c5ddc92e7cb0" xlink:to="loc_isrg_CommonStockRepurchaseProgramMember_b6614809-f518-4375-a41a-a136e2845638" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.intuitivesurgical.com/role/STOCKHOLDERSEQUITYStockRepurchaseProgramDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="isrg-20210630.xsd#STOCKHOLDERSEQUITYStockRepurchaseProgramDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.intuitivesurgical.com/role/STOCKHOLDERSEQUITYStockRepurchaseProgramDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i7f4bd950bbe742c1898987d9cb6301dc_STOCKHOLDERSEQUITYStockRepurchaseProgramDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityClassOfTreasuryStockLineItems_c03ff293-9930-43ee-8d10-89ae4548483c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EquityClassOfTreasuryStockLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramAuthorizedAmount1_72fe54e9-26bd-4e5f-9531-7c5e59987fc1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramAuthorizedAmount1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityClassOfTreasuryStockLineItems_c03ff293-9930-43ee-8d10-89ae4548483c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramAuthorizedAmount1_72fe54e9-26bd-4e5f-9531-7c5e59987fc1" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_isrg_StockRepurchaseProgramincreasedtoauthorizedamount_4dfbf9f0-22f2-4dad-a7ab-1e355a069907" xlink:href="isrg-20210630.xsd#isrg_StockRepurchaseProgramincreasedtoauthorizedamount"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityClassOfTreasuryStockLineItems_c03ff293-9930-43ee-8d10-89ae4548483c" xlink:to="loc_isrg_StockRepurchaseProgramincreasedtoauthorizedamount_4dfbf9f0-22f2-4dad-a7ab-1e355a069907" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1_9dd2ca39-bd43-48ce-9738-34f594d710c2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityClassOfTreasuryStockLineItems_c03ff293-9930-43ee-8d10-89ae4548483c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1_9dd2ca39-bd43-48ce-9738-34f594d710c2" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodShares_fb570c0b-9ede-4d96-bf24-07c4ee6a5493" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodShares"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityClassOfTreasuryStockLineItems_c03ff293-9930-43ee-8d10-89ae4548483c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodShares_fb570c0b-9ede-4d96-bf24-07c4ee6a5493" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock_46400211-c2ac-4fc5-a3b8-323b3abe4850" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityClassOfTreasuryStockLineItems_c03ff293-9930-43ee-8d10-89ae4548483c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock_46400211-c2ac-4fc5-a3b8-323b3abe4850" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AcceleratedShareRepurchasesFinalPricePaidPerShare_2f94730c-c34f-4422-ab41-f99a2e9e2b02" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AcceleratedShareRepurchasesFinalPricePaidPerShare"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityClassOfTreasuryStockLineItems_c03ff293-9930-43ee-8d10-89ae4548483c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AcceleratedShareRepurchasesFinalPricePaidPerShare_2f94730c-c34f-4422-ab41-f99a2e9e2b02" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfTreasuryStockTable_56661629-b2f9-4de1-ad3b-a91c6f35aafd" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ClassOfTreasuryStockTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityClassOfTreasuryStockLineItems_c03ff293-9930-43ee-8d10-89ae4548483c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfTreasuryStockTable_56661629-b2f9-4de1-ad3b-a91c6f35aafd" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis_fb6188de-c734-4e6d-ae6e-efecb3ff4c45" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfTreasuryStockTable_56661629-b2f9-4de1-ad3b-a91c6f35aafd" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis_fb6188de-c734-4e6d-ae6e-efecb3ff4c45" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramDomain_fb6188de-c734-4e6d-ae6e-efecb3ff4c45_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis_fb6188de-c734-4e6d-ae6e-efecb3ff4c45" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramDomain_fb6188de-c734-4e6d-ae6e-efecb3ff4c45_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramDomain_414ddffe-bb7d-4a15-a9de-7d5242264656" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis_fb6188de-c734-4e6d-ae6e-efecb3ff4c45" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramDomain_414ddffe-bb7d-4a15-a9de-7d5242264656" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_isrg_CommonStockRepurchaseProgramMember_3f081b49-ca7a-4d27-87c0-9595a7c9441a" xlink:href="isrg-20210630.xsd#isrg_CommonStockRepurchaseProgramMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramDomain_414ddffe-bb7d-4a15-a9de-7d5242264656" xlink:to="loc_isrg_CommonStockRepurchaseProgramMember_3f081b49-ca7a-4d27-87c0-9595a7c9441a" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_isrg_AccelerateShareRepurchaseProgramMember_fca22e6b-4a20-4ed0-90ea-a5a94a457dd2" xlink:href="isrg-20210630.xsd#isrg_AccelerateShareRepurchaseProgramMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramDomain_414ddffe-bb7d-4a15-a9de-7d5242264656" xlink:to="loc_isrg_AccelerateShareRepurchaseProgramMember_fca22e6b-4a20-4ed0-90ea-a5a94a457dd2" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_becff7f6-9c46-4410-b72a-99af3889b7c6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfTreasuryStockTable_56661629-b2f9-4de1-ad3b-a91c6f35aafd" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_becff7f6-9c46-4410-b72a-99af3889b7c6" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_becff7f6-9c46-4410-b72a-99af3889b7c6_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_becff7f6-9c46-4410-b72a-99af3889b7c6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_becff7f6-9c46-4410-b72a-99af3889b7c6_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_c2d47754-3887-43c0-b157-05000d6cc51e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_becff7f6-9c46-4410-b72a-99af3889b7c6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_c2d47754-3887-43c0-b157-05000d6cc51e" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockMember_aa55e6a4-597c-4910-9e19-f03cc56ce62c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_c2d47754-3887-43c0-b157-05000d6cc51e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockMember_aa55e6a4-597c-4910-9e19-f03cc56ce62c" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_CounterpartyNameAxis_d3d92ce7-dfbd-40d4-ac11-e6ecdd7624b6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2021/elts/srt-2021-01-31.xsd#srt_CounterpartyNameAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfTreasuryStockTable_56661629-b2f9-4de1-ad3b-a91c6f35aafd" xlink:to="loc_srt_CounterpartyNameAxis_d3d92ce7-dfbd-40d4-ac11-e6ecdd7624b6" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RepurchaseAgreementCounterpartyNameDomain_d3d92ce7-dfbd-40d4-ac11-e6ecdd7624b6_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2021/elts/srt-2021-01-31.xsd#srt_RepurchaseAgreementCounterpartyNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_CounterpartyNameAxis_d3d92ce7-dfbd-40d4-ac11-e6ecdd7624b6" xlink:to="loc_srt_RepurchaseAgreementCounterpartyNameDomain_d3d92ce7-dfbd-40d4-ac11-e6ecdd7624b6_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RepurchaseAgreementCounterpartyNameDomain_ff58562a-dccc-4f1a-8bb8-2e6b1ada6054" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2021/elts/srt-2021-01-31.xsd#srt_RepurchaseAgreementCounterpartyNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_CounterpartyNameAxis_d3d92ce7-dfbd-40d4-ac11-e6ecdd7624b6" xlink:to="loc_srt_RepurchaseAgreementCounterpartyNameDomain_ff58562a-dccc-4f1a-8bb8-2e6b1ada6054" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_isrg_GoldmanSachsCo.Member_2d6a4328-188f-4ce0-b7d9-2b501f156b26" xlink:href="isrg-20210630.xsd#isrg_GoldmanSachsCo.Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_RepurchaseAgreementCounterpartyNameDomain_ff58562a-dccc-4f1a-8bb8-2e6b1ada6054" xlink:to="loc_isrg_GoldmanSachsCo.Member_2d6a4328-188f-4ce0-b7d9-2b501f156b26" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.intuitivesurgical.com/role/SHAREBASEDCOMPENSATIONAdditionalInformationDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="isrg-20210630.xsd#SHAREBASEDCOMPENSATIONAdditionalInformationDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.intuitivesurgical.com/role/SHAREBASEDCOMPENSATIONAdditionalInformationDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i0c95a654b852402c9e8f54be6d5aa8a4_SHAREBASEDCOMPENSATIONAdditionalInformationDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_33628e92-153e-4f60-b9d9-dd5084febe2c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant_693b6124-52b8-4023-8cc9-89edff92265c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_33628e92-153e-4f60-b9d9-dd5084febe2c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant_693b6124-52b8-4023-8cc9-89edff92265c" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockCapitalSharesReservedForFutureIssuance_aa91fef4-6963-4916-931d-6e22df8337d7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockCapitalSharesReservedForFutureIssuance"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_33628e92-153e-4f60-b9d9-dd5084febe2c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockCapitalSharesReservedForFutureIssuance_aa91fef4-6963-4916-931d-6e22df8337d7" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableNumber_00c1342f-0dc5-4bdb-aa40-2f7a3f828dea" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableNumber"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_33628e92-153e-4f60-b9d9-dd5084febe2c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableNumber_00c1342f-0dc5-4bdb-aa40-2f7a3f828dea" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageExercisePrice_c63f2d62-601b-46ae-aca6-7faa86cff2c6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageExercisePrice"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_33628e92-153e-4f60-b9d9-dd5084febe2c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageExercisePrice_c63f2d62-601b-46ae-aca6-7faa86cff2c6" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeitedInPeriod_3931f7a6-aba1-463e-84fd-8419bbdb9400" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeitedInPeriod"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_33628e92-153e-4f60-b9d9-dd5084febe2c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeitedInPeriod_3931f7a6-aba1-463e-84fd-8419bbdb9400" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesEmployeeStockPurchasePlans_9a843da0-6a4a-4792-91c2-9ee7f8e660cb" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesEmployeeStockPurchasePlans"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_33628e92-153e-4f60-b9d9-dd5084febe2c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesEmployeeStockPurchasePlans_9a843da0-6a4a-4792-91c2-9ee7f8e660cb" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueEmployeeStockPurchasePlan_748ee893-01a8-4201-8051-b328b35fae57" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueEmployeeStockPurchasePlan"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_33628e92-153e-4f60-b9d9-dd5084febe2c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueEmployeeStockPurchasePlan_748ee893-01a8-4201-8051-b328b35fae57" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_55ff4143-30e5-4dd8-b1cb-24782da1c759" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_33628e92-153e-4f60-b9d9-dd5084febe2c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_55ff4143-30e5-4dd8-b1cb-24782da1c759" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_a35e9a43-2599-4650-ae3a-62fdad83d488" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_55ff4143-30e5-4dd8-b1cb-24782da1c759" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_a35e9a43-2599-4650-ae3a-62fdad83d488" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_a35e9a43-2599-4650-ae3a-62fdad83d488_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_a35e9a43-2599-4650-ae3a-62fdad83d488" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_a35e9a43-2599-4650-ae3a-62fdad83d488_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_09777508-a2b0-44ee-9cca-ef22f15c4c74" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_a35e9a43-2599-4650-ae3a-62fdad83d488" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_09777508-a2b0-44ee-9cca-ef22f15c4c74" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember_27ecceda-15db-4821-8362-476b520fd0e2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_09777508-a2b0-44ee-9cca-ef22f15c4c74" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember_27ecceda-15db-4821-8362-476b520fd0e2" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember_38a9bb43-0b22-427b-bae9-1c1641556393" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_09777508-a2b0-44ee-9cca-ef22f15c4c74" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember_38a9bb43-0b22-427b-bae9-1c1641556393" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PlanNameAxis_041233dc-dbc4-48d3-a90f-301def843ba9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_PlanNameAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_55ff4143-30e5-4dd8-b1cb-24782da1c759" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PlanNameAxis_041233dc-dbc4-48d3-a90f-301def843ba9" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PlanNameDomain_041233dc-dbc4-48d3-a90f-301def843ba9_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_PlanNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PlanNameAxis_041233dc-dbc4-48d3-a90f-301def843ba9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PlanNameDomain_041233dc-dbc4-48d3-a90f-301def843ba9_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PlanNameDomain_a25c3909-b0d9-44c9-bccf-aba547ffb65e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_PlanNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PlanNameAxis_041233dc-dbc4-48d3-a90f-301def843ba9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PlanNameDomain_a25c3909-b0d9-44c9-bccf-aba547ffb65e" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_isrg_A2010IncentiveAwardPlanMember_03498be3-a524-41d9-97e1-4f9b41d4c230" xlink:href="isrg-20210630.xsd#isrg_A2010IncentiveAwardPlanMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PlanNameDomain_a25c3909-b0d9-44c9-bccf-aba547ffb65e" xlink:to="loc_isrg_A2010IncentiveAwardPlanMember_03498be3-a524-41d9-97e1-4f9b41d4c230" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.intuitivesurgical.com/role/SHAREBASEDCOMPENSATIONSummaryofRSUActivityDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="isrg-20210630.xsd#SHAREBASEDCOMPENSATIONSummaryofRSUActivityDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.intuitivesurgical.com/role/SHAREBASEDCOMPENSATIONSummaryofRSUActivityDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i1d9b7e69843b4cf685838ccfdd5f6d88_SHAREBASEDCOMPENSATIONSummaryofRSUActivityDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_c83b8814-33e8-46ed-8ad9-3896b2f46894" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedRollForward_ff8a54ba-4c26-457d-84ff-dc2b7a345ddb" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedRollForward"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_c83b8814-33e8-46ed-8ad9-3896b2f46894" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedRollForward_ff8a54ba-4c26-457d-84ff-dc2b7a345ddb" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber_adccde52-748e-46a4-a566-7c471a5651dd" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedRollForward_ff8a54ba-4c26-457d-84ff-dc2b7a345ddb" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber_adccde52-748e-46a4-a566-7c471a5651dd" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod_f27b170c-1be6-4a82-a448-9246b992a358" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedRollForward_ff8a54ba-4c26-457d-84ff-dc2b7a345ddb" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod_f27b170c-1be6-4a82-a448-9246b992a358" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod_7f3bf150-870a-4c32-ba35-449f1a815ffb" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedRollForward_ff8a54ba-4c26-457d-84ff-dc2b7a345ddb" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod_7f3bf150-870a-4c32-ba35-449f1a815ffb" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeitedInPeriod_a7b04603-4095-4da5-afe7-9945ac609af1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeitedInPeriod"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedRollForward_ff8a54ba-4c26-457d-84ff-dc2b7a345ddb" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeitedInPeriod_a7b04603-4095-4da5-afe7-9945ac609af1" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber_50229929-e237-4638-b2bb-f64181c405a4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValueRollForward_6c573069-0e38-4d56-9356-5a80b3b23ce1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValueRollForward"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_c83b8814-33e8-46ed-8ad9-3896b2f46894" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValueRollForward_6c573069-0e38-4d56-9356-5a80b3b23ce1" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue_9a0ebcde-d4e6-4a53-afd2-c533c42c1998" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValueRollForward_6c573069-0e38-4d56-9356-5a80b3b23ce1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue_9a0ebcde-d4e6-4a53-afd2-c533c42c1998" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue_5bd8800c-9241-461a-b311-742c1aa3a776" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValueRollForward_6c573069-0e38-4d56-9356-5a80b3b23ce1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue_5bd8800c-9241-461a-b311-742c1aa3a776" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue_8d9feffd-899c-4ff6-89df-8e2f0db0147f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValueRollForward_6c573069-0e38-4d56-9356-5a80b3b23ce1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue_8d9feffd-899c-4ff6-89df-8e2f0db0147f" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeituresWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue_e1c9e040-8f9d-4d67-beda-4e33b141feb0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeituresWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValueRollForward_6c573069-0e38-4d56-9356-5a80b3b23ce1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeituresWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue_e1c9e040-8f9d-4d67-beda-4e33b141feb0" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue_6d1df524-b1e3-429c-b30b-22d8b54ccc53" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_291a7f6e-0e79-4fba-b005-d95e3ce409dd" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_c83b8814-33e8-46ed-8ad9-3896b2f46894" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_291a7f6e-0e79-4fba-b005-d95e3ce409dd" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_6517673a-6bef-492c-ab00-3551920ee229" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_291a7f6e-0e79-4fba-b005-d95e3ce409dd" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_6517673a-6bef-492c-ab00-3551920ee229" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_6517673a-6bef-492c-ab00-3551920ee229_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_6517673a-6bef-492c-ab00-3551920ee229" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_6517673a-6bef-492c-ab00-3551920ee229_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_4c2a69db-fcf5-4dad-840b-c716cc4cd115" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_6517673a-6bef-492c-ab00-3551920ee229" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_4c2a69db-fcf5-4dad-840b-c716cc4cd115" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember_44e3c520-b451-4249-9459-bc82df51c758" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_4c2a69db-fcf5-4dad-840b-c716cc4cd115" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember_44e3c520-b451-4249-9459-bc82df51c758" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.intuitivesurgical.com/role/SHAREBASEDCOMPENSATIONStockBasedCompensationExpenseDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="isrg-20210630.xsd#SHAREBASEDCOMPENSATIONStockBasedCompensationExpenseDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.intuitivesurgical.com/role/SHAREBASEDCOMPENSATIONStockBasedCompensationExpenseDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="ie6d85726a594473a964eea2151fe5d30_SHAREBASEDCOMPENSATIONStockBasedCompensationExpenseDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsLineItems_0488af26-7d34-4739-aae6-e5005837412c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense_8897e253-9a6f-447d-b8f9-cc0006301350" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsLineItems_0488af26-7d34-4739-aae6-e5005837412c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense_8897e253-9a6f-447d-b8f9-cc0006301350" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense_c95397c2-4ecd-4b14-b3a6-78b354f1f8d4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsLineItems_0488af26-7d34-4739-aae6-e5005837412c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense_c95397c2-4ecd-4b14-b3a6-78b354f1f8d4" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpenseNetOfTax_8fb2961a-7832-46bb-9dfd-28f1a4da2192" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpenseNetOfTax"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsLineItems_0488af26-7d34-4739-aae6-e5005837412c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpenseNetOfTax_8fb2961a-7832-46bb-9dfd-28f1a4da2192" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfEmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsTable_e0b663cd-23c4-4810-932b-e65d7c32d64b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfEmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsLineItems_0488af26-7d34-4739-aae6-e5005837412c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfEmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsTable_e0b663cd-23c4-4810-932b-e65d7c32d64b" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis_916c54d8-20a1-4e45-8a23-286ee0d5b83e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfEmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsTable_e0b663cd-23c4-4810-932b-e65d7c32d64b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis_916c54d8-20a1-4e45-8a23-286ee0d5b83e" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationDomain_916c54d8-20a1-4e45-8a23-286ee0d5b83e_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis_916c54d8-20a1-4e45-8a23-286ee0d5b83e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationDomain_916c54d8-20a1-4e45-8a23-286ee0d5b83e_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationDomain_5c9ac87b-8216-4e9f-bee2-80211f9c57f4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis_916c54d8-20a1-4e45-8a23-286ee0d5b83e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationDomain_5c9ac87b-8216-4e9f-bee2-80211f9c57f4" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CostOfSalesMember_fc5d4288-db84-4ecb-bb65-5818a90ccf72" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CostOfSalesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationDomain_5c9ac87b-8216-4e9f-bee2-80211f9c57f4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CostOfSalesMember_fc5d4288-db84-4ecb-bb65-5818a90ccf72" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_isrg_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeMember_aebe701c-cb54-4cd0-a630-d24c84ea7b2b" xlink:href="isrg-20210630.xsd#isrg_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationDomain_5c9ac87b-8216-4e9f-bee2-80211f9c57f4" xlink:to="loc_isrg_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeMember_aebe701c-cb54-4cd0-a630-d24c84ea7b2b" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_isrg_ResearchAndDevelopmentMember_1334ab30-eaab-4e7d-90a7-e4f23f2065c7" xlink:href="isrg-20210630.xsd#isrg_ResearchAndDevelopmentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationDomain_5c9ac87b-8216-4e9f-bee2-80211f9c57f4" xlink:to="loc_isrg_ResearchAndDevelopmentMember_1334ab30-eaab-4e7d-90a7-e4f23f2065c7" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_isrg_ConsolidatingReportingAxis_12f481f7-f74a-4c6b-b64b-d59ea02fdad9" xlink:href="isrg-20210630.xsd#isrg_ConsolidatingReportingAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfEmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsTable_e0b663cd-23c4-4810-932b-e65d7c32d64b" xlink:to="loc_isrg_ConsolidatingReportingAxis_12f481f7-f74a-4c6b-b64b-d59ea02fdad9" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_isrg_ConsolidatingReportingDomain_12f481f7-f74a-4c6b-b64b-d59ea02fdad9_default" xlink:href="isrg-20210630.xsd#isrg_ConsolidatingReportingDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_isrg_ConsolidatingReportingAxis_12f481f7-f74a-4c6b-b64b-d59ea02fdad9" xlink:to="loc_isrg_ConsolidatingReportingDomain_12f481f7-f74a-4c6b-b64b-d59ea02fdad9_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_isrg_ConsolidatingReportingDomain_5dfb8bef-bb66-41f3-953e-beb0bdd1742e" xlink:href="isrg-20210630.xsd#isrg_ConsolidatingReportingDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_isrg_ConsolidatingReportingAxis_12f481f7-f74a-4c6b-b64b-d59ea02fdad9" xlink:to="loc_isrg_ConsolidatingReportingDomain_5dfb8bef-bb66-41f3-953e-beb0bdd1742e" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_isrg_CostOfSalesProductMember_b6626306-2734-408e-8a9b-d333727e9da6" xlink:href="isrg-20210630.xsd#isrg_CostOfSalesProductMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_isrg_ConsolidatingReportingDomain_5dfb8bef-bb66-41f3-953e-beb0bdd1742e" xlink:to="loc_isrg_CostOfSalesProductMember_b6626306-2734-408e-8a9b-d333727e9da6" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_isrg_CostOfSalesServiceMember_5f2b3ddb-68f0-4361-ab6c-5e92c337d5aa" xlink:href="isrg-20210630.xsd#isrg_CostOfSalesServiceMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_isrg_ConsolidatingReportingDomain_5dfb8bef-bb66-41f3-953e-beb0bdd1742e" xlink:to="loc_isrg_CostOfSalesServiceMember_5f2b3ddb-68f0-4361-ab6c-5e92c337d5aa" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.intuitivesurgical.com/role/SHAREBASEDCOMPENSATIONScheduleofEstimatedFairValueofOptionUsingBlackScholesOptionPricingModelWeightedAverageAssumptionsDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="isrg-20210630.xsd#SHAREBASEDCOMPENSATIONScheduleofEstimatedFairValueofOptionUsingBlackScholesOptionPricingModelWeightedAverageAssumptionsDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.intuitivesurgical.com/role/SHAREBASEDCOMPENSATIONScheduleofEstimatedFairValueofOptionUsingBlackScholesOptionPricingModelWeightedAverageAssumptionsDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i6184f9039f7344febfb1722c94c5f047_SHAREBASEDCOMPENSATIONScheduleofEstimatedFairValueofOptionUsingBlackScholesOptionPricingModelWeightedAverageAssumptionsDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_d6011f0d-7143-40e1-9be3-1db79cff2539" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsRiskFreeInterestRate_22d15461-eb8c-46c0-b942-5e4e907e0d59" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsRiskFreeInterestRate"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_d6011f0d-7143-40e1-9be3-1db79cff2539" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsRiskFreeInterestRate_22d15461-eb8c-46c0-b942-5e4e907e0d59" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedTerm1_3a67ae84-5248-4a29-a729-60b59a2f9d03" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedTerm1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_d6011f0d-7143-40e1-9be3-1db79cff2539" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedTerm1_3a67ae84-5248-4a29-a729-60b59a2f9d03" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsWeightedAverageVolatilityRate_eff005ae-0674-48e9-894b-f63011364fb8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsWeightedAverageVolatilityRate"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_d6011f0d-7143-40e1-9be3-1db79cff2539" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsWeightedAverageVolatilityRate_eff005ae-0674-48e9-894b-f63011364fb8" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue_c21475da-f0b7-4914-8d3d-cd4267652081" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_d6011f0d-7143-40e1-9be3-1db79cff2539" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue_c21475da-f0b7-4914-8d3d-cd4267652081" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_68f3f775-5104-4803-9cc5-38467a7c9501" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_d6011f0d-7143-40e1-9be3-1db79cff2539" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_68f3f775-5104-4803-9cc5-38467a7c9501" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_f489ebb8-6428-4469-9347-c17e10b0cc90" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_68f3f775-5104-4803-9cc5-38467a7c9501" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_f489ebb8-6428-4469-9347-c17e10b0cc90" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_f489ebb8-6428-4469-9347-c17e10b0cc90_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_f489ebb8-6428-4469-9347-c17e10b0cc90" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_f489ebb8-6428-4469-9347-c17e10b0cc90_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_ebc54df0-9344-470f-b45e-f4ffa0598f37" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_f489ebb8-6428-4469-9347-c17e10b0cc90" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_ebc54df0-9344-470f-b45e-f4ffa0598f37" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockOptionMember_63e22798-7a9d-4cc5-81e3-e1b8647efb2d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StockOptionMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_ebc54df0-9344-470f-b45e-f4ffa0598f37" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockOptionMember_63e22798-7a9d-4cc5-81e3-e1b8647efb2d" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember_92696e44-39ec-41f8-bfd7-a3d34e886b03" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_ebc54df0-9344-470f-b45e-f4ffa0598f37" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember_92696e44-39ec-41f8-bfd7-a3d34e886b03" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.intuitivesurgical.com/role/INCOMETAXESAdditionalInformationDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="isrg-20210630.xsd#INCOMETAXESAdditionalInformationDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.intuitivesurgical.com/role/INCOMETAXESAdditionalInformationDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="ibad7acae50724f3196e4dd45159ec865_INCOMETAXESAdditionalInformationDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxContingencyLineItems_4ca0ca4c-89a7-4294-b5ba-e667a88a58f5" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeTaxContingencyLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit_86f992b7-2196-40a2-88b5-4d8697be1da4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxContingencyLineItems_4ca0ca4c-89a7-4294-b5ba-e667a88a58f5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit_86f992b7-2196-40a2-88b5-4d8697be1da4" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations_58cc0655-9a3a-4a46-b8af-11c1486781fb" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxContingencyLineItems_4ca0ca4c-89a7-4294-b5ba-e667a88a58f5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations_58cc0655-9a3a-4a46-b8af-11c1486781fb" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance_1d74dc55-89b5-4b20-b86e-f46dc9f4114a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxContingencyLineItems_4ca0ca4c-89a7-4294-b5ba-e667a88a58f5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance_1d74dc55-89b5-4b20-b86e-f46dc9f4114a" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities_90128121-06a8-4a65-ab95-28df28fe5a10" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxContingencyLineItems_4ca0ca4c-89a7-4294-b5ba-e667a88a58f5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities_90128121-06a8-4a65-ab95-28df28fe5a10" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationShareBasedCompensationExcessTaxBenefitAmount_cf1c02df-4b91-4ace-9bf3-f2f1afadcff9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationShareBasedCompensationExcessTaxBenefitAmount"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxContingencyLineItems_4ca0ca4c-89a7-4294-b5ba-e667a88a58f5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationShareBasedCompensationExcessTaxBenefitAmount_cf1c02df-4b91-4ace-9bf3-f2f1afadcff9" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationShareBasedCompensationExcessTaxBenefitPercent_18c8542a-23ba-4f23-91a9-4a9b49077e58" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationShareBasedCompensationExcessTaxBenefitPercent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxContingencyLineItems_4ca0ca4c-89a7-4294-b5ba-e667a88a58f5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationShareBasedCompensationExcessTaxBenefitPercent_18c8542a-23ba-4f23-91a9-4a9b49077e58" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxContingencyTable_4d6d9e40-64ce-472f-958b-954bf6c008e0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeTaxContingencyTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxContingencyLineItems_4ca0ca4c-89a7-4294-b5ba-e667a88a58f5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxContingencyTable_4d6d9e40-64ce-472f-958b-954bf6c008e0" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis_f028d01a-6a6b-4718-8408-1ada7ff80b8e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxContingencyTable_4d6d9e40-64ce-472f-958b-954bf6c008e0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis_f028d01a-6a6b-4718-8408-1ada7ff80b8e" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityDomain_f028d01a-6a6b-4718-8408-1ada7ff80b8e_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis_f028d01a-6a6b-4718-8408-1ada7ff80b8e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityDomain_f028d01a-6a6b-4718-8408-1ada7ff80b8e_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityDomain_1ee05658-9d27-4e73-bafa-5e818b132e19" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis_f028d01a-6a6b-4718-8408-1ada7ff80b8e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityDomain_1ee05658-9d27-4e73-bafa-5e818b132e19" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ForeignCountryMember_bef0c7f0-4ee4-4313-a30d-b32d9202e27b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ForeignCountryMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityDomain_1ee05658-9d27-4e73-bafa-5e818b132e19" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ForeignCountryMember_bef0c7f0-4ee4-4313-a30d-b32d9202e27b" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
</link:linkbase>
