<?xml version="1.0" encoding="US-ASCII" standalone="no"?>
    <!-- Field: Doc-Info; Name: Generator; Value: GoFiler Complete; Version: 6.5c -->
    <!-- Field: Doc-Info; Name: VendorURI; Value: https://www.novaworks.com -->
    <!-- Field: Doc-Info; Name: Status; Value: 0x00000000 -->
<link:linkbase xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:link="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase" xmlns:xbrldt="http://xbrl.org/2005/xbrldt" xmlns:xbrli="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase http://www.xbrl.org/2003/xbrl-linkbase-2003-12-31.xsd">
    <link:roleRef xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/2025/oef-2025.xsd#HoldingsByIndustrySector" roleURI="http://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/role/HoldingsByIndustrySector" />
    <link:roleRef xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/2025/oef-2025.xsd#HoldingsByGeographicRegion" roleURI="http://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/role/HoldingsByGeographicRegion" />
    <link:roleRef xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/2025/oef-2025.xsd#HoldingsByCreditQuality" roleURI="http://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/role/HoldingsByCreditQuality" />
    <link:roleRef xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/2025/oef-2025.xsd#HoldingsByMaturity" roleURI="http://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/role/HoldingsByMaturity" />
    <link:roleRef xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/2025/oef-2025.xsd#HoldingsByAssetCategory" roleURI="http://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/role/HoldingsByAssetCategory" />
    <link:roleRef xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/2025/oef-2025.xsd#HoldingsByOtherCategory" roleURI="http://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/role/HoldingsByOtherCategory" />
    <link:roleRef xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/2025/oef-2025.xsd#HoldingsByOtherCategory2" roleURI="http://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/role/HoldingsByOtherCategory2" />
    <link:roleRef xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/2025/oef-2025.xsd#LargestHoldings" roleURI="http://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/role/LargestHoldings" />
    <link:roleRef xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/2025/oef-2025.xsd#ProspectusOnly" roleURI="http://xbrl.sec.gov/rr/role/ProspectusOnly" />
    <link:roleRef xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/2025/oef-2025.xsd#RiskOnly" roleURI="http://xbrl.sec.gov/rr/role/RiskOnly" />
    <link:roleRef xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/2025/oef-2025.xsd#CoregistrantOnly" roleURI="http://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/role/CoregistrantOnly" />
    <link:roleRef xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/2025/oef-2025.xsd#SeriesOnly" roleURI="http://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/role/SeriesOnly" />
    <link:roleRef xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/2025/oef-2025.xsd#ClassOnly" roleURI="http://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/role/ClassOnly" />
    <link:roleRef xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/2025/oef-2025.xsd#PerformanceMeasureOnly" roleURI="http://xbrl.sec.gov/rr/role/PerformanceMeasureOnly" />
    <link:roleRef xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/2025/oef-2025.xsd#HoldingAssetCategoryOnly" roleURI="http://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/role/HoldingAssetCategoryOnly" />
    <link:roleRef xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/2025/oef-2025.xsd#BroadBasedIndexOnly" roleURI="http://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/role/BroadBasedIndexOnly" />
    <link:roleRef xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/2025/oef-2025.xsd#AdditionalIndexOnly" roleURI="http://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/role/AdditionalIndexOnly" />
    <link:roleRef xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/2025/oef-2025.xsd#IndustrySectorOnly" roleURI="http://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/role/IndustrySectorOnly" />
    <link:roleRef xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/2025/oef-2025.xsd#GeographicRegionOnly" roleURI="http://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/role/GeographicRegionOnly" />
    <link:roleRef xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/2025/oef-2025.xsd#CreditQualityOnly" roleURI="http://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/role/CreditQualityOnly" />
    <link:roleRef xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/2025/oef-2025.xsd#MaturityOnly" roleURI="http://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/role/MaturityOnly" />
    <link:roleRef xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/2025/oef-2025.xsd#Other1CategoryOnly" roleURI="http://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/role/Other1CategoryOnly" />
    <link:roleRef xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/2025/oef-2025.xsd#Other2CategoryOnly" roleURI="http://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/role/Other2CategoryOnly" />
    <link:roleRef xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/2025/oef-2025.xsd#LargestHoldingOnly" roleURI="http://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/role/LargestHoldingOnly" />
    <link:roleRef xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/2025/oef-2025.xsd#SalesLoadOnly" roleURI="http://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/role/SalesLoadOnly" />
    <link:roleRef xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/2025/oef-2025.xsd#HoldingMeasureOnly" roleURI="http://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/role/HoldingMeasureOnly" />
    <link:roleRef xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/2025/oef-2025.xsd#ValueMeasureOnly" roleURI="http://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/role/ValueMeasureOnly" />
    <link:arcroleRef xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/2005/xbrldt-2005.xsd#hypercube-dimension" arcroleURI="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" />
    <link:arcroleRef xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/2005/xbrldt-2005.xsd#dimension-domain" arcroleURI="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" />
    <link:arcroleRef xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/2005/xbrldt-2005.xsd#domain-member" arcroleURI="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" />
    <link:arcroleRef xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/2005/xbrldt-2005.xsd#all" arcroleURI="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" />
    <link:arcroleRef xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/2005/xbrldt-2005.xsd#notAll" arcroleURI="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/notAll" />
    <link:arcroleRef xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/2005/xbrldt-2005.xsd#dimension-default" arcroleURI="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" />
    <link:definitionLink xlink:type="extended" xlink:role="http://xbrl.sec.gov/rr/role/ProspectusOnly" />
    <link:definitionLink xlink:type="extended" xlink:role="http://xbrl.sec.gov/rr/role/RiskOnly">
      <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/2025/oef-2025.xsd#oef_AllRisksMember" xlink:label="loc_oefAllRisksMember" />
      <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="nlft-20260728.xsd#nlft_EquitySecuritiesRiskMember" xlink:label="loc_nlftEquitySecuritiesRiskMember" />
      <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_oefAllRisksMember" xlink:to="loc_nlftEquitySecuritiesRiskMember" xlink:type="arc" order="0" />
      <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="nlft-20260728.xsd#nlft_LargeCompanyRiskMember" xlink:label="loc_nlftLargeCompanyRiskMember" />
      <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_oefAllRisksMember" xlink:to="loc_nlftLargeCompanyRiskMember" xlink:type="arc" order="10" />
      <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="nlft-20260728.xsd#nlft_SmallerCompanyRiskMember" xlink:label="loc_nlftSmallerCompanyRiskMember" />
      <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_oefAllRisksMember" xlink:to="loc_nlftSmallerCompanyRiskMember" xlink:type="arc" order="20" />
      <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="nlft-20260728.xsd#nlft_InvestmentStyleRiskMember" xlink:label="loc_nlftInvestmentStyleRiskMember" />
      <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_oefAllRisksMember" xlink:to="loc_nlftInvestmentStyleRiskMember" xlink:type="arc" order="30" />
      <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="nlft-20260728.xsd#nlft_DepositaryReceiptsRiskMember" xlink:label="loc_nlftDepositaryReceiptsRiskMember" />
      <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_oefAllRisksMember" xlink:to="loc_nlftDepositaryReceiptsRiskMember" xlink:type="arc" order="40" />
      <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="nlft-20260728.xsd#nlft_EmergingMarketsRiskMember" xlink:label="loc_nlftEmergingMarketsRiskMember" />
      <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_oefAllRisksMember" xlink:to="loc_nlftEmergingMarketsRiskMember" xlink:type="arc" order="50" />
      <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="nlft-20260728.xsd#nlft_ForeignSecuritiesRiskMember" xlink:label="loc_nlftForeignSecuritiesRiskMember" />
      <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_oefAllRisksMember" xlink:to="loc_nlftForeignSecuritiesRiskMember" xlink:type="arc" order="60" />
      <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="nlft-20260728.xsd#nlft_FuturesAndOptionsRisksMember" xlink:label="loc_nlftFuturesAndOptionsRisksMember" />
      <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_oefAllRisksMember" xlink:to="loc_nlftFuturesAndOptionsRisksMember" xlink:type="arc" order="70" />
      <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="nlft-20260728.xsd#nlft_ManagementRiskMember" xlink:label="loc_nlftManagementRiskMember" />
      <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_oefAllRisksMember" xlink:to="loc_nlftManagementRiskMember" xlink:type="arc" order="80" />
      <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="nlft-20260728.xsd#nlft_MarketRiskMember" xlink:label="loc_nlftMarketRiskMember" />
      <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_oefAllRisksMember" xlink:to="loc_nlftMarketRiskMember" xlink:type="arc" order="90" />
      <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="nlft-20260728.xsd#nlft_PortfolioTurnoverRiskMember" xlink:label="loc_nlftPortfolioTurnoverRiskMember" />
      <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_oefAllRisksMember" xlink:to="loc_nlftPortfolioTurnoverRiskMember" xlink:type="arc" order="100" />
      <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="nlft-20260728.xsd#nlft_RisksOfCompaniesInSpecialSituationsMember" xlink:label="loc_nlftRisksOfCompaniesInSpecialSituationsMember" />
      <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_oefAllRisksMember" xlink:to="loc_nlftRisksOfCompaniesInSpecialSituationsMember" xlink:type="arc" order="110" />
      <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="nlft-20260728.xsd#nlft_SectorFocusRiskMember" xlink:label="loc_nlftSectorFocusRiskMember" />
      <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_oefAllRisksMember" xlink:to="loc_nlftSectorFocusRiskMember" xlink:type="arc" order="120" />
      <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="nlft-20260728.xsd#nlft_ShortSalesRiskMember" xlink:label="loc_nlftShortSalesRiskMember" />
      <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_oefAllRisksMember" xlink:to="loc_nlftShortSalesRiskMember" xlink:type="arc" order="130" />
      <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="nlft-20260728.xsd#nlft_GrowthRiskMember" xlink:label="loc_nlftGrowthRiskMember" />
      <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_oefAllRisksMember" xlink:to="loc_nlftGrowthRiskMember" xlink:type="arc" order="140" />
      <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="nlft-20260728.xsd#nlft_ConsumerCyclicalSectorRiskMember" xlink:label="loc_nlftConsumerCyclicalSectorRiskMember" />
      <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_oefAllRisksMember" xlink:to="loc_nlftConsumerCyclicalSectorRiskMember" xlink:type="arc" order="150" />
      <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="nlft-20260728.xsd#nlft_CurrencyRiskMember" xlink:label="loc_nlftCurrencyRiskMember" />
      <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_oefAllRisksMember" xlink:to="loc_nlftCurrencyRiskMember" xlink:type="arc" order="160" />
      <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="nlft-20260728.xsd#nlft_InvestmentCompanyAndExchangeTradedFundRiskMember" xlink:label="loc_nlftInvestmentCompanyAndExchangeTradedFundRiskMember" />
      <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_oefAllRisksMember" xlink:to="loc_nlftInvestmentCompanyAndExchangeTradedFundRiskMember" xlink:type="arc" order="170" />
      <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="nlft-20260728.xsd#nlft_PreferredStockRiskMember" xlink:label="loc_nlftPreferredStockRiskMember" />
      <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_oefAllRisksMember" xlink:to="loc_nlftPreferredStockRiskMember" xlink:type="arc" order="180" />
      <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="nlft-20260728.xsd#nlft_ConvertibleSecurityRiskMember" xlink:label="loc_nlftConvertibleSecurityRiskMember" />
      <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_oefAllRisksMember" xlink:to="loc_nlftConvertibleSecurityRiskMember" xlink:type="arc" order="190" />
      <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="nlft-20260728.xsd#nlft_DebtSecurityRiskMember" xlink:label="loc_nlftDebtSecurityRiskMember" />
      <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_oefAllRisksMember" xlink:to="loc_nlftDebtSecurityRiskMember" xlink:type="arc" order="200" />
      <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="nlft-20260728.xsd#nlft_GeneralMarketRiskMember" xlink:label="loc_nlftGeneralMarketRiskMember" />
      <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_oefAllRisksMember" xlink:to="loc_nlftGeneralMarketRiskMember" xlink:type="arc" order="210" />
      <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="nlft-20260728.xsd#nlft_InformationTechnologySectorRiskMember" xlink:label="loc_nlftInformationTechnologySectorRiskMember" />
      <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_oefAllRisksMember" xlink:to="loc_nlftInformationTechnologySectorRiskMember" xlink:type="arc" order="220" />
    </link:definitionLink>
    <link:definitionLink xlink:type="extended" xlink:role="http://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/role/CoregistrantOnly" />
    <link:definitionLink xlink:type="extended" xlink:role="http://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/role/SeriesOnly">
      <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityDomain" xlink:label="loc_deiEntityDomain" />
      <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="nlft-20260728.xsd#nlft_S000081358Member" xlink:label="loc_nlftS000081358Member" />
      <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_deiEntityDomain" xlink:to="loc_nlftS000081358Member" xlink:type="arc" order="0" />
      <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="nlft-20260728.xsd#nlft_S000081359Member" xlink:label="loc_nlftS000081359Member" />
      <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_deiEntityDomain" xlink:to="loc_nlftS000081359Member" xlink:type="arc" order="10" />
      <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="nlft-20260728.xsd#nlft_S000081360Member" xlink:label="loc_nlftS000081360Member" />
      <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_deiEntityDomain" xlink:to="loc_nlftS000081360Member" xlink:type="arc" order="20" />
      <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="nlft-20260728.xsd#nlft_S000081357Member" xlink:label="loc_nlftS000081357Member" />
      <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_deiEntityDomain" xlink:to="loc_nlftS000081357Member" xlink:type="arc" order="30" />
    </link:definitionLink>
    <link:definitionLink xlink:type="extended" xlink:role="http://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/role/ClassOnly">
      <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/2025/oef-2025.xsd#oef_ShareClassDomain" xlink:label="loc_oefShareClassDomain" />
      <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="nlft-20260728.xsd#nlft_C000244083Member" xlink:label="loc_nlftC000244083Member" />
      <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_oefShareClassDomain" xlink:to="loc_nlftC000244083Member" xlink:type="arc" order="0" />
      <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="nlft-20260728.xsd#nlft_C000244084Member" xlink:label="loc_nlftC000244084Member" />
      <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_oefShareClassDomain" xlink:to="loc_nlftC000244084Member" xlink:type="arc" order="10" />
      <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="nlft-20260728.xsd#nlft_C000244085Member" xlink:label="loc_nlftC000244085Member" />
      <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_oefShareClassDomain" xlink:to="loc_nlftC000244085Member" xlink:type="arc" order="20" />
      <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="nlft-20260728.xsd#nlft_C000263105Member" xlink:label="loc_nlftC000263105Member" />
      <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_oefShareClassDomain" xlink:to="loc_nlftC000263105Member" xlink:type="arc" order="30" />
      <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="nlft-20260728.xsd#nlft_C000244086Member" xlink:label="loc_nlftC000244086Member" />
      <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_oefShareClassDomain" xlink:to="loc_nlftC000244086Member" xlink:type="arc" order="40" />
      <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="nlft-20260728.xsd#nlft_C000252100Member" xlink:label="loc_nlftC000252100Member" />
      <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_oefShareClassDomain" xlink:to="loc_nlftC000252100Member" xlink:type="arc" order="50" />
      <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="nlft-20260728.xsd#nlft_C000244082Member" xlink:label="loc_nlftC000244082Member" />
      <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_oefShareClassDomain" xlink:to="loc_nlftC000244082Member" xlink:type="arc" order="60" />
    </link:definitionLink>
    <link:definitionLink xlink:type="extended" xlink:role="http://xbrl.sec.gov/rr/role/PerformanceMeasureOnly">
      <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/2025/oef-2025.xsd#oef_PerformanceMeasureDomain" xlink:label="loc_oefPerformanceMeasureDomain" />
      <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="nlft-20260728.xsd#nlft_SAndP500IndexReflectsNoDeductionForFeesExpensesOrTaxesMember" xlink:label="loc_nlftSAndP500IndexReflectsNoDeductionForFeesExpensesOrTaxesMember" />
      <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_oefPerformanceMeasureDomain" xlink:to="loc_nlftSAndP500IndexReflectsNoDeductionForFeesExpensesOrTaxesMember" xlink:type="arc" order="0" />
      <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="nlft-20260728.xsd#nlft_SAndP500TotalReturnIndexReflectsNoDeductionForFeesExpensesOrTaxesRegulatoryBenchmarkMember" xlink:label="loc_nlftSAndP500TotalReturnIndexReflectsNoDeductionForFeesExpensesOrTaxesRegulatoryBenchmarkMember" />
      <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_oefPerformanceMeasureDomain" xlink:to="loc_nlftSAndP500TotalReturnIndexReflectsNoDeductionForFeesExpensesOrTaxesRegulatoryBenchmarkMember" xlink:type="arc" order="10" />
      <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="nlft-20260728.xsd#nlft_SAndPSmallCap600IndexMember" xlink:label="loc_nlftSAndPSmallCap600IndexMember" />
      <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_oefPerformanceMeasureDomain" xlink:to="loc_nlftSAndPSmallCap600IndexMember" xlink:type="arc" order="20" />
      <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="nlft-20260728.xsd#nlft_Russell2000TotalReturnIndexReflectsNoDeductionForFeesExpensesOrTaxesMember" xlink:label="loc_nlftRussell2000TotalReturnIndexReflectsNoDeductionForFeesExpensesOrTaxesMember" />
      <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_oefPerformanceMeasureDomain" xlink:to="loc_nlftRussell2000TotalReturnIndexReflectsNoDeductionForFeesExpensesOrTaxesMember" xlink:type="arc" order="30" />
      <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="nlft-20260728.xsd#nlft_SAndPSmallCap600ValueIndexMember" xlink:label="loc_nlftSAndPSmallCap600ValueIndexMember" />
      <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_oefPerformanceMeasureDomain" xlink:to="loc_nlftSAndPSmallCap600ValueIndexMember" xlink:type="arc" order="40" />
      <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="nlft-20260728.xsd#nlft_Russell2000ValueTotalReturnIndexReflectsNoDeductionForFeesExpensesOrTaxesMember" xlink:label="loc_nlftRussell2000ValueTotalReturnIndexReflectsNoDeductionForFeesExpensesOrTaxesMember" />
      <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_oefPerformanceMeasureDomain" xlink:to="loc_nlftRussell2000ValueTotalReturnIndexReflectsNoDeductionForFeesExpensesOrTaxesMember" xlink:type="arc" order="50" />
      <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="nlft-20260728.xsd#nlft_Russell1000TotalReturnIndexReflectsNoDeductionForFeesExpensesOrTaxesMember" xlink:label="loc_nlftRussell1000TotalReturnIndexReflectsNoDeductionForFeesExpensesOrTaxesMember" />
      <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_oefPerformanceMeasureDomain" xlink:to="loc_nlftRussell1000TotalReturnIndexReflectsNoDeductionForFeesExpensesOrTaxesMember" xlink:type="arc" order="60" />
      <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="nlft-20260728.xsd#nlft_SAndP500TotalReturnIndexReflectsNoDeductionForFeesExpensesOrTaxesMember" xlink:label="loc_nlftSAndP500TotalReturnIndexReflectsNoDeductionForFeesExpensesOrTaxesMember" />
      <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_oefPerformanceMeasureDomain" xlink:to="loc_nlftSAndP500TotalReturnIndexReflectsNoDeductionForFeesExpensesOrTaxesMember" xlink:type="arc" order="70" />
    </link:definitionLink>
    <link:definitionLink xlink:type="extended" xlink:role="http://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/role/HoldingAssetCategoryOnly" />
    <link:definitionLink xlink:type="extended" xlink:role="http://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/role/BroadBasedIndexOnly" />
    <link:definitionLink xlink:type="extended" xlink:role="http://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/role/AdditionalIndexOnly" />
    <link:definitionLink xlink:type="extended" xlink:role="http://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/role/IndustrySectorOnly" />
    <link:definitionLink xlink:type="extended" xlink:role="http://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/role/GeographicRegionOnly" />
    <link:definitionLink xlink:type="extended" xlink:role="http://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/role/CreditQualityOnly" />
    <link:definitionLink xlink:type="extended" xlink:role="http://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/role/MaturityOnly" />
    <link:definitionLink xlink:type="extended" xlink:role="http://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/role/Other1CategoryOnly" />
    <link:definitionLink xlink:type="extended" xlink:role="http://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/role/Other2CategoryOnly" />
    <link:definitionLink xlink:type="extended" xlink:role="http://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/role/LargestHoldingOnly" />
    <link:definitionLink xlink:type="extended" xlink:role="http://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/role/SalesLoadOnly" />
    <link:definitionLink xlink:type="extended" xlink:role="http://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/role/HoldingMeasureOnly" />
    <link:definitionLink xlink:type="extended" xlink:role="http://xbrl.sec.gov/oef/role/ValueMeasureOnly" />
</link:linkbase>
