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

<!--XBRL Document Created with the Workiva Platform-->
<!--Copyright 2026 Workiva-->
<!--r:019b230c-2918-7516-91bb-d493fb8b26ca,g:a8c0d1c2-7417-4fb5-8f09-5f95eaa01619-->
<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.firstmerchants.com/role/Cover" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#Cover"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.firstmerchants.com/role/Cover" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentInformationLineItems_019b230d-3f41-70cc-98fd-5a34cf28cc13" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_DocumentInformationLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentInformationTable_019b230d-3f41-7b5a-8436-040f5f4c3332" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_DocumentInformationTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_dei_DocumentInformationLineItems_019b230d-3f41-70cc-98fd-5a34cf28cc13" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentInformationTable_019b230d-3f41-7b5a-8436-040f5f4c3332" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-7bb1-b0b9-bbc5d51dd530" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_LegalEntityAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_dei_DocumentInformationTable_019b230d-3f41-7b5a-8436-040f5f4c3332" xlink:to="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-7bb1-b0b9-bbc5d51dd530" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-7bb1-b0b9-bbc5d51dd530_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-7bb1-b0b9-bbc5d51dd530" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-7bb1-b0b9-bbc5d51dd530_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-7d1a-b7cf-5506e89fb5fd" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-7bb1-b0b9-bbc5d51dd530" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-7d1a-b7cf-5506e89fb5fd" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_frme_EBP002Member_019b2a4a-83f2-7e7f-b8c8-286d6b4c3868" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#frme_EBP002Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-7d1a-b7cf-5506e89fb5fd" xlink:to="loc_frme_EBP002Member_019b2a4a-83f2-7e7f-b8c8-286d6b4c3868" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentType_019b230d-3f41-719b-9625-69aeafdb8c27" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_DocumentType"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_DocumentInformationLineItems_019b230d-3f41-70cc-98fd-5a34cf28cc13" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentType_019b230d-3f41-719b-9625-69aeafdb8c27" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_019b230d-3f41-7c12-a0a6-27dc80e930c2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityRegistrantName"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_DocumentInformationLineItems_019b230d-3f41-70cc-98fd-5a34cf28cc13" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_019b230d-3f41-7c12-a0a6-27dc80e930c2" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_019b230f-e585-7c63-8c02-51ee42c5ce77" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_AmendmentFlag"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_DocumentInformationLineItems_019b230d-3f41-70cc-98fd-5a34cf28cc13" xlink:to="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_019b230f-e585-7c63-8c02-51ee42c5ce77" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_019b2310-1e7b-7fb0-a416-008c6977dd1a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityCentralIndexKey"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_DocumentInformationLineItems_019b230d-3f41-70cc-98fd-5a34cf28cc13" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_019b2310-1e7b-7fb0-a416-008c6977dd1a" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.firstmerchants.com/role/StatementsofNetAssetsAvailableforBenefits" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#StatementsofNetAssetsAvailableforBenefits"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.firstmerchants.com/role/StatementsofNetAssetsAvailableforBenefits" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanStatementOfNetAssetAvailableForBenefitLineItems_019b230d-3f41-747a-b3aa-166c4108438b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanStatementOfNetAssetAvailableForBenefitLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanStatementOfNetAssetAvailableForBenefitTable_019b230d-3f41-743d-975b-179eb8dc2b03" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanStatementOfNetAssetAvailableForBenefitTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanStatementOfNetAssetAvailableForBenefitLineItems_019b230d-3f41-747a-b3aa-166c4108438b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanStatementOfNetAssetAvailableForBenefitTable_019b230d-3f41-743d-975b-179eb8dc2b03" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-7362-9da3-14646a076f00" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_LegalEntityAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanStatementOfNetAssetAvailableForBenefitTable_019b230d-3f41-743d-975b-179eb8dc2b03" xlink:to="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-7362-9da3-14646a076f00" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-7362-9da3-14646a076f00_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-7362-9da3-14646a076f00" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-7362-9da3-14646a076f00_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-7883-afb1-521dc1e1b44f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-7362-9da3-14646a076f00" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-7883-afb1-521dc1e1b44f" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_frme_EBP002Member_019b230d-3f41-7063-85a1-5327b6c37f54" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#frme_EBP002Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-7883-afb1-521dc1e1b44f" xlink:to="loc_frme_EBP002Member_019b230d-3f41-7063-85a1-5327b6c37f54" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis_019b230d-3f41-7c15-8ce7-e8a77aa859f9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/elts/us-gaap-2025.xsd#us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanStatementOfNetAssetAvailableForBenefitTable_019b230d-3f41-743d-975b-179eb8dc2b03" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis_019b230d-3f41-7c15-8ce7-e8a77aa859f9" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember_019b230d-3f41-7c15-8ce7-e8a77aa859f9_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/elts/us-gaap-2025.xsd#us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis_019b230d-3f41-7c15-8ce7-e8a77aa859f9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember_019b230d-3f41-7c15-8ce7-e8a77aa859f9_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember_019b230d-3f41-7ee1-9228-eeeb227f9339" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/elts/us-gaap-2025.xsd#us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis_019b230d-3f41-7c15-8ce7-e8a77aa859f9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember_019b230d-3f41-7ee1-9228-eeeb227f9339" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockMember_019b230d-3f41-7b48-979c-acc605f2e549" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/elts/us-gaap-2025.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember_019b230d-3f41-7ee1-9228-eeeb227f9339" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockMember_019b230d-3f41-7b48-979c-acc605f2e549" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_MutualFundMember_019b230d-3f41-7738-a77c-13b428d4e072" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/elts/us-gaap-2025.xsd#us-gaap_MutualFundMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember_019b230d-3f41-7ee1-9228-eeeb227f9339" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_MutualFundMember_019b230d-3f41-7738-a77c-13b428d4e072" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanSelfDirectedBrokerageAccountMember_019b230d-3f41-7eb4-8e26-d5ae53499a8a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanSelfDirectedBrokerageAccountMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember_019b230d-3f41-7ee1-9228-eeeb227f9339" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanSelfDirectedBrokerageAccountMember_019b230d-3f41-7eb4-8e26-d5ae53499a8a" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAssetAbstract_019b230d-3f41-703e-afd9-44325a9d2ca0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAssetAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanStatementOfNetAssetAvailableForBenefitLineItems_019b230d-3f41-747a-b3aa-166c4108438b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAssetAbstract_019b230d-3f41-703e-afd9-44325a9d2ca0" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAbstract_019b230d-3f41-7f79-ba9a-0302af045769" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAssetAbstract_019b230d-3f41-703e-afd9-44325a9d2ca0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAbstract_019b230d-3f41-7f79-ba9a-0302af045769" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentExcludingPlanInterestInMasterTrustFairValue_019b230d-3f41-765c-9008-a13d7fb4fb0a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentExcludingPlanInterestInMasterTrustFairValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAbstract_019b230d-3f41-7f79-ba9a-0302af045769" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentExcludingPlanInterestInMasterTrustFairValue_019b230d-3f41-765c-9008-a13d7fb4fb0a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentContractValueAbstract_019b232b-4783-7ba3-8cd8-c1ac4ec48f60" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentContractValueAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAssetAbstract_019b230d-3f41-703e-afd9-44325a9d2ca0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentContractValueAbstract_019b232b-4783-7ba3-8cd8-c1ac4ec48f60" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentExcludingPlanInterestInMasterTrustContractValue_019b232a-1c57-7135-8301-0231375eaef9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentExcludingPlanInterestInMasterTrustContractValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentContractValueAbstract_019b232b-4783-7ba3-8cd8-c1ac4ec48f60" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentExcludingPlanInterestInMasterTrustContractValue_019b232a-1c57-7135-8301-0231375eaef9" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentExcludingPlanInterestInMasterTrustFairAndContractValue_019b2324-e401-7201-9a08-52a96248e805" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentExcludingPlanInterestInMasterTrustFairAndContractValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAssetAbstract_019b230d-3f41-703e-afd9-44325a9d2ca0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentExcludingPlanInterestInMasterTrustFairAndContractValue_019b2324-e401-7201-9a08-52a96248e805" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanReceivableAbstract_019b230d-3f41-74bc-9189-ebac19358760" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanReceivableAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAssetAbstract_019b230d-3f41-703e-afd9-44325a9d2ca0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanReceivableAbstract_019b230d-3f41-74bc-9189-ebac19358760" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanEmployerContributionReceivable_019b230d-3f41-76b1-9404-928d445e32b7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanEmployerContributionReceivable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanReceivableAbstract_019b230d-3f41-74bc-9189-ebac19358760" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanEmployerContributionReceivable_019b230d-3f41-76b1-9404-928d445e32b7" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanNoteReceivableFromParticipant_019b230d-3f41-799f-a88f-61893ab3d3d9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanNoteReceivableFromParticipant"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanReceivableAbstract_019b230d-3f41-74bc-9189-ebac19358760" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanNoteReceivableFromParticipant_019b230d-3f41-799f-a88f-61893ab3d3d9" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanReceivable_019b2325-d015-7a5b-b62c-12550f3e405b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanReceivable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanReceivableAbstract_019b230d-3f41-74bc-9189-ebac19358760" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanReceivable_019b2325-d015-7a5b-b62c-12550f3e405b" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAsset_019b230d-3f41-7af6-ae62-a0d7f50a6ecf" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAsset"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAssetAbstract_019b230d-3f41-703e-afd9-44325a9d2ca0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAsset_019b230d-3f41-7af6-ae62-a0d7f50a6ecf" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanLiabilityAbstract_019b230d-3f41-7559-8e18-bb445f7674fd" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanLiabilityAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanStatementOfNetAssetAvailableForBenefitLineItems_019b230d-3f41-747a-b3aa-166c4108438b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanLiabilityAbstract_019b230d-3f41-7559-8e18-bb445f7674fd" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAccruedExpense_019b230d-3f41-7c6e-ac15-959554e3c590" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAccruedExpense"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanLiabilityAbstract_019b230d-3f41-7559-8e18-bb445f7674fd" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAccruedExpense_019b230d-3f41-7c6e-ac15-959554e3c590" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanLiability_019b230d-3f41-706c-b443-66dc7ec602e9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanLiability"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanLiabilityAbstract_019b230d-3f41-7559-8e18-bb445f7674fd" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanLiability_019b230d-3f41-706c-b443-66dc7ec602e9" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanNetAssetAvailableForBenefit_019b230d-3f41-77b7-80f8-362611a430ac" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanNetAssetAvailableForBenefit"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanStatementOfNetAssetAvailableForBenefitLineItems_019b230d-3f41-747a-b3aa-166c4108438b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanNetAssetAvailableForBenefit_019b230d-3f41-77b7-80f8-362611a430ac" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.firstmerchants.com/role/StatementsofChangesinNetAssetsAvailableforBenefits" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#StatementsofChangesinNetAssetsAvailableforBenefits"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.firstmerchants.com/role/StatementsofChangesinNetAssetsAvailableforBenefits" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanStatementOfChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitLineItems_019b230d-3f41-70ff-b97d-d0b20ae67165" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanStatementOfChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanStatementOfChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitTable_019b230d-3f41-78c4-95db-a0795282c8fa" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanStatementOfChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanStatementOfChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitLineItems_019b230d-3f41-70ff-b97d-d0b20ae67165" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanStatementOfChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitTable_019b230d-3f41-78c4-95db-a0795282c8fa" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-7234-8de6-f1df5639a8b9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_LegalEntityAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanStatementOfChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitTable_019b230d-3f41-78c4-95db-a0795282c8fa" xlink:to="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-7234-8de6-f1df5639a8b9" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-7234-8de6-f1df5639a8b9_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-7234-8de6-f1df5639a8b9" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-7234-8de6-f1df5639a8b9_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-79a2-bd05-1eea91fc97bf" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-7234-8de6-f1df5639a8b9" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-79a2-bd05-1eea91fc97bf" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_frme_EBP002Member_019b230d-3f41-7f35-a05f-0c04cbd18c6f" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#frme_EBP002Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-79a2-bd05-1eea91fc97bf" xlink:to="loc_frme_EBP002Member_019b230d-3f41-7f35-a05f-0c04cbd18c6f" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseAbstract_019b230d-3f41-7eac-a94c-1a5cdce61154" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanStatementOfChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitLineItems_019b230d-3f41-70ff-b97d-d0b20ae67165" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseAbstract_019b230d-3f41-7eac-a94c-1a5cdce61154" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseDecreaseForIncomeLossOnInvestmentAbstract_019b230d-3f41-75a2-ab5d-8144d19d5fc5" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseDecreaseForIncomeLossOnInvestmentAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseAbstract_019b230d-3f41-7eac-a94c-1a5cdce61154" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseDecreaseForIncomeLossOnInvestmentAbstract_019b230d-3f41-75a2-ab5d-8144d19d5fc5" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseDecreaseForGainLossOnInvestment_019b230d-3f41-7bde-b126-680fa1109f15" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseDecreaseForGainLossOnInvestment"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseDecreaseForIncomeLossOnInvestmentAbstract_019b230d-3f41-75a2-ab5d-8144d19d5fc5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseDecreaseForGainLossOnInvestment_019b230d-3f41-7bde-b126-680fa1109f15" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForInterestAndDividendIncomeOnInvestment_019b230d-3f41-7294-85dc-f6a5fb7b0aed" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForInterestAndDividendIncomeOnInvestment"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseDecreaseForIncomeLossOnInvestmentAbstract_019b230d-3f41-75a2-ab5d-8144d19d5fc5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForInterestAndDividendIncomeOnInvestment_019b230d-3f41-7294-85dc-f6a5fb7b0aed" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseDecreaseForIncomeLossOnInvestment_019b230d-3f41-73c0-b5dc-262ed8d2dc55" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseDecreaseForIncomeLossOnInvestment"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseDecreaseForIncomeLossOnInvestmentAbstract_019b230d-3f41-75a2-ab5d-8144d19d5fc5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseDecreaseForIncomeLossOnInvestment_019b230d-3f41-73c0-b5dc-262ed8d2dc55" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForInterestIncomeOnNoteReceivableFromParticipant_019b230d-3f41-7212-ac54-4fd353ec042b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForInterestIncomeOnNoteReceivableFromParticipant"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseAbstract_019b230d-3f41-7eac-a94c-1a5cdce61154" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForInterestIncomeOnNoteReceivableFromParticipant_019b230d-3f41-7212-ac54-4fd353ec042b" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForContributionAbstract_019b230d-3f41-71d6-b9e7-40c4c158640b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForContributionAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseAbstract_019b230d-3f41-7eac-a94c-1a5cdce61154" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForContributionAbstract_019b230d-3f41-71d6-b9e7-40c4c158640b" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForParticipantContributionExcludingRollover_019b230d-3f41-774f-bc24-7d8b0d5215b8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForParticipantContributionExcludingRollover"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForContributionAbstract_019b230d-3f41-71d6-b9e7-40c4c158640b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForParticipantContributionExcludingRollover_019b230d-3f41-774f-bc24-7d8b0d5215b8" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForEmployerContributionCash_019b230d-3f41-7c8c-a8f7-71de9a77ec45" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForEmployerContributionCash"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForContributionAbstract_019b230d-3f41-71d6-b9e7-40c4c158640b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForEmployerContributionCash_019b230d-3f41-7c8c-a8f7-71de9a77ec45" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForParticipantContributionRollover_019b230d-3f41-7c0f-ba29-fde615c36942" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForParticipantContributionRollover"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForContributionAbstract_019b230d-3f41-71d6-b9e7-40c4c158640b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForParticipantContributionRollover_019b230d-3f41-7c0f-ba29-fde615c36942" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForContribution_019b230d-3f41-79ac-b9b4-8165bf7487d6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForContribution"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForContributionAbstract_019b230d-3f41-71d6-b9e7-40c4c158640b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForContribution_019b230d-3f41-79ac-b9b4-8165bf7487d6" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncrease_019b230d-3f41-7f9c-bda7-7297633581bf" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncrease"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseAbstract_019b230d-3f41-7eac-a94c-1a5cdce61154" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncrease_019b230d-3f41-7f9c-bda7-7297633581bf" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitDecreaseAbstract_019b230d-3f41-7e2c-b7f4-092822f32f07" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitDecreaseAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanStatementOfChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitLineItems_019b230d-3f41-70ff-b97d-d0b20ae67165" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitDecreaseAbstract_019b230d-3f41-7e2c-b7f4-092822f32f07" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitDecreaseForPaymentToParticipant_019b230d-3f41-7a37-a85b-124531043e9f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitDecreaseForPaymentToParticipant"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitDecreaseAbstract_019b230d-3f41-7e2c-b7f4-092822f32f07" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitDecreaseForPaymentToParticipant_019b230d-3f41-7a37-a85b-124531043e9f" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitDecreaseForAdministrativeExpense_019b230d-3f41-78d3-a7b8-b3dbb838302f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitDecreaseForAdministrativeExpense"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitDecreaseAbstract_019b230d-3f41-7e2c-b7f4-092822f32f07" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitDecreaseForAdministrativeExpense_019b230d-3f41-78d3-a7b8-b3dbb838302f" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitDecrease_019b230d-3f41-7636-85bd-7b1f7aab8abb" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitDecrease"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitDecreaseAbstract_019b230d-3f41-7e2c-b7f4-092822f32f07" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitDecrease_019b230d-3f41-7636-85bd-7b1f7aab8abb" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseDecrease_019b230d-3f41-7721-b109-455c61e320d3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseDecrease"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanStatementOfChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitLineItems_019b230d-3f41-70ff-b97d-d0b20ae67165" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseDecrease_019b230d-3f41-7721-b109-455c61e320d3" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanNetAssetAvailableForBenefit_019b230d-3f41-795a-bc07-4216091c17f7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanNetAssetAvailableForBenefit"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanStatementOfChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitLineItems_019b230d-3f41-70ff-b97d-d0b20ae67165" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanNetAssetAvailableForBenefit_019b230d-3f41-795a-bc07-4216091c17f7" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanNetAssetAvailableForBenefit_019b230d-3f41-74cc-a886-0cd4dd557c57" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanNetAssetAvailableForBenefit"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.firstmerchants.com/role/DESCRIPTIONOFPLAN" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#DESCRIPTIONOFPLAN"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.firstmerchants.com/role/DESCRIPTIONOFPLAN" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanLineItems_019b230d-3f41-7704-bcec-8bf1a16f8e18" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanTable_019b230d-3f41-79d3-ae58-d8d1b21ee333" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanLineItems_019b230d-3f41-7704-bcec-8bf1a16f8e18" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanTable_019b230d-3f41-79d3-ae58-d8d1b21ee333" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-7ba9-873f-f6f73e4a5c0b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_LegalEntityAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanTable_019b230d-3f41-79d3-ae58-d8d1b21ee333" xlink:to="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-7ba9-873f-f6f73e4a5c0b" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-7ba9-873f-f6f73e4a5c0b_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-7ba9-873f-f6f73e4a5c0b" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-7ba9-873f-f6f73e4a5c0b_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-751c-a2cb-9d752ef85be5" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-7ba9-873f-f6f73e4a5c0b" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-751c-a2cb-9d752ef85be5" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_frme_EBP002Member_019b230d-3f41-71ce-a0d4-4b8ea6396faf" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#frme_EBP002Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-751c-a2cb-9d752ef85be5" xlink:to="loc_frme_EBP002Member_019b230d-3f41-71ce-a0d4-4b8ea6396faf" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanTextBlock_019b230d-3f41-7067-a13b-9683cbe6f1c3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanTextBlock"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanLineItems_019b230d-3f41-7704-bcec-8bf1a16f8e18" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanTextBlock_019b230d-3f41-7067-a13b-9683cbe6f1c3" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.firstmerchants.com/role/SUMMARYOFSIGNIFICANTACCOUNTINGPOLICIES" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#SUMMARYOFSIGNIFICANTACCOUNTINGPOLICIES"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.firstmerchants.com/role/SUMMARYOFSIGNIFICANTACCOUNTINGPOLICIES" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAccountingPolicyLineItems_019b230d-3f41-74c2-8e87-c6f940bee4ad" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAccountingPolicyLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAccountingPolicyTable_019b230d-3f41-7235-8b39-389d61e75403" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAccountingPolicyTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAccountingPolicyLineItems_019b230d-3f41-74c2-8e87-c6f940bee4ad" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAccountingPolicyTable_019b230d-3f41-7235-8b39-389d61e75403" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-7d7c-b4b6-b1db0b88a54f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_LegalEntityAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAccountingPolicyTable_019b230d-3f41-7235-8b39-389d61e75403" xlink:to="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-7d7c-b4b6-b1db0b88a54f" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-7d7c-b4b6-b1db0b88a54f_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-7d7c-b4b6-b1db0b88a54f" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-7d7c-b4b6-b1db0b88a54f_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-70a5-930f-80cead32ac00" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-7d7c-b4b6-b1db0b88a54f" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-70a5-930f-80cead32ac00" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_frme_EBP002Member_019b230d-3f41-7a26-aa34-a0a88ac604f4" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#frme_EBP002Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-70a5-930f-80cead32ac00" xlink:to="loc_frme_EBP002Member_019b230d-3f41-7a26-aa34-a0a88ac604f4" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanSummaryOfAccountingPolicyTextBlock_019b230d-3f41-77ab-b42c-419acfa8e489" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanSummaryOfAccountingPolicyTextBlock"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAccountingPolicyLineItems_019b230d-3f41-74c2-8e87-c6f940bee4ad" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanSummaryOfAccountingPolicyTextBlock_019b230d-3f41-77ab-b42c-419acfa8e489" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.firstmerchants.com/role/DISCLOSURESABOUTFAIRVALUEOFASSETSANDLIABILITIES" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#DISCLOSURESABOUTFAIRVALUEOFASSETSANDLIABILITIES"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.firstmerchants.com/role/DISCLOSURESABOUTFAIRVALUEOFASSETSANDLIABILITIES" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavLineItems_019b230d-3f41-7b08-b623-a4706604d1a7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavTable_019b230d-3f41-782c-ba6d-4e2b2baf850d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavLineItems_019b230d-3f41-7b08-b623-a4706604d1a7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavTable_019b230d-3f41-782c-ba6d-4e2b2baf850d" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-78c5-993f-8e7a044beced" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_LegalEntityAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavTable_019b230d-3f41-782c-ba6d-4e2b2baf850d" xlink:to="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-78c5-993f-8e7a044beced" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-78c5-993f-8e7a044beced_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-78c5-993f-8e7a044beced" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-78c5-993f-8e7a044beced_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-747e-9f0a-2669519906f9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-78c5-993f-8e7a044beced" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-747e-9f0a-2669519906f9" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_frme_EBP002Member_019b230d-3f41-75ea-892f-7d09d3b0284c" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#frme_EBP002Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-747e-9f0a-2669519906f9" xlink:to="loc_frme_EBP002Member_019b230d-3f41-75ea-892f-7d09d3b0284c" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavTextBlock_019b230d-3f41-7370-9509-e0706b40f968" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavTextBlock"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavLineItems_019b230d-3f41-7b08-b623-a4706604d1a7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavTextBlock_019b230d-3f41-7370-9509-e0706b40f968" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.firstmerchants.com/role/INVESTMENTCONTRACTWITHINSURANCECOMPANY" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#INVESTMENTCONTRACTWITHINSURANCECOMPANY"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.firstmerchants.com/role/INVESTMENTCONTRACTWITHINSURANCECOMPANY" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanFullyBenefitResponsiveInvestmentContractLineItems_019b230d-3f41-7f51-b83c-1a466481fd6e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanFullyBenefitResponsiveInvestmentContractLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanFullyBenefitResponsiveInvestmentContractTable_019b230d-3f41-75e2-8f4f-6a27c8e3f57e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanFullyBenefitResponsiveInvestmentContractTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanFullyBenefitResponsiveInvestmentContractLineItems_019b230d-3f41-7f51-b83c-1a466481fd6e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanFullyBenefitResponsiveInvestmentContractTable_019b230d-3f41-75e2-8f4f-6a27c8e3f57e" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-79d6-bf0a-1b0ed2dc6ccd" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_LegalEntityAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanFullyBenefitResponsiveInvestmentContractTable_019b230d-3f41-75e2-8f4f-6a27c8e3f57e" xlink:to="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-79d6-bf0a-1b0ed2dc6ccd" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-79d6-bf0a-1b0ed2dc6ccd_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-79d6-bf0a-1b0ed2dc6ccd" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-79d6-bf0a-1b0ed2dc6ccd_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-7d3f-a2e8-33e0713c2f06" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-79d6-bf0a-1b0ed2dc6ccd" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-7d3f-a2e8-33e0713c2f06" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_frme_EBP002Member_019b230d-3f41-736c-9c6f-d44ff50ef626" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#frme_EBP002Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-7d3f-a2e8-33e0713c2f06" xlink:to="loc_frme_EBP002Member_019b230d-3f41-736c-9c6f-d44ff50ef626" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanFullyBenefitResponsiveInvestmentContractTextBlock_019b234e-19e3-7dc2-9181-31fd69e9a4b8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanFullyBenefitResponsiveInvestmentContractTextBlock"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanFullyBenefitResponsiveInvestmentContractLineItems_019b230d-3f41-7f51-b83c-1a466481fd6e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanFullyBenefitResponsiveInvestmentContractTextBlock_019b234e-19e3-7dc2-9181-31fd69e9a4b8" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.firstmerchants.com/role/PARTYININTERESTTRANSACTIONS" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#PARTYININTERESTTRANSACTIONS"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.firstmerchants.com/role/PARTYININTERESTTRANSACTIONS" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsLineItems_019b230d-3f41-7db3-825e-2c05c466f454" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsTable_019b230d-3f41-7c65-982a-e72df846f6a0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsLineItems_019b230d-3f41-7db3-825e-2c05c466f454" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsTable_019b230d-3f41-7c65-982a-e72df846f6a0" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-7980-8c74-12c36a1e68b3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_LegalEntityAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsTable_019b230d-3f41-7c65-982a-e72df846f6a0" xlink:to="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-7980-8c74-12c36a1e68b3" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-7980-8c74-12c36a1e68b3_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-7980-8c74-12c36a1e68b3" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-7980-8c74-12c36a1e68b3_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-743a-90a1-f0e4db226169" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-7980-8c74-12c36a1e68b3" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-743a-90a1-f0e4db226169" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_frme_EBP002Member_019b230d-3f41-7856-93db-5db97fb94df6" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#frme_EBP002Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-743a-90a1-f0e4db226169" xlink:to="loc_frme_EBP002Member_019b230d-3f41-7856-93db-5db97fb94df6" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsTextBlock_019b230d-3f41-7c7e-8398-bacb2f29684d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsTextBlock"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsLineItems_019b230d-3f41-7db3-825e-2c05c466f454" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsTextBlock_019b230d-3f41-7c7e-8398-bacb2f29684d" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.firstmerchants.com/role/RISKSANDUNCERTAINTIES" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#RISKSANDUNCERTAINTIES"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.firstmerchants.com/role/RISKSANDUNCERTAINTIES" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EbpRiskAndUncertaintyLineItems_019b230d-3f41-78e9-b5c2-abff07b63747" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EbpRiskAndUncertaintyLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EbpRiskAndUncertaintyTable_019b230d-3f41-7b05-8127-9290c1081185" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EbpRiskAndUncertaintyTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EbpRiskAndUncertaintyLineItems_019b230d-3f41-78e9-b5c2-abff07b63747" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EbpRiskAndUncertaintyTable_019b230d-3f41-7b05-8127-9290c1081185" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-7597-8edf-cf96e3fd5d82" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_LegalEntityAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EbpRiskAndUncertaintyTable_019b230d-3f41-7b05-8127-9290c1081185" xlink:to="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-7597-8edf-cf96e3fd5d82" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-7597-8edf-cf96e3fd5d82_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-7597-8edf-cf96e3fd5d82" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-7597-8edf-cf96e3fd5d82_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-797e-9d19-ac78cbf8de03" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-7597-8edf-cf96e3fd5d82" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-797e-9d19-ac78cbf8de03" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_frme_EBP002Member_019b230d-3f41-7333-9b91-ffce1d78f34d" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#frme_EBP002Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-797e-9d19-ac78cbf8de03" xlink:to="loc_frme_EBP002Member_019b230d-3f41-7333-9b91-ffce1d78f34d" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRiskAndUncertaintyTextBlock_019b230d-3f41-78f4-b7fe-4d431047f292" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRiskAndUncertaintyTextBlock"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EbpRiskAndUncertaintyLineItems_019b230d-3f41-78e9-b5c2-abff07b63747" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRiskAndUncertaintyTextBlock_019b230d-3f41-78f4-b7fe-4d431047f292" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.firstmerchants.com/role/NONEXEMPTTRANSACTIONS" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#NONEXEMPTTRANSACTIONS"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.firstmerchants.com/role/NONEXEMPTTRANSACTIONS" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanContributionLineItems_019b2474-ee3d-7249-823b-ab7a7bf35f6e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanContributionLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanContributionTable_019b2474-ee3d-731b-84a8-1c93156d242d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanContributionTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanContributionLineItems_019b2474-ee3d-7249-823b-ab7a7bf35f6e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanContributionTable_019b2474-ee3d-731b-84a8-1c93156d242d" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b2474-ee3d-7617-aecf-8076f2701359" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_LegalEntityAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanContributionTable_019b2474-ee3d-731b-84a8-1c93156d242d" xlink:to="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b2474-ee3d-7617-aecf-8076f2701359" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b2474-ee3d-7617-aecf-8076f2701359_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b2474-ee3d-7617-aecf-8076f2701359" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b2474-ee3d-7617-aecf-8076f2701359_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b2474-ee3d-71e9-8a75-d9b773aae13b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b2474-ee3d-7617-aecf-8076f2701359" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b2474-ee3d-71e9-8a75-d9b773aae13b" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_frme_EBP002Member_019b2474-ee3d-749a-9066-b58d844a83e4" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#frme_EBP002Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b2474-ee3d-71e9-8a75-d9b773aae13b" xlink:to="loc_frme_EBP002Member_019b2474-ee3d-749a-9066-b58d844a83e4" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanContributionTextBlock_019b2474-ee3d-7dfd-8f18-bb66bf452be8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanContributionTextBlock"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanContributionLineItems_019b2474-ee3d-7249-823b-ab7a7bf35f6e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanContributionTextBlock_019b2474-ee3d-7dfd-8f18-bb66bf452be8" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.firstmerchants.com/role/SUBSEQUENTEVENT" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#SUBSEQUENTEVENT"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.firstmerchants.com/role/SUBSEQUENTEVENT" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EbpSubsequentEventLineItems_019e2257-a57e-72a8-b7c5-97ed9649f082" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EbpSubsequentEventLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EbpSubsequentEventTable_019e2257-a57e-7840-99f2-a62752bd86fe" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EbpSubsequentEventTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EbpSubsequentEventLineItems_019e2257-a57e-72a8-b7c5-97ed9649f082" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EbpSubsequentEventTable_019e2257-a57e-7840-99f2-a62752bd86fe" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019e2257-a57e-74f9-9b9d-b11f834eb112" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_LegalEntityAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EbpSubsequentEventTable_019e2257-a57e-7840-99f2-a62752bd86fe" xlink:to="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019e2257-a57e-74f9-9b9d-b11f834eb112" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019e2257-a57e-74f9-9b9d-b11f834eb112_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019e2257-a57e-74f9-9b9d-b11f834eb112" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019e2257-a57e-74f9-9b9d-b11f834eb112_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019e2257-a57e-76a5-a3eb-1afde7b15989" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019e2257-a57e-74f9-9b9d-b11f834eb112" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019e2257-a57e-76a5-a3eb-1afde7b15989" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_frme_EBP002Member_019e2257-a57e-7b49-b535-83c2c020cf33" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#frme_EBP002Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019e2257-a57e-76a5-a3eb-1afde7b15989" xlink:to="loc_frme_EBP002Member_019e2257-a57e-7b49-b535-83c2c020cf33" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanSubsequentEventTextBlock_019e2257-a57e-7d3c-bb6a-ccb25b9bdfb7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanSubsequentEventTextBlock"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EbpSubsequentEventLineItems_019e2257-a57e-72a8-b7c5-97ed9649f082" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanSubsequentEventTextBlock_019e2257-a57e-7d3c-bb6a-ccb25b9bdfb7" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.firstmerchants.com/role/ScheduleHLine4iScheduleofAssetsHeldAtEndofYear" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#ScheduleHLine4iScheduleofAssetsHeldAtEndofYear"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.firstmerchants.com/role/ScheduleHLine4iScheduleofAssetsHeldAtEndofYear" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentLineItems_019b230d-3f41-73df-8f36-c4c7459e7653" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentTable_019b230d-3f41-74d3-adda-f6a92e99aa1e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentLineItems_019b230d-3f41-73df-8f36-c4c7459e7653" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentTable_019b230d-3f41-74d3-adda-f6a92e99aa1e" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-784f-a0f9-7b0a683e41ec" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_LegalEntityAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentTable_019b230d-3f41-74d3-adda-f6a92e99aa1e" xlink:to="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-784f-a0f9-7b0a683e41ec" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-784f-a0f9-7b0a683e41ec_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-784f-a0f9-7b0a683e41ec" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-784f-a0f9-7b0a683e41ec_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-7e90-8c40-de178fa8e12c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-784f-a0f9-7b0a683e41ec" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-7e90-8c40-de178fa8e12c" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_frme_EBP002Member_019b230d-3f41-7957-9820-0493ab61d123" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#frme_EBP002Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-7e90-8c40-de178fa8e12c" xlink:to="loc_frme_EBP002Member_019b230d-3f41-7957-9820-0493ab61d123" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentTableTextBlock_019b230d-3f41-72a2-836e-baa739bd4a0b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentTableTextBlock"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentLineItems_019b230d-3f41-73df-8f36-c4c7459e7653" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentTableTextBlock_019b230d-3f41-72a2-836e-baa739bd4a0b" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.firstmerchants.com/role/SUMMARYOFSIGNIFICANTACCOUNTINGPOLICIESPolicies" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#SUMMARYOFSIGNIFICANTACCOUNTINGPOLICIESPolicies"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.firstmerchants.com/role/SUMMARYOFSIGNIFICANTACCOUNTINGPOLICIESPolicies" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAccountingPolicyLineItems_019b230d-3f41-7967-8b12-02dfad81ff56" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAccountingPolicyLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAccountingPolicyTable_019b230d-3f41-7d35-ba7f-2f175445e0a2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAccountingPolicyTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAccountingPolicyLineItems_019b230d-3f41-7967-8b12-02dfad81ff56" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAccountingPolicyTable_019b230d-3f41-7d35-ba7f-2f175445e0a2" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-7e3c-a7c2-4e413f85f336" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_LegalEntityAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAccountingPolicyTable_019b230d-3f41-7d35-ba7f-2f175445e0a2" xlink:to="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-7e3c-a7c2-4e413f85f336" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-7e3c-a7c2-4e413f85f336_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-7e3c-a7c2-4e413f85f336" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-7e3c-a7c2-4e413f85f336_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-784f-aa35-8c11b3bc3231" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-7e3c-a7c2-4e413f85f336" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-784f-aa35-8c11b3bc3231" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_frme_EBP002Member_019b230d-3f41-7809-afa2-bc1a7c8c18ef" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#frme_EBP002Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-784f-aa35-8c11b3bc3231" xlink:to="loc_frme_EBP002Member_019b230d-3f41-7809-afa2-bc1a7c8c18ef" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanBasisOfAccountingPolicyTextBlock_019b230d-3f41-7163-9de2-dc0f6238947b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanBasisOfAccountingPolicyTextBlock"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAccountingPolicyLineItems_019b230d-3f41-7967-8b12-02dfad81ff56" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanBasisOfAccountingPolicyTextBlock_019b230d-3f41-7163-9de2-dc0f6238947b" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanUseOfEstimatePolicyTextBlock_019b230d-3f41-77c8-9b69-bc74ac1ba0d4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanUseOfEstimatePolicyTextBlock"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAccountingPolicyLineItems_019b230d-3f41-7967-8b12-02dfad81ff56" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanUseOfEstimatePolicyTextBlock_019b230d-3f41-77c8-9b69-bc74ac1ba0d4" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentPolicyTextBlock_019b230d-3f41-78d5-a5ec-09c2813c2d80" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentPolicyTextBlock"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAccountingPolicyLineItems_019b230d-3f41-7967-8b12-02dfad81ff56" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentPolicyTextBlock_019b230d-3f41-78d5-a5ec-09c2813c2d80" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanPaymentToParticipantPolicyTextBlock_019b230d-3f41-7bdf-a2c5-a4dd0ca99e23" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanPaymentToParticipantPolicyTextBlock"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAccountingPolicyLineItems_019b230d-3f41-7967-8b12-02dfad81ff56" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanPaymentToParticipantPolicyTextBlock_019b230d-3f41-7bdf-a2c5-a4dd0ca99e23" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanExpensePolicyTextBlock_019b23d5-0306-7fca-bc6c-dc2e0e673cb7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanExpensePolicyTextBlock"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAccountingPolicyLineItems_019b230d-3f41-7967-8b12-02dfad81ff56" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanExpensePolicyTextBlock_019b23d5-0306-7fca-bc6c-dc2e0e673cb7" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.firstmerchants.com/role/DISCLOSURESABOUTFAIRVALUEOFASSETSANDLIABILITIESTables" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#DISCLOSURESABOUTFAIRVALUEOFASSETSANDLIABILITIESTables"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.firstmerchants.com/role/DISCLOSURESABOUTFAIRVALUEOFASSETSANDLIABILITIESTables" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavLineItems_019b230d-3f41-707f-b601-ee999f030b14" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavTable_019b230d-3f41-7265-b2be-9e9b3c5844a2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavLineItems_019b230d-3f41-707f-b601-ee999f030b14" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavTable_019b230d-3f41-7265-b2be-9e9b3c5844a2" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-76b4-8c73-4a77237b2c19" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_LegalEntityAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavTable_019b230d-3f41-7265-b2be-9e9b3c5844a2" xlink:to="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-76b4-8c73-4a77237b2c19" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-76b4-8c73-4a77237b2c19_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-76b4-8c73-4a77237b2c19" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-76b4-8c73-4a77237b2c19_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-7918-9932-e2235b98e782" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-76b4-8c73-4a77237b2c19" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-7918-9932-e2235b98e782" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_frme_EBP002Member_019b230d-3f41-76f8-8139-46185d2da800" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#frme_EBP002Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-7918-9932-e2235b98e782" xlink:to="loc_frme_EBP002Member_019b230d-3f41-76f8-8139-46185d2da800" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavTableTextBlock_019b230d-3f41-78cb-8999-e80fba3be625" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavTableTextBlock"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavLineItems_019b230d-3f41-707f-b601-ee999f030b14" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavTableTextBlock_019b230d-3f41-78cb-8999-e80fba3be625" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.firstmerchants.com/role/PARTYININTERESTTRANSACTIONSTables" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#PARTYININTERESTTRANSACTIONSTables"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.firstmerchants.com/role/PARTYININTERESTTRANSACTIONSTables" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsLineItems_019b2430-dd02-7bff-9a55-1e7afd262d5d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsTable_019b2430-dd02-7abd-a8dc-159715eb42dd" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsLineItems_019b2430-dd02-7bff-9a55-1e7afd262d5d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsTable_019b2430-dd02-7abd-a8dc-159715eb42dd" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b2430-dd02-7b42-9a27-c19cc0265ef1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_LegalEntityAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsTable_019b2430-dd02-7abd-a8dc-159715eb42dd" xlink:to="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b2430-dd02-7b42-9a27-c19cc0265ef1" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b2430-dd02-7b42-9a27-c19cc0265ef1_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b2430-dd02-7b42-9a27-c19cc0265ef1" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b2430-dd02-7b42-9a27-c19cc0265ef1_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b2430-dd02-7b1f-ad23-6875316a5872" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b2430-dd02-7b42-9a27-c19cc0265ef1" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b2430-dd02-7b1f-ad23-6875316a5872" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_frme_EBP002Member_019b2430-dd02-70a5-a32d-d50b3af3a2b5" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#frme_EBP002Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b2430-dd02-7b1f-ad23-6875316a5872" xlink:to="loc_frme_EBP002Member_019b2430-dd02-70a5-a32d-d50b3af3a2b5" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsTableTextBlock_019b2430-dd02-782d-80ad-8f9b269af806" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsTableTextBlock"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsLineItems_019b2430-dd02-7bff-9a55-1e7afd262d5d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsTableTextBlock_019b2430-dd02-782d-80ad-8f9b269af806" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.firstmerchants.com/role/DESCRIPTIONOFPLANDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#DESCRIPTIONOFPLANDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.firstmerchants.com/role/DESCRIPTIONOFPLANDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanLineItems_019b230d-3f41-73b6-8299-21d132de6ada" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanTable_019b230d-3f41-7667-9512-1d1cfe5f978e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanLineItems_019b230d-3f41-73b6-8299-21d132de6ada" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanTable_019b230d-3f41-7667-9512-1d1cfe5f978e" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-7a62-97a5-6ed6a2539df5" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_LegalEntityAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanTable_019b230d-3f41-7667-9512-1d1cfe5f978e" xlink:to="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-7a62-97a5-6ed6a2539df5" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-7a62-97a5-6ed6a2539df5_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-7a62-97a5-6ed6a2539df5" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-7a62-97a5-6ed6a2539df5_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-7a28-9b4b-d54d712df7f8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-7a62-97a5-6ed6a2539df5" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-7a28-9b4b-d54d712df7f8" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_frme_EBP002Member_019b230d-3f41-7dc5-9a95-f1a8c2ca931c" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#frme_EBP002Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-7a28-9b4b-d54d712df7f8" xlink:to="loc_frme_EBP002Member_019b230d-3f41-7dc5-9a95-f1a8c2ca931c" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_frme_EBPEmployerContributionTypeAxis_019b230d-3f41-7ac6-a049-17684e1299ce" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#frme_EBPEmployerContributionTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanTable_019b230d-3f41-7667-9512-1d1cfe5f978e" xlink:to="loc_frme_EBPEmployerContributionTypeAxis_019b230d-3f41-7ac6-a049-17684e1299ce" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_frme_EBPEmployerContributionTypeDomain_019b230d-3f41-7ac6-a049-17684e1299ce_default" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#frme_EBPEmployerContributionTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_frme_EBPEmployerContributionTypeAxis_019b230d-3f41-7ac6-a049-17684e1299ce" xlink:to="loc_frme_EBPEmployerContributionTypeDomain_019b230d-3f41-7ac6-a049-17684e1299ce_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_frme_EBPEmployerContributionTypeDomain_019b230d-3f41-7268-8608-4076e838798b" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#frme_EBPEmployerContributionTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_frme_EBPEmployerContributionTypeAxis_019b230d-3f41-7ac6-a049-17684e1299ce" xlink:to="loc_frme_EBPEmployerContributionTypeDomain_019b230d-3f41-7268-8608-4076e838798b" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_frme_EBPRetirementSecurityContributionRSCMember_019b2a83-f60f-70d0-946b-cc8c52b8e63d" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#frme_EBPRetirementSecurityContributionRSCMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_frme_EBPEmployerContributionTypeDomain_019b230d-3f41-7268-8608-4076e838798b" xlink:to="loc_frme_EBPRetirementSecurityContributionRSCMember_019b2a83-f60f-70d0-946b-cc8c52b8e63d" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_frme_EBPEmployerMatchingContributionsMember_019b2a84-93a2-759c-baf5-070ca8ba11a1" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#frme_EBPEmployerMatchingContributionsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_frme_EBPEmployerContributionTypeDomain_019b230d-3f41-7268-8608-4076e838798b" xlink:to="loc_frme_EBPEmployerMatchingContributionsMember_019b2a84-93a2-759c-baf5-070ca8ba11a1" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_frme_EBPEmployerMatchingContributionsTrancheOneMember_019b2ce3-9976-7c5d-906c-0c9648fc5905" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#frme_EBPEmployerMatchingContributionsTrancheOneMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_frme_EBPEmployerMatchingContributionsMember_019b2a84-93a2-759c-baf5-070ca8ba11a1" xlink:to="loc_frme_EBPEmployerMatchingContributionsTrancheOneMember_019b2ce3-9976-7c5d-906c-0c9648fc5905" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_frme_EBPEmployerMatchingContributionsTrancheTwoMember_019b2ce3-f5aa-7feb-8e65-d4f83258043a" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#frme_EBPEmployerMatchingContributionsTrancheTwoMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_frme_EBPEmployerMatchingContributionsMember_019b2a84-93a2-759c-baf5-070ca8ba11a1" xlink:to="loc_frme_EBPEmployerMatchingContributionsTrancheTwoMember_019b2ce3-f5aa-7feb-8e65-d4f83258043a" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis_019b2a8e-cd34-73b7-b67a-4267478d5867" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/elts/us-gaap-2025.xsd#us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanTable_019b230d-3f41-7667-9512-1d1cfe5f978e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis_019b2a8e-cd34-73b7-b67a-4267478d5867" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember_019b2a8e-cd34-73b7-b67a-4267478d5867_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/elts/us-gaap-2025.xsd#us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis_019b2a8e-cd34-73b7-b67a-4267478d5867" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember_019b2a8e-cd34-73b7-b67a-4267478d5867_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember_019b2a8e-cd34-71ff-b6b9-bac7a1b71255" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/elts/us-gaap-2025.xsd#us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis_019b2a8e-cd34-73b7-b67a-4267478d5867" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember_019b2a8e-cd34-71ff-b6b9-bac7a1b71255" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanEmployerCommonStockMember_019b2a8e-cd34-7247-bb6b-9f0851e07a1a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanEmployerCommonStockMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember_019b2a8e-cd34-71ff-b6b9-bac7a1b71255" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanEmployerCommonStockMember_019b2a8e-cd34-7247-bb6b-9f0851e07a1a" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanSelfDirectedBrokerageAccountMember_019b2a8e-cd34-7246-ad01-b22ca01e9d8a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanSelfDirectedBrokerageAccountMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember_019b2a8e-cd34-71ff-b6b9-bac7a1b71255" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanSelfDirectedBrokerageAccountMember_019b2a8e-cd34-7246-ad01-b22ca01e9d8a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_frme_EBPRequisiteParticipantAge_019b2a8a-382c-7728-8e40-466c28030e54" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#frme_EBPRequisiteParticipantAge"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanLineItems_019b230d-3f41-73b6-8299-21d132de6ada" xlink:to="loc_frme_EBPRequisiteParticipantAge_019b2a8a-382c-7728-8e40-466c28030e54" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanParticipantContributionPretaxMaximumAnnualCompensationToTotalCompensationPercentage_019b2a8a-382c-7d5c-8222-df3892c1f6d3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanParticipantContributionPretaxMaximumAnnualCompensationToTotalCompensationPercentage"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanLineItems_019b230d-3f41-73b6-8299-21d132de6ada" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanParticipantContributionPretaxMaximumAnnualCompensationToTotalCompensationPercentage_019b2a8a-382c-7d5c-8222-df3892c1f6d3" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_frme_EBPEmployerContributionAnnualFixedRateContributionPercentage_019b2a8a-382c-79f0-8694-cc063d806160" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#frme_EBPEmployerContributionAnnualFixedRateContributionPercentage"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanLineItems_019b230d-3f41-73b6-8299-21d132de6ada" xlink:to="loc_frme_EBPEmployerContributionAnnualFixedRateContributionPercentage_019b2a8a-382c-79f0-8694-cc063d806160" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_frme_EBPRequisiteServiceHours_019b2a8a-382c-7163-9c22-e14dc21f0b40" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#frme_EBPRequisiteServiceHours"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanLineItems_019b230d-3f41-73b6-8299-21d132de6ada" xlink:to="loc_frme_EBPRequisiteServiceHours_019b2a8a-382c-7163-9c22-e14dc21f0b40" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanEmployerContributionMatchingPercentage_019b2a8a-382c-744f-8f41-4e7e5b7fb0e6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanEmployerContributionMatchingPercentage"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanLineItems_019b230d-3f41-73b6-8299-21d132de6ada" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanEmployerContributionMatchingPercentage_019b2a8a-382c-744f-8f41-4e7e5b7fb0e6" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanEmployerContributionParticipantCompensationMatchedPercentage_019b2a8a-382c-718a-a00e-02d843f3f2df" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanEmployerContributionParticipantCompensationMatchedPercentage"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanLineItems_019b230d-3f41-73b6-8299-21d132de6ada" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanEmployerContributionParticipantCompensationMatchedPercentage_019b2a8a-382c-718a-a00e-02d843f3f2df" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_frme_EBPRetirementAge_019b2a8a-382c-7afd-99b8-1291c07e66ef" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#frme_EBPRetirementAge"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanLineItems_019b230d-3f41-73b6-8299-21d132de6ada" xlink:to="loc_frme_EBPRetirementAge_019b2a8a-382c-7afd-99b8-1291c07e66ef" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_frme_EBPRetirementServicePeriod_019d6f32-db1e-765a-ba23-9f37aa623624" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#frme_EBPRetirementServicePeriod"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanLineItems_019b230d-3f41-73b6-8299-21d132de6ada" xlink:to="loc_frme_EBPRetirementServicePeriod_019d6f32-db1e-765a-ba23-9f37aa623624" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanParticipantContributionAutomaticDeferralRate_019b2a8e-cd34-7841-8e95-be7310ad6c8a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanParticipantContributionAutomaticDeferralRate"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanLineItems_019b230d-3f41-73b6-8299-21d132de6ada" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanParticipantContributionAutomaticDeferralRate_019b2a8e-cd34-7841-8e95-be7310ad6c8a" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_frme_EBPParticipantContributionAutomaticDeferralDeclinePeriod_019b2a8e-cd34-7b75-9ae0-2cf7713fa0d4" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#frme_EBPParticipantContributionAutomaticDeferralDeclinePeriod"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanLineItems_019b230d-3f41-73b6-8299-21d132de6ada" xlink:to="loc_frme_EBPParticipantContributionAutomaticDeferralDeclinePeriod_019b2a8e-cd34-7b75-9ae0-2cf7713fa0d4" xlink:type="arc" order="9"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_frme_EBPParticipantAccountMaximumPlanInvestmentBalancePercent_019b2a8e-cd34-7ac0-8d02-e1928b794be9" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#frme_EBPParticipantAccountMaximumPlanInvestmentBalancePercent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanLineItems_019b230d-3f41-73b6-8299-21d132de6ada" xlink:to="loc_frme_EBPParticipantAccountMaximumPlanInvestmentBalancePercent_019b2a8e-cd34-7ac0-8d02-e1928b794be9" xlink:type="arc" order="10"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_frme_EBPEmployerContributionVestingServiceHours_019d6f10-6bd1-76d5-b835-c456bdbf564e" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#frme_EBPEmployerContributionVestingServiceHours"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanLineItems_019b230d-3f41-73b6-8299-21d132de6ada" xlink:to="loc_frme_EBPEmployerContributionVestingServiceHours_019d6f10-6bd1-76d5-b835-c456bdbf564e" xlink:type="arc" order="11"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_frme_EBPEmployerContributionVestingPercentage_019b2a8e-cd34-7020-83bc-68fec64ad0f0" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#frme_EBPEmployerContributionVestingPercentage"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanLineItems_019b230d-3f41-73b6-8299-21d132de6ada" xlink:to="loc_frme_EBPEmployerContributionVestingPercentage_019b2a8e-cd34-7020-83bc-68fec64ad0f0" xlink:type="arc" order="12"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_frme_EBPEmployerContributionVestingServicePeriod_019b2a8e-cd34-7944-a21d-a61095fa7c7a" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#frme_EBPEmployerContributionVestingServicePeriod"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanLineItems_019b230d-3f41-73b6-8299-21d132de6ada" xlink:to="loc_frme_EBPEmployerContributionVestingServicePeriod_019b2a8e-cd34-7944-a21d-a61095fa7c7a" xlink:type="arc" order="13"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_frme_EBPEmployerParticipantServicePeriod_019d6f0a-6bb2-7067-9913-e4264a1b71d0" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#frme_EBPEmployerParticipantServicePeriod"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanLineItems_019b230d-3f41-73b6-8299-21d132de6ada" xlink:to="loc_frme_EBPEmployerParticipantServicePeriod_019d6f0a-6bb2-7067-9913-e4264a1b71d0" xlink:type="arc" order="14"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanForfeitedNonvestedAccount_019b2a8e-cd34-736e-b6b3-3206244d700b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanForfeitedNonvestedAccount"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanLineItems_019b230d-3f41-73b6-8299-21d132de6ada" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanForfeitedNonvestedAccount_019b2a8e-cd34-736e-b6b3-3206244d700b" xlink:type="arc" order="15"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanForfeitedNonvestedAccountDecreaseForEmployerContribution_019b2a8e-cd34-7f02-87bf-22c0b51ed2af" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanForfeitedNonvestedAccountDecreaseForEmployerContribution"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanLineItems_019b230d-3f41-73b6-8299-21d132de6ada" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanForfeitedNonvestedAccountDecreaseForEmployerContribution_019b2a8e-cd34-7f02-87bf-22c0b51ed2af" xlink:type="arc" order="16"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanForfeitedNonvestedAccountDecreaseForAdministrativeExpense_019b2a8e-cd34-70fb-b0be-1cb04ba6510c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanForfeitedNonvestedAccountDecreaseForAdministrativeExpense"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanLineItems_019b230d-3f41-73b6-8299-21d132de6ada" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanForfeitedNonvestedAccountDecreaseForAdministrativeExpense_019b2a8e-cd34-70fb-b0be-1cb04ba6510c" xlink:type="arc" order="17"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanNoteReceivableFromParticipantAccountMinimumBorrowingAmount_019b2a8e-cd34-7f4e-a649-d40cfdb18717" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanNoteReceivableFromParticipantAccountMinimumBorrowingAmount"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanLineItems_019b230d-3f41-73b6-8299-21d132de6ada" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanNoteReceivableFromParticipantAccountMinimumBorrowingAmount_019b2a8e-cd34-7f4e-a649-d40cfdb18717" xlink:type="arc" order="18"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanNoteReceivableFromParticipantAccountMaximumBorrowingAmount_019b2a8e-cd34-7814-9762-d6960410c5ce" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanNoteReceivableFromParticipantAccountMaximumBorrowingAmount"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanLineItems_019b230d-3f41-73b6-8299-21d132de6ada" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanNoteReceivableFromParticipantAccountMaximumBorrowingAmount_019b2a8e-cd34-7814-9762-d6960410c5ce" xlink:type="arc" order="19"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanNoteReceivableFromParticipantAccountMaximumBorrowingToTotalAccountPercentage_019b2a8e-cd34-7169-9f7c-a15b97697eea" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanNoteReceivableFromParticipantAccountMaximumBorrowingToTotalAccountPercentage"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanLineItems_019b230d-3f41-73b6-8299-21d132de6ada" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanNoteReceivableFromParticipantAccountMaximumBorrowingToTotalAccountPercentage_019b2a8e-cd34-7169-9f7c-a15b97697eea" xlink:type="arc" order="20"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_frme_EBPNoteReceivableFromParticipantGeneralLoanMaximumBorrowingTerm_019b2a8e-cd34-7b96-a219-1f527c38ecba" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#frme_EBPNoteReceivableFromParticipantGeneralLoanMaximumBorrowingTerm"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanLineItems_019b230d-3f41-73b6-8299-21d132de6ada" xlink:to="loc_frme_EBPNoteReceivableFromParticipantGeneralLoanMaximumBorrowingTerm_019b2a8e-cd34-7b96-a219-1f527c38ecba" xlink:type="arc" order="21"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.firstmerchants.com/role/DISCLOSURESABOUTFAIRVALUEOFASSETSANDLIABILITIESDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#DISCLOSURESABOUTFAIRVALUEOFASSETSANDLIABILITIESDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.firstmerchants.com/role/DISCLOSURESABOUTFAIRVALUEOFASSETSANDLIABILITIESDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavLineItems_019b230d-3f41-7a69-b31b-1875c1b17b72" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavTable_019b230d-3f41-70d5-9caa-9bb577c24c78" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavLineItems_019b230d-3f41-7a69-b31b-1875c1b17b72" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavTable_019b230d-3f41-70d5-9caa-9bb577c24c78" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_019b230d-3f41-7330-bc2f-b9486047fe8b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/elts/us-gaap-2025.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavTable_019b230d-3f41-70d5-9caa-9bb577c24c78" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_019b230d-3f41-7330-bc2f-b9486047fe8b" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019b230d-3f41-7330-bc2f-b9486047fe8b_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/elts/us-gaap-2025.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_019b230d-3f41-7330-bc2f-b9486047fe8b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019b230d-3f41-7330-bc2f-b9486047fe8b_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019b230d-3f41-7599-a753-49fc19e95477" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/elts/us-gaap-2025.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_019b230d-3f41-7330-bc2f-b9486047fe8b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019b230d-3f41-7599-a753-49fc19e95477" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member_019b230d-3f41-725e-9325-b1927fe655ac" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/elts/us-gaap-2025.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019b230d-3f41-7599-a753-49fc19e95477" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member_019b230d-3f41-725e-9325-b1927fe655ac" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member_019b230d-3f41-7b0e-b2cc-ede25b70662d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/elts/us-gaap-2025.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019b230d-3f41-7599-a753-49fc19e95477" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member_019b230d-3f41-7b0e-b2cc-ede25b70662d" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member_019b23dd-3768-7f1e-8b58-fd9b563ed223" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/elts/us-gaap-2025.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019b230d-3f41-7599-a753-49fc19e95477" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member_019b23dd-3768-7f1e-8b58-fd9b563ed223" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis_019b230d-3f41-7f8c-96d0-b0bfeaf1bf1b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/elts/us-gaap-2025.xsd#us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavTable_019b230d-3f41-70d5-9caa-9bb577c24c78" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis_019b230d-3f41-7f8c-96d0-b0bfeaf1bf1b" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember_019b230d-3f41-7f8c-96d0-b0bfeaf1bf1b_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/elts/us-gaap-2025.xsd#us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis_019b230d-3f41-7f8c-96d0-b0bfeaf1bf1b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember_019b230d-3f41-7f8c-96d0-b0bfeaf1bf1b_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember_019b230d-3f41-7321-817b-ea73dd7a7cab" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/elts/us-gaap-2025.xsd#us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis_019b230d-3f41-7f8c-96d0-b0bfeaf1bf1b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember_019b230d-3f41-7321-817b-ea73dd7a7cab" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockMember_019b230d-3f41-7619-8092-5be087fe2714" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/elts/us-gaap-2025.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember_019b230d-3f41-7321-817b-ea73dd7a7cab" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockMember_019b230d-3f41-7619-8092-5be087fe2714" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_MutualFundMember_019b230d-3f41-7737-b9b7-7a6d7778d8e1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/elts/us-gaap-2025.xsd#us-gaap_MutualFundMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember_019b230d-3f41-7321-817b-ea73dd7a7cab" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_MutualFundMember_019b230d-3f41-7737-b9b7-7a6d7778d8e1" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanSelfDirectedBrokerageAccountMember_019b230d-3f41-7834-bb9c-8d9bc028c451" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanSelfDirectedBrokerageAccountMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember_019b230d-3f41-7321-817b-ea73dd7a7cab" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanSelfDirectedBrokerageAccountMember_019b230d-3f41-7834-bb9c-8d9bc028c451" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-7e54-9bf8-bc9b5013c294" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_LegalEntityAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavTable_019b230d-3f41-70d5-9caa-9bb577c24c78" xlink:to="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-7e54-9bf8-bc9b5013c294" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-7e54-9bf8-bc9b5013c294_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-7e54-9bf8-bc9b5013c294" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-7e54-9bf8-bc9b5013c294_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-7141-afde-1eed63e95f43" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-7e54-9bf8-bc9b5013c294" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-7141-afde-1eed63e95f43" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_frme_EBP002Member_019b230d-3f41-742f-ac3a-ab66116a0a7d" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#frme_EBP002Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-7141-afde-1eed63e95f43" xlink:to="loc_frme_EBP002Member_019b230d-3f41-742f-ac3a-ab66116a0a7d" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentExcludingPlanInterestInMasterTrustFairValue_019b230d-3f41-7c29-a589-937f4f767f42" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentExcludingPlanInterestInMasterTrustFairValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavLineItems_019b230d-3f41-7a69-b31b-1875c1b17b72" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentExcludingPlanInterestInMasterTrustFairValue_019b230d-3f41-7c29-a589-937f4f767f42" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.firstmerchants.com/role/INVESTMENTCONTRACTWITHINSURANCECOMPANYDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#INVESTMENTCONTRACTWITHINSURANCECOMPANYDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.firstmerchants.com/role/INVESTMENTCONTRACTWITHINSURANCECOMPANYDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanFullyBenefitResponsiveInvestmentContractLineItems_019b230d-3f41-7def-b266-f6e113eeae07" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanFullyBenefitResponsiveInvestmentContractLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanFullyBenefitResponsiveInvestmentContractTable_019b230d-3f41-7e63-aba9-3872dddb6dcf" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanFullyBenefitResponsiveInvestmentContractTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanFullyBenefitResponsiveInvestmentContractLineItems_019b230d-3f41-7def-b266-f6e113eeae07" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanFullyBenefitResponsiveInvestmentContractTable_019b230d-3f41-7e63-aba9-3872dddb6dcf" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-74e4-bbac-1bb1ab4bb41a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_LegalEntityAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanFullyBenefitResponsiveInvestmentContractTable_019b230d-3f41-7e63-aba9-3872dddb6dcf" xlink:to="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-74e4-bbac-1bb1ab4bb41a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-74e4-bbac-1bb1ab4bb41a_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-74e4-bbac-1bb1ab4bb41a" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-74e4-bbac-1bb1ab4bb41a_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-718b-8f08-5211e9753e20" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-74e4-bbac-1bb1ab4bb41a" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-718b-8f08-5211e9753e20" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_frme_EBP002Member_019b230d-3f41-7ef2-af9a-a6db388b3565" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#frme_EBP002Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-718b-8f08-5211e9753e20" xlink:to="loc_frme_EBP002Member_019b230d-3f41-7ef2-af9a-a6db388b3565" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019b2414-6395-7004-9b86-b524862fe66e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2025/elts/srt-2025.xsd#srt_RangeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanFullyBenefitResponsiveInvestmentContractTable_019b230d-3f41-7e63-aba9-3872dddb6dcf" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019b2414-6395-7004-9b86-b524862fe66e" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeMember_019b2414-6395-7004-9b86-b524862fe66e_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2025/elts/srt-2025.xsd#srt_RangeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019b2414-6395-7004-9b86-b524862fe66e" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeMember_019b2414-6395-7004-9b86-b524862fe66e_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeMember_019b2414-6395-7adc-9f52-056767e3d70b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2025/elts/srt-2025.xsd#srt_RangeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019b2414-6395-7004-9b86-b524862fe66e" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeMember_019b2414-6395-7adc-9f52-056767e3d70b" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_MinimumMember_019b2414-6395-7e58-8a6f-428c315cfd7c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2025/elts/srt-2025.xsd#srt_MinimumMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeMember_019b2414-6395-7adc-9f52-056767e3d70b" xlink:to="loc_srt_MinimumMember_019b2414-6395-7e58-8a6f-428c315cfd7c" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentInterestRate_019b2414-6395-7318-adfe-3b3ea2a91ec5" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentInterestRate"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanFullyBenefitResponsiveInvestmentContractLineItems_019b230d-3f41-7def-b266-f6e113eeae07" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentInterestRate_019b2414-6395-7318-adfe-3b3ea2a91ec5" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.firstmerchants.com/role/PARTYININTERESTTRANSACTIONSNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#PARTYININTERESTTRANSACTIONSNarrativeDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.firstmerchants.com/role/PARTYININTERESTTRANSACTIONSNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsLineItems_019b230d-3f41-765a-b371-7f35b6479b3f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsTable_019b230d-3f41-7b3a-9f4d-cbc51482ca33" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsLineItems_019b230d-3f41-765a-b371-7f35b6479b3f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsTable_019b230d-3f41-7b3a-9f4d-cbc51482ca33" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-7569-97dd-fb3ec1c1cf4a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_LegalEntityAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsTable_019b230d-3f41-7b3a-9f4d-cbc51482ca33" xlink:to="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-7569-97dd-fb3ec1c1cf4a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-7569-97dd-fb3ec1c1cf4a_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-7569-97dd-fb3ec1c1cf4a" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-7569-97dd-fb3ec1c1cf4a_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-7bdd-a1cc-0d79c59897c7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-7569-97dd-fb3ec1c1cf4a" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-7bdd-a1cc-0d79c59897c7" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_frme_EBP002Member_019b230d-3f41-7c1d-8519-4275e50ab4da" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#frme_EBP002Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-7bdd-a1cc-0d79c59897c7" xlink:to="loc_frme_EBP002Member_019b230d-3f41-7c1d-8519-4275e50ab4da" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis_019b230d-3f41-70d6-99aa-374afe9f09ba" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/elts/us-gaap-2025.xsd#us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsTable_019b230d-3f41-7b3a-9f4d-cbc51482ca33" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis_019b230d-3f41-70d6-99aa-374afe9f09ba" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember_019b230d-3f41-70d6-99aa-374afe9f09ba_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/elts/us-gaap-2025.xsd#us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis_019b230d-3f41-70d6-99aa-374afe9f09ba" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember_019b230d-3f41-70d6-99aa-374afe9f09ba_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember_019b230d-3f41-79ca-b030-d080ca067616" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/elts/us-gaap-2025.xsd#us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis_019b230d-3f41-70d6-99aa-374afe9f09ba" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember_019b230d-3f41-79ca-b030-d080ca067616" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanEmployerCommonStockMember_019b230d-3f41-70b5-85fd-ff3bf207b628" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanEmployerCommonStockMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember_019b230d-3f41-79ca-b030-d080ca067616" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanEmployerCommonStockMember_019b230d-3f41-70b5-85fd-ff3bf207b628" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_frme_EBPChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseFromInvestmentFeeRebates_019e8e5b-4535-7935-a1e6-a4bdde0fb118" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#frme_EBPChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseFromInvestmentFeeRebates"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsLineItems_019b230d-3f41-765a-b371-7f35b6479b3f" xlink:to="loc_frme_EBPChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseFromInvestmentFeeRebates_019e8e5b-4535-7935-a1e6-a4bdde0fb118" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitDecreaseForAdministrativeExpense_019b245e-8165-7229-90b4-bbac37872800" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitDecreaseForAdministrativeExpense"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsLineItems_019b230d-3f41-765a-b371-7f35b6479b3f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitDecreaseForAdministrativeExpense_019b245e-8165-7229-90b4-bbac37872800" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForDividendIncomeOnInvestment_019b2460-8fab-7217-b49d-838474838396" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForDividendIncomeOnInvestment"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsLineItems_019b230d-3f41-765a-b371-7f35b6479b3f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForDividendIncomeOnInvestment_019b2460-8fab-7217-b49d-838474838396" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.firstmerchants.com/role/PARTYININTERESTTRANSACTIONSScheduleofRelatedPartyTransactionsDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#PARTYININTERESTTRANSACTIONSScheduleofRelatedPartyTransactionsDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.firstmerchants.com/role/PARTYININTERESTTRANSACTIONSScheduleofRelatedPartyTransactionsDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsLineItems_019b2469-209d-722f-be72-1d66d247271b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsTable_019b2469-209d-703b-84af-cc45750a728f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsLineItems_019b2469-209d-722f-be72-1d66d247271b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsTable_019b2469-209d-703b-84af-cc45750a728f" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b2469-209d-78c9-a834-325de14cc15b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_LegalEntityAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsTable_019b2469-209d-703b-84af-cc45750a728f" xlink:to="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b2469-209d-78c9-a834-325de14cc15b" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b2469-209d-78c9-a834-325de14cc15b_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b2469-209d-78c9-a834-325de14cc15b" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b2469-209d-78c9-a834-325de14cc15b_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b2469-209d-708d-96a1-4104ff020aa6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b2469-209d-78c9-a834-325de14cc15b" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b2469-209d-708d-96a1-4104ff020aa6" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_frme_EBP002Member_019b2469-209d-7a27-9a3b-1cc12601a658" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#frme_EBP002Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b2469-209d-708d-96a1-4104ff020aa6" xlink:to="loc_frme_EBP002Member_019b2469-209d-7a27-9a3b-1cc12601a658" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis_019b2469-209d-77fc-a24b-4a413eb0392a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/elts/us-gaap-2025.xsd#us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsTable_019b2469-209d-703b-84af-cc45750a728f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis_019b2469-209d-77fc-a24b-4a413eb0392a" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember_019b2469-209d-77fc-a24b-4a413eb0392a_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/elts/us-gaap-2025.xsd#us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis_019b2469-209d-77fc-a24b-4a413eb0392a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember_019b2469-209d-77fc-a24b-4a413eb0392a_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember_019b2469-209d-71f2-a2cb-caf816495a0a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/elts/us-gaap-2025.xsd#us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis_019b2469-209d-77fc-a24b-4a413eb0392a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember_019b2469-209d-71f2-a2cb-caf816495a0a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanEmployerCommonStockMember_019b246d-6f4f-739f-87e6-66c62f705f8d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanEmployerCommonStockMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember_019b2469-209d-71f2-a2cb-caf816495a0a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanEmployerCommonStockMember_019b246d-6f4f-739f-87e6-66c62f705f8d" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_frme_EBPInvestmentReconciliationRollForward_019b246f-5d57-7bf6-913d-30583d1db99d" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#frme_EBPInvestmentReconciliationRollForward"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsLineItems_019b2469-209d-722f-be72-1d66d247271b" xlink:to="loc_frme_EBPInvestmentReconciliationRollForward_019b246f-5d57-7bf6-913d-30583d1db99d" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentExcludingPlanInterestInMasterTrustFairValue_019b2469-209d-76ed-be9a-2e579c277715" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentExcludingPlanInterestInMasterTrustFairValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_frme_EBPInvestmentReconciliationRollForward_019b246f-5d57-7bf6-913d-30583d1db99d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentExcludingPlanInterestInMasterTrustFairValue_019b2469-209d-76ed-be9a-2e579c277715" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseDecreaseForUnrealizedGainLossOnInvestment_019b246a-dc1a-7214-90ba-f1b385e0cbcb" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseDecreaseForUnrealizedGainLossOnInvestment"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_frme_EBPInvestmentReconciliationRollForward_019b246f-5d57-7bf6-913d-30583d1db99d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseDecreaseForUnrealizedGainLossOnInvestment_019b246a-dc1a-7214-90ba-f1b385e0cbcb" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseDecreaseForRealizedGainLossOnInvestment_019b246b-0dd7-7637-9e61-d62519a350ce" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseDecreaseForRealizedGainLossOnInvestment"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_frme_EBPInvestmentReconciliationRollForward_019b246f-5d57-7bf6-913d-30583d1db99d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseDecreaseForRealizedGainLossOnInvestment_019b246b-0dd7-7637-9e61-d62519a350ce" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentAcquiredExcludingPlanInterestInMasterTrustPurchasePrice_019b246c-9db0-7a03-9dc9-c3c9c926ca31" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentAcquiredExcludingPlanInterestInMasterTrustPurchasePrice"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_frme_EBPInvestmentReconciliationRollForward_019b246f-5d57-7bf6-913d-30583d1db99d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentAcquiredExcludingPlanInterestInMasterTrustPurchasePrice_019b246c-9db0-7a03-9dc9-c3c9c926ca31" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentSoldExcludingPlanInterestInMasterTrustSellingPrice_019b246c-de77-7d54-9985-f4d00355c6af" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentSoldExcludingPlanInterestInMasterTrustSellingPrice"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_frme_EBPInvestmentReconciliationRollForward_019b246f-5d57-7bf6-913d-30583d1db99d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentSoldExcludingPlanInterestInMasterTrustSellingPrice_019b246c-de77-7d54-9985-f4d00355c6af" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentExcludingPlanInterestInMasterTrustFairValue_019b246f-ac39-7e09-b30e-6a53c32a4e10" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentExcludingPlanInterestInMasterTrustFairValue"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.firstmerchants.com/role/NONEXEMPTTRANSACTIONDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#NONEXEMPTTRANSACTIONDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.firstmerchants.com/role/NONEXEMPTTRANSACTIONDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanContributionLineItems_019b2515-6c71-7052-a8fd-a77340ac0638" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanContributionLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanContributionTable_019b2515-6c71-7baa-ad37-1f2d90c788af" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanContributionTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanContributionLineItems_019b2515-6c71-7052-a8fd-a77340ac0638" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanContributionTable_019b2515-6c71-7baa-ad37-1f2d90c788af" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b2515-6c71-7ae3-ac93-b87ed6e52cd2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_LegalEntityAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanContributionTable_019b2515-6c71-7baa-ad37-1f2d90c788af" xlink:to="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b2515-6c71-7ae3-ac93-b87ed6e52cd2" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b2515-6c71-7ae3-ac93-b87ed6e52cd2_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b2515-6c71-7ae3-ac93-b87ed6e52cd2" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b2515-6c71-7ae3-ac93-b87ed6e52cd2_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b2515-6c71-7606-a69c-614ea7c43075" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b2515-6c71-7ae3-ac93-b87ed6e52cd2" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b2515-6c71-7606-a69c-614ea7c43075" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_frme_EBP002Member_019b2515-6c71-755a-9359-3c8a9fac1b3c" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#frme_EBP002Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b2515-6c71-7606-a69c-614ea7c43075" xlink:to="loc_frme_EBP002Member_019b2515-6c71-755a-9359-3c8a9fac1b3c" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfDelinquentParticipantContributionCorrectedOutsideVfcp_019eb274-1e11-71f9-a692-c331dd93d2b3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfDelinquentParticipantContributionCorrectedOutsideVfcp"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanContributionLineItems_019b2515-6c71-7052-a8fd-a77340ac0638" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfDelinquentParticipantContributionCorrectedOutsideVfcp_019eb274-1e11-71f9-a692-c331dd93d2b3" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_frme_EBPScheduleOfDelinquentParticipantContributionLostEarningsFullyFunded_019d6f20-d9f8-705c-992a-8cb7d196573c" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#frme_EBPScheduleOfDelinquentParticipantContributionLostEarningsFullyFunded"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanContributionLineItems_019b2515-6c71-7052-a8fd-a77340ac0638" xlink:to="loc_frme_EBPScheduleOfDelinquentParticipantContributionLostEarningsFullyFunded_019d6f20-d9f8-705c-992a-8cb7d196573c" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.firstmerchants.com/role/ScheduleHLine4iScheduleofAssetsHeldAtEndofYearDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#ScheduleHLine4iScheduleofAssetsHeldAtEndofYearDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.firstmerchants.com/role/ScheduleHLine4iScheduleofAssetsHeldAtEndofYearDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentLineItems_019b230d-3f41-716a-a324-c26f43733c59" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentTable_019b230d-3f41-727e-a098-f0a25dc27a4d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentLineItems_019b230d-3f41-716a-a324-c26f43733c59" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentTable_019b230d-3f41-727e-a098-f0a25dc27a4d" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-7f71-85ae-c36d736c2a99" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_LegalEntityAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentTable_019b230d-3f41-727e-a098-f0a25dc27a4d" xlink:to="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-7f71-85ae-c36d736c2a99" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-7f71-85ae-c36d736c2a99_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-7f71-85ae-c36d736c2a99" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-7f71-85ae-c36d736c2a99_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-7bbc-80f7-70f928fe8540" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-7f71-85ae-c36d736c2a99" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-7bbc-80f7-70f928fe8540" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_frme_EBP002Member_019b230d-3f41-7c15-ba8f-942457a0968a" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#frme_EBP002Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-7bbc-80f7-70f928fe8540" xlink:to="loc_frme_EBP002Member_019b230d-3f41-7c15-ba8f-942457a0968a" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentIdentifierAxis_019b230d-3f41-72df-8e6b-e5644fd06d11" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/elts/us-gaap-2025.xsd#us-gaap_InvestmentIdentifierAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentTable_019b230d-3f41-727e-a098-f0a25dc27a4d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentIdentifierAxis_019b230d-3f41-72df-8e6b-e5644fd06d11" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis_019b230d-3f41-7b3f-b878-4d32e5ae66a8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/elts/us-gaap-2025.xsd#us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentTable_019b230d-3f41-727e-a098-f0a25dc27a4d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis_019b230d-3f41-7b3f-b878-4d32e5ae66a8" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember_019b230d-3f41-7b3f-b878-4d32e5ae66a8_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/elts/us-gaap-2025.xsd#us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis_019b230d-3f41-7b3f-b878-4d32e5ae66a8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember_019b230d-3f41-7b3f-b878-4d32e5ae66a8_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember_019b230d-3f41-77d4-96e9-17f859af74b9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/elts/us-gaap-2025.xsd#us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis_019b230d-3f41-7b3f-b878-4d32e5ae66a8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember_019b230d-3f41-77d4-96e9-17f859af74b9" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_MutualFundMember_019b230d-3f41-7813-a5bf-cdaec77c416e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/elts/us-gaap-2025.xsd#us-gaap_MutualFundMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember_019b230d-3f41-77d4-96e9-17f859af74b9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_MutualFundMember_019b230d-3f41-7813-a5bf-cdaec77c416e" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019b230d-3f41-7db3-8fc3-027a946ed63d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2025/elts/srt-2025.xsd#srt_RangeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentTable_019b230d-3f41-727e-a098-f0a25dc27a4d" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019b230d-3f41-7db3-8fc3-027a946ed63d" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeMember_019b230d-3f41-7db3-8fc3-027a946ed63d_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2025/elts/srt-2025.xsd#srt_RangeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019b230d-3f41-7db3-8fc3-027a946ed63d" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeMember_019b230d-3f41-7db3-8fc3-027a946ed63d_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeMember_019b230d-3f41-7291-bdf9-f45c24d96273" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2025/elts/srt-2025.xsd#srt_RangeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019b230d-3f41-7db3-8fc3-027a946ed63d" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeMember_019b230d-3f41-7291-bdf9-f45c24d96273" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_MinimumMember_019b230d-3f41-75ab-bf75-4fe15b98c196" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2025/elts/srt-2025.xsd#srt_MinimumMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeMember_019b230d-3f41-7291-bdf9-f45c24d96273" xlink:to="loc_srt_MinimumMember_019b230d-3f41-75ab-bf75-4fe15b98c196" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_MaximumMember_019b230d-3f41-7309-9ea5-cf29a325f077" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2025/elts/srt-2025.xsd#srt_MaximumMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeMember_019b230d-3f41-7291-bdf9-f45c24d96273" xlink:to="loc_srt_MaximumMember_019b230d-3f41-7309-9ea5-cf29a325f077" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_019d6f37-8ce8-78f4-976a-a795710f4baf" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentLineItems_019b230d-3f41-716a-a324-c26f43733c59" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_019d6f37-8ce8-78f4-976a-a795710f4baf" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanPlanNumber_019d6f37-dff0-7cac-8f09-1ceb1eed0ea9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanPlanNumber"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentLineItems_019b230d-3f41-716a-a324-c26f43733c59" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanPlanNumber_019d6f37-dff0-7cac-8f09-1ceb1eed0ea9" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentNumberOfShares_019b230d-3f41-70b0-9f79-162149740af0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentNumberOfShares"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentLineItems_019b230d-3f41-716a-a324-c26f43733c59" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentNumberOfShares_019b230d-3f41-70b0-9f79-162149740af0" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanParticipantLoanInterestRate_019b230d-3f41-72ff-b2cf-4908213c245a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanParticipantLoanInterestRate"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentLineItems_019b230d-3f41-716a-a324-c26f43733c59" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanParticipantLoanInterestRate_019b230d-3f41-72ff-b2cf-4908213c245a" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAssetHeldForInvestmentInvestmentExcludingPlanInterestInMasterTrustCurrentValue_019b230d-3f41-720c-8550-efbd3978424e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAssetHeldForInvestmentInvestmentExcludingPlanInterestInMasterTrustCurrentValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentLineItems_019b230d-3f41-716a-a324-c26f43733c59" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAssetHeldForInvestmentInvestmentExcludingPlanInterestInMasterTrustCurrentValue_019b230d-3f41-720c-8550-efbd3978424e" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAssetHeldForInvestmentParticipantLoanAfterDeemedDistribution_019b230d-3f41-73f9-84a7-2d0f8f844c6d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAssetHeldForInvestmentParticipantLoanAfterDeemedDistribution"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentLineItems_019b230d-3f41-716a-a324-c26f43733c59" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAssetHeldForInvestmentParticipantLoanAfterDeemedDistribution_019b230d-3f41-73f9-84a7-2d0f8f844c6d" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAssetHeldForInvestment_019b2421-8a7a-75b6-81f2-20ba9f9a967d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAssetHeldForInvestment"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentLineItems_019b230d-3f41-716a-a324-c26f43733c59" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAssetHeldForInvestment_019b2421-8a7a-75b6-81f2-20ba9f9a967d" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.firstmerchants.com/role/ScheduleHLine4iScheduleofAssetsHeldAtEndofYearDetails_1" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#ScheduleHLine4iScheduleofAssetsHeldAtEndofYearDetails_1"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.firstmerchants.com/role/ScheduleHLine4iScheduleofAssetsHeldAtEndofYearDetails_1" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentLineItems_019b230d-3f41-716a-a324-c26f43733c59" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentTable_019b230d-3f41-727e-a098-f0a25dc27a4d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentLineItems_019b230d-3f41-716a-a324-c26f43733c59" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentTable_019b230d-3f41-727e-a098-f0a25dc27a4d" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-7f71-85ae-c36d736c2a99" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_LegalEntityAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentTable_019b230d-3f41-727e-a098-f0a25dc27a4d" xlink:to="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-7f71-85ae-c36d736c2a99" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-7f71-85ae-c36d736c2a99_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-7f71-85ae-c36d736c2a99" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-7f71-85ae-c36d736c2a99_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-7bbc-80f7-70f928fe8540" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019b230d-3f41-7f71-85ae-c36d736c2a99" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-7bbc-80f7-70f928fe8540" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_frme_EBP002Member_019b230d-3f41-7c15-ba8f-942457a0968a" xlink:href="frme-20260611.xsd#frme_EBP002Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019b230d-3f41-7bbc-80f7-70f928fe8540" xlink:to="loc_frme_EBP002Member_019b230d-3f41-7c15-ba8f-942457a0968a" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis_019b230d-3f41-7b3f-b878-4d32e5ae66a8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/elts/us-gaap-2025.xsd#us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentTable_019b230d-3f41-727e-a098-f0a25dc27a4d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis_019b230d-3f41-7b3f-b878-4d32e5ae66a8" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember_019b230d-3f41-7b3f-b878-4d32e5ae66a8_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/elts/us-gaap-2025.xsd#us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis_019b230d-3f41-7b3f-b878-4d32e5ae66a8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember_019b230d-3f41-7b3f-b878-4d32e5ae66a8_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember_019b230d-3f41-77d4-96e9-17f859af74b9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/elts/us-gaap-2025.xsd#us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis_019b230d-3f41-7b3f-b878-4d32e5ae66a8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember_019b230d-3f41-77d4-96e9-17f859af74b9" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_MutualFundMember_019b230d-3f41-7813-a5bf-cdaec77c416e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/elts/us-gaap-2025.xsd#us-gaap_MutualFundMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember_019b230d-3f41-77d4-96e9-17f859af74b9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_MutualFundMember_019b230d-3f41-7813-a5bf-cdaec77c416e" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019b230d-3f41-7db3-8fc3-027a946ed63d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2025/elts/srt-2025.xsd#srt_RangeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentTable_019b230d-3f41-727e-a098-f0a25dc27a4d" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019b230d-3f41-7db3-8fc3-027a946ed63d" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeMember_019b230d-3f41-7db3-8fc3-027a946ed63d_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2025/elts/srt-2025.xsd#srt_RangeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019b230d-3f41-7db3-8fc3-027a946ed63d" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeMember_019b230d-3f41-7db3-8fc3-027a946ed63d_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeMember_019b230d-3f41-7291-bdf9-f45c24d96273" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2025/elts/srt-2025.xsd#srt_RangeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019b230d-3f41-7db3-8fc3-027a946ed63d" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeMember_019b230d-3f41-7291-bdf9-f45c24d96273" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_MinimumMember_019b230d-3f41-75ab-bf75-4fe15b98c196" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2025/elts/srt-2025.xsd#srt_MinimumMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeMember_019b230d-3f41-7291-bdf9-f45c24d96273" xlink:to="loc_srt_MinimumMember_019b230d-3f41-75ab-bf75-4fe15b98c196" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_MaximumMember_019b230d-3f41-7309-9ea5-cf29a325f077" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2025/elts/srt-2025.xsd#srt_MaximumMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeMember_019b230d-3f41-7291-bdf9-f45c24d96273" xlink:to="loc_srt_MaximumMember_019b230d-3f41-7309-9ea5-cf29a325f077" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_019d6f37-8ce8-78f4-976a-a795710f4baf" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentLineItems_019b230d-3f41-716a-a324-c26f43733c59" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_019d6f37-8ce8-78f4-976a-a795710f4baf" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanPlanNumber_019d6f37-dff0-7cac-8f09-1ceb1eed0ea9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanPlanNumber"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentLineItems_019b230d-3f41-716a-a324-c26f43733c59" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanPlanNumber_019d6f37-dff0-7cac-8f09-1ceb1eed0ea9" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentNumberOfShares_019b230d-3f41-70b0-9f79-162149740af0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentNumberOfShares"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentLineItems_019b230d-3f41-716a-a324-c26f43733c59" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentNumberOfShares_019b230d-3f41-70b0-9f79-162149740af0" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanParticipantLoanInterestRate_019b230d-3f41-72ff-b2cf-4908213c245a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanParticipantLoanInterestRate"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentLineItems_019b230d-3f41-716a-a324-c26f43733c59" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanParticipantLoanInterestRate_019b230d-3f41-72ff-b2cf-4908213c245a" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAssetHeldForInvestmentInvestmentExcludingPlanInterestInMasterTrustCurrentValue_019b230d-3f41-720c-8550-efbd3978424e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAssetHeldForInvestmentInvestmentExcludingPlanInterestInMasterTrustCurrentValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentLineItems_019b230d-3f41-716a-a324-c26f43733c59" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAssetHeldForInvestmentInvestmentExcludingPlanInterestInMasterTrustCurrentValue_019b230d-3f41-720c-8550-efbd3978424e" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAssetHeldForInvestmentParticipantLoanAfterDeemedDistribution_019b230d-3f41-73f9-84a7-2d0f8f844c6d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAssetHeldForInvestmentParticipantLoanAfterDeemedDistribution"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentLineItems_019b230d-3f41-716a-a324-c26f43733c59" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAssetHeldForInvestmentParticipantLoanAfterDeemedDistribution_019b230d-3f41-73f9-84a7-2d0f8f844c6d" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAssetHeldForInvestment_019b2421-8a7a-75b6-81f2-20ba9f9a967d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2025/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2025.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAssetHeldForInvestment"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentLineItems_019b230d-3f41-716a-a324-c26f43733c59" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAssetHeldForInvestment_019b2421-8a7a-75b6-81f2-20ba9f9a967d" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
</link:linkbase>
