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

<!--XBRL Document Created with the Workiva Platform-->
<!--Copyright 2026 Workiva-->
<!--r:019e218e-39f3-7192-b3fd-5a30d6a6c9cd,g:33ccaa2e-c19c-42be-bd07-4f1f5aef5ae6-->
<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://trueblue.com/role/ACQUISITIONDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#ACQUISITIONDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://trueblue.com/role/ACQUISITIONDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-76f8-8884-e1ac2e00ec7f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfBusinessAcquisitionsByAcquisitionTable_019e218e-3a9f-7104-badc-1d1c25d65302" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfBusinessAcquisitionsByAcquisitionTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-76f8-8884-e1ac2e00ec7f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfBusinessAcquisitionsByAcquisitionTable_019e218e-3a9f-7104-badc-1d1c25d65302" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis_019e218e-3a9f-77de-9f16-4216b4d355ff" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfBusinessAcquisitionsByAcquisitionTable_019e218e-3a9f-7104-badc-1d1c25d65302" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis_019e218e-3a9f-77de-9f16-4216b4d355ff" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain_019e218e-3a9f-77de-9f16-4216b4d355ff_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis_019e218e-3a9f-77de-9f16-4216b4d355ff" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain_019e218e-3a9f-77de-9f16-4216b4d355ff_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7599-81ff-3f6007fcfb4c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis_019e218e-3a9f-77de-9f16-4216b4d355ff" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7599-81ff-3f6007fcfb4c" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_HealthcareStaffingProfessionalsInc.Member_019e218e-3a9f-73cb-a639-6dbd3edca4ee" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_HealthcareStaffingProfessionalsInc.Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7599-81ff-3f6007fcfb4c" xlink:to="loc_tbi_HealthcareStaffingProfessionalsInc.Member_019e218e-3a9f-73cb-a639-6dbd3edca4ee" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7b65-80a5-47439e45c2ee" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfBusinessAcquisitionsByAcquisitionTable_019e218e-3a9f-7104-badc-1d1c25d65302" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7b65-80a5-47439e45c2ee" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7b65-80a5-47439e45c2ee_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7b65-80a5-47439e45c2ee" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7b65-80a5-47439e45c2ee_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain_019e218e-3a9f-70df-859c-cccd8f69fea3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7b65-80a5-47439e45c2ee" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain_019e218e-3a9f-70df-859c-cccd8f69fea3" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember_019e218e-3a9f-731c-9608-653d6eaa5840" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain_019e218e-3a9f-70df-859c-cccd8f69fea3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember_019e218e-3a9f-731c-9608-653d6eaa5840" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_TrademarksAndTradeNamesMember_019e218e-3a9f-77db-9b5f-b796ff63e789" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_TrademarksAndTradeNamesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain_019e218e-3a9f-70df-859c-cccd8f69fea3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_TrademarksAndTradeNamesMember_019e218e-3a9f-77db-9b5f-b796ff63e789" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesGross_019e218e-3a9f-72a7-a643-8e4fec6af54a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesGross"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-76f8-8884-e1ac2e00ec7f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesGross_019e218e-3a9f-72a7-a643-8e4fec6af54a" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1_019e218e-3a9f-7f9a-a005-6d1addf3271d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-76f8-8884-e1ac2e00ec7f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1_019e218e-3a9f-7f9a-a005-6d1addf3271d" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationLiability_019e218e-3a9f-769e-b538-cd30078075c9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationLiability"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-76f8-8884-e1ac2e00ec7f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationLiability_019e218e-3a9f-769e-b538-cd30078075c9" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_WeightedAverageCostofCapital_019e218e-3a9f-7e5b-844f-af058931be11" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_WeightedAverageCostofCapital"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-76f8-8884-e1ac2e00ec7f" xlink:to="loc_tbi_WeightedAverageCostofCapital_019e218e-3a9f-7e5b-844f-af058931be11" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross_019e218e-3a9f-78c7-a6e1-3d384bb7512f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-76f8-8884-e1ac2e00ec7f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross_019e218e-3a9f-78c7-a6e1-3d384bb7512f" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetUsefulLife_019e218e-3a9f-7368-8411-2b2ea96a7145" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetUsefulLife"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-76f8-8884-e1ac2e00ec7f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetUsefulLife_019e218e-3a9f-7368-8411-2b2ea96a7145" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationProFormaInformationRevenueOfAcquireeSinceAcquisitionDateActual_019e218e-3a9f-7ad5-8123-3e57d1f71aa6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessCombinationProFormaInformationRevenueOfAcquireeSinceAcquisitionDateActual"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-76f8-8884-e1ac2e00ec7f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationProFormaInformationRevenueOfAcquireeSinceAcquisitionDateActual_019e218e-3a9f-7ad5-8123-3e57d1f71aa6" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationProFormaInformationEarningsOrLossOfAcquireeSinceAcquisitionDateActual_019e218e-3a9f-714b-9b5a-0deb3e94ace3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessCombinationProFormaInformationEarningsOrLossOfAcquireeSinceAcquisitionDateActual"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-76f8-8884-e1ac2e00ec7f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationProFormaInformationEarningsOrLossOfAcquireeSinceAcquisitionDateActual_019e218e-3a9f-714b-9b5a-0deb3e94ace3" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationAcquisitionRelatedCosts_019e218e-3a9f-74a2-a05b-035553d5fbc5" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessCombinationAcquisitionRelatedCosts"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-76f8-8884-e1ac2e00ec7f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationAcquisitionRelatedCosts_019e218e-3a9f-74a2-a05b-035553d5fbc5" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://trueblue.com/role/ACQUISITIONAllocationofpurchasepriceDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#ACQUISITIONAllocationofpurchasepriceDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://trueblue.com/role/ACQUISITIONAllocationofpurchasepriceDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-7551-a682-a479c88301ee" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfBusinessAcquisitionsByAcquisitionTable_019e218e-3a9f-7ed6-863f-c0a85fec3bbb" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfBusinessAcquisitionsByAcquisitionTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-7551-a682-a479c88301ee" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfBusinessAcquisitionsByAcquisitionTable_019e218e-3a9f-7ed6-863f-c0a85fec3bbb" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7414-9f89-9875868baf1a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfBusinessAcquisitionsByAcquisitionTable_019e218e-3a9f-7ed6-863f-c0a85fec3bbb" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7414-9f89-9875868baf1a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7414-9f89-9875868baf1a_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7414-9f89-9875868baf1a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7414-9f89-9875868baf1a_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7c89-bafc-19d20650164e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7414-9f89-9875868baf1a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7c89-bafc-19d20650164e" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_HealthcareStaffingProfessionalsInc.Member_019e218e-3a9f-7f72-a1b4-172d73a13c98" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_HealthcareStaffingProfessionalsInc.Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7c89-bafc-19d20650164e" xlink:to="loc_tbi_HealthcareStaffingProfessionalsInc.Member_019e218e-3a9f-7f72-a1b4-172d73a13c98" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCashAndEquivalents_019e218e-3a9f-76fd-81c9-1c241cf1e3f9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCashAndEquivalents"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-7551-a682-a479c88301ee" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCashAndEquivalents_019e218e-3a9f-76fd-81c9-1c241cf1e3f9" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentAssetsReceivables_019e218e-3a9f-7718-88a3-60eaa1144488" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentAssetsReceivables"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-7551-a682-a479c88301ee" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentAssetsReceivables_019e218e-3a9f-7718-88a3-60eaa1144488" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentAssetsPrepaidExpenseAndOtherAssets_019e218e-3a9f-7213-85cf-693d0ef49224" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentAssetsPrepaidExpenseAndOtherAssets"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-7551-a682-a479c88301ee" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentAssetsPrepaidExpenseAndOtherAssets_019e218e-3a9f-7213-85cf-693d0ef49224" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedOperatingLeaseRightOfUseAssets_019e218e-3a9f-7df3-abb1-15e9a580580f" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedOperatingLeaseRightOfUseAssets"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-7551-a682-a479c88301ee" xlink:to="loc_tbi_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedOperatingLeaseRightOfUseAssets_019e218e-3a9f-7df3-abb1-15e9a580580f" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibleAssetsOtherThanGoodwill_019e218e-3a9f-751e-8955-daf4665c6655" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibleAssetsOtherThanGoodwill"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-7551-a682-a479c88301ee" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibleAssetsOtherThanGoodwill_019e218e-3a9f-751e-8955-daf4665c6655" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedAssets_019e218e-3a9f-7293-8624-aa4ec8f9af91" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedAssets"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-7551-a682-a479c88301ee" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedAssets_019e218e-3a9f-7293-8624-aa4ec8f9af91" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentLiabilitiesAccountsPayable_019e218e-3a9f-76e7-bb30-b99a3d049ee7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentLiabilitiesAccountsPayable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-7551-a682-a479c88301ee" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentLiabilitiesAccountsPayable_019e218e-3a9f-76e7-bb30-b99a3d049ee7" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedAccruedWagesAndBenefits_019e218e-3a9f-7a47-80f3-5e3461f9d6c2" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedAccruedWagesAndBenefits"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-7551-a682-a479c88301ee" xlink:to="loc_tbi_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedAccruedWagesAndBenefits_019e218e-3a9f-7a47-80f3-5e3461f9d6c2" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedDeferredTaxLiabilities_019e218e-3a9f-7e69-a769-65b9e2db3d48" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedDeferredTaxLiabilities"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-7551-a682-a479c88301ee" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedDeferredTaxLiabilities_019e218e-3a9f-7e69-a769-65b9e2db3d48" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedOperatingLeaseLiability_019e218e-3a9f-7419-a371-fd4bdabf60c0" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedOperatingLeaseLiability"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-7551-a682-a479c88301ee" xlink:to="loc_tbi_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedOperatingLeaseLiability_019e218e-3a9f-7419-a371-fd4bdabf60c0" xlink:type="arc" order="9"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedLiabilities_019e218e-3a9f-781a-bb4a-121c99b7582a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedLiabilities"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-7551-a682-a479c88301ee" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedLiabilities_019e218e-3a9f-781a-bb4a-121c99b7582a" xlink:type="arc" order="10"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedNet_019e218e-3a9f-7349-bb35-525fb52c17d3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedNet"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-7551-a682-a479c88301ee" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedNet_019e218e-3a9f-7349-bb35-525fb52c17d3" xlink:type="arc" order="11"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_Goodwill_019e218e-3a9f-7dd3-adba-a89753680f35" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_Goodwill"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-7551-a682-a479c88301ee" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_Goodwill_019e218e-3a9f-7dd3-adba-a89753680f35" xlink:type="arc" order="12"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1_019e218e-3a9f-7ff2-b46b-229f9e64e2f8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-7551-a682-a479c88301ee" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1_019e218e-3a9f-7ff2-b46b-229f9e64e2f8" xlink:type="arc" order="13"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://trueblue.com/role/FAIRVALUEMEASUREMENTFairValueMeasurementDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#FAIRVALUEMEASUREMENTFairValueMeasurementDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://trueblue.com/role/FAIRVALUEMEASUREMENTFairValueMeasurementDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-755a-b2dc-59e0cdc3d5e7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_019e218e-3a9f-720e-8663-39dd3e35a578" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-755a-b2dc-59e0cdc3d5e7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_019e218e-3a9f-720e-8663-39dd3e35a578" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7881-8d65-d65375d093d6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_019e218e-3a9f-720e-8663-39dd3e35a578" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7881-8d65-d65375d093d6" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementFrequencyDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7881-8d65-d65375d093d6_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementFrequencyDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7881-8d65-d65375d093d6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementFrequencyDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7881-8d65-d65375d093d6_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementFrequencyDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7893-ab39-ce50d0353641" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementFrequencyDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7881-8d65-d65375d093d6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementFrequencyDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7893-ab39-ce50d0353641" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember_019e218e-3a9f-7963-9722-d9b895c0268b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementFrequencyDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7893-ab39-ce50d0353641" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember_019e218e-3a9f-7963-9722-d9b895c0268b" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7495-bfb3-e1b0cf3981ea" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_019e218e-3a9f-720e-8663-39dd3e35a578" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7495-bfb3-e1b0cf3981ea" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7495-bfb3-e1b0cf3981ea_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7495-bfb3-e1b0cf3981ea" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7495-bfb3-e1b0cf3981ea_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019e218e-3a9f-748b-966a-2e800509498c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7495-bfb3-e1b0cf3981ea" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019e218e-3a9f-748b-966a-2e800509498c" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member_019e218e-3a9f-7c70-ac4a-75d76c946a47" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019e218e-3a9f-748b-966a-2e800509498c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member_019e218e-3a9f-7c70-ac4a-75d76c946a47" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member_019e218e-3a9f-70bb-9ecd-c22bba60b3d6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019e218e-3a9f-748b-966a-2e800509498c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member_019e218e-3a9f-70bb-9ecd-c22bba60b3d6" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member_019e218e-3a9f-731e-81ff-4038aa78a0ba" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019e218e-3a9f-748b-966a-2e800509498c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member_019e218e-3a9f-731e-81ff-4038aa78a0ba" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7e37-9995-61cc508078e3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_019e218e-3a9f-720e-8663-39dd3e35a578" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7e37-9995-61cc508078e3" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember_019e218e-3a9f-7e37-9995-61cc508078e3_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7e37-9995-61cc508078e3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember_019e218e-3a9f-7e37-9995-61cc508078e3_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueDisclosureItemAmountsDomain_019e218e-3a9f-75ca-a93a-b210dd8faafe" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueDisclosureItemAmountsDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7e37-9995-61cc508078e3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueDisclosureItemAmountsDomain_019e218e-3a9f-75ca-a93a-b210dd8faafe" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember_019e218e-3a9f-7fc4-9b9b-cabb02aaed60" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueDisclosureItemAmountsDomain_019e218e-3a9f-75ca-a93a-b210dd8faafe" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember_019e218e-3a9f-7fc4-9b9b-cabb02aaed60" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember_019e218e-3a9f-789c-81f4-b73280dfdec9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember_019e218e-3a9f-7fc4-9b9b-cabb02aaed60" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember_019e218e-3a9f-789c-81f4-b73280dfdec9" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_RestrictedOrUnrestrictedStatusOfAssetsAxis_019e218e-3a9f-778e-a8ef-53f919e07875" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_RestrictedOrUnrestrictedStatusOfAssetsAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_019e218e-3a9f-720e-8663-39dd3e35a578" xlink:to="loc_tbi_RestrictedOrUnrestrictedStatusOfAssetsAxis_019e218e-3a9f-778e-a8ef-53f919e07875" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_RestrictedOrUnrestrictedStatusOfAssetsDomain_019e218e-3a9f-778e-a8ef-53f919e07875_default" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_RestrictedOrUnrestrictedStatusOfAssetsDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_tbi_RestrictedOrUnrestrictedStatusOfAssetsAxis_019e218e-3a9f-778e-a8ef-53f919e07875" xlink:to="loc_tbi_RestrictedOrUnrestrictedStatusOfAssetsDomain_019e218e-3a9f-778e-a8ef-53f919e07875_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_RestrictedOrUnrestrictedStatusOfAssetsDomain_019e218e-3a9f-742b-8dbb-829a8b85c031" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_RestrictedOrUnrestrictedStatusOfAssetsDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_tbi_RestrictedOrUnrestrictedStatusOfAssetsAxis_019e218e-3a9f-778e-a8ef-53f919e07875" xlink:to="loc_tbi_RestrictedOrUnrestrictedStatusOfAssetsDomain_019e218e-3a9f-742b-8dbb-829a8b85c031" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_RestrictedAssetsMember_019e218e-3a9f-7307-b329-104d8f847b59" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_RestrictedAssetsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_tbi_RestrictedOrUnrestrictedStatusOfAssetsDomain_019e218e-3a9f-742b-8dbb-829a8b85c031" xlink:to="loc_tbi_RestrictedAssetsMember_019e218e-3a9f-7307-b329-104d8f847b59" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7438-9dd8-d90d9b4c1494" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_019e218e-3a9f-720e-8663-39dd3e35a578" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7438-9dd8-d90d9b4c1494" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7438-9dd8-d90d9b4c1494_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7438-9dd8-d90d9b4c1494" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7438-9dd8-d90d9b4c1494_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7863-9f7b-5886c57737cc" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7438-9dd8-d90d9b4c1494" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7863-9f7b-5886c57737cc" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_MunicipalBondsMember_019e218e-3a9f-7044-a6df-e1e28743b18e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_MunicipalBondsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7863-9f7b-5886c57737cc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_MunicipalBondsMember_019e218e-3a9f-7044-a6df-e1e28743b18e" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CorporateBondSecuritiesMember_019e218e-3a9f-7bf7-b5d9-90dd4ead8e22" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CorporateBondSecuritiesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7863-9f7b-5886c57737cc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CorporateBondSecuritiesMember_019e218e-3a9f-7bf7-b5d9-90dd4ead8e22" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AssetBackedSecuritiesMember_019e218e-3a9f-73d2-aafb-a4e33eea63c2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AssetBackedSecuritiesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7863-9f7b-5886c57737cc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AssetBackedSecuritiesMember_019e218e-3a9f-73d2-aafb-a4e33eea63c2" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_USGovernmentCorporationsAndAgenciesSecuritiesMember_019e218e-3a9f-7894-8095-4851dfb21797" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_USGovernmentCorporationsAndAgenciesSecuritiesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7863-9f7b-5886c57737cc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_USGovernmentCorporationsAndAgenciesSecuritiesMember_019e218e-3a9f-7894-8095-4851dfb21797" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure_019e218e-3a9f-746e-9ba3-b8d8e8538def" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-755a-b2dc-59e0cdc3d5e7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure_019e218e-3a9f-746e-9ba3-b8d8e8538def" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents_019e218e-3a9f-75cd-8f49-a55f4d520095" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-755a-b2dc-59e0cdc3d5e7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents_019e218e-3a9f-75cd-8f49-a55f4d520095" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents_019e218e-3a9f-7fc4-8d47-6975c620cb19" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-755a-b2dc-59e0cdc3d5e7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents_019e218e-3a9f-7fc4-8d47-6975c620cb19" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesFairValue_019e218e-3a9f-799f-b850-59a145608869" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesFairValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-755a-b2dc-59e0cdc3d5e7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesFairValue_019e218e-3a9f-799f-b850-59a145608869" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://trueblue.com/role/FAIRVALUEMEASUREMENTNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#FAIRVALUEMEASUREMENTNarrativeDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://trueblue.com/role/FAIRVALUEMEASUREMENTNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-7518-854b-f72691ea678e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_019e218e-3a9f-779b-a4de-0978a8fd5564" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-7518-854b-f72691ea678e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_019e218e-3a9f-779b-a4de-0978a8fd5564" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis_019e218e-3a9f-79e9-af8e-ed9d91c6cfd2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_019e218e-3a9f-779b-a4de-0978a8fd5564" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis_019e218e-3a9f-79e9-af8e-ed9d91c6cfd2" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember_019e218e-3a9f-79e9-af8e-ed9d91c6cfd2_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis_019e218e-3a9f-79e9-af8e-ed9d91c6cfd2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember_019e218e-3a9f-79e9-af8e-ed9d91c6cfd2_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueDisclosureItemAmountsDomain_019e218e-3a9f-710d-b67b-c35bccc48338" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueDisclosureItemAmountsDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis_019e218e-3a9f-79e9-af8e-ed9d91c6cfd2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueDisclosureItemAmountsDomain_019e218e-3a9f-710d-b67b-c35bccc48338" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember_019e218e-3a9f-7f1b-832e-7e674b49f387" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueDisclosureItemAmountsDomain_019e218e-3a9f-710d-b67b-c35bccc48338" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember_019e218e-3a9f-7f1b-832e-7e674b49f387" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember_019e218e-3a9f-778b-8e44-2c211243f53f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember_019e218e-3a9f-7f1b-832e-7e674b49f387" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember_019e218e-3a9f-778b-8e44-2c211243f53f" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7d61-a045-41c7ee3888ad" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_019e218e-3a9f-779b-a4de-0978a8fd5564" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7d61-a045-41c7ee3888ad" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7d61-a045-41c7ee3888ad_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7d61-a045-41c7ee3888ad" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7d61-a045-41c7ee3888ad_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7341-82b1-666d56513656" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7d61-a045-41c7ee3888ad" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7341-82b1-666d56513656" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ReportingUnitAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7dd1-adc3-da8db0a12a1b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ReportingUnitAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_019e218e-3a9f-779b-a4de-0978a8fd5564" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ReportingUnitAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7dd1-adc3-da8db0a12a1b" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ReportingUnitDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7dd1-adc3-da8db0a12a1b_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ReportingUnitDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ReportingUnitAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7dd1-adc3-da8db0a12a1b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ReportingUnitDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7dd1-adc3-da8db0a12a1b_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ReportingUnitDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7f75-b929-7cafb6066a9e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ReportingUnitDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ReportingUnitAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7dd1-adc3-da8db0a12a1b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ReportingUnitDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7f75-b929-7cafb6066a9e" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_HSPMember_019e218e-3a9f-7777-83ad-d52fda29428c" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_HSPMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ReportingUnitDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7f75-b929-7cafb6066a9e" xlink:to="loc_tbi_HSPMember_019e218e-3a9f-7777-83ad-d52fda29428c" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationAxis_019f913f-cc1e-7d54-94e2-48a7dc26a3a7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_019e218e-3a9f-779b-a4de-0978a8fd5564" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationAxis_019f913f-cc1e-7d54-94e2-48a7dc26a3a7" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationDomain_019f913f-cc1e-7d54-94e2-48a7dc26a3a7_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationAxis_019f913f-cc1e-7d54-94e2-48a7dc26a3a7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationDomain_019f913f-cc1e-7d54-94e2-48a7dc26a3a7_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationDomain_019f913f-cc1e-7763-84a9-98d7269d68f2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationAxis_019f913f-cc1e-7d54-94e2-48a7dc26a3a7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationDomain_019f913f-cc1e-7763-84a9-98d7269d68f2" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupDisposedOfBySaleNotDiscontinuedOperationsMember_019f913f-cc1e-75b2-b662-354ba0cc25d2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DisposalGroupDisposedOfBySaleNotDiscontinuedOperationsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationDomain_019f913f-cc1e-7763-84a9-98d7269d68f2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupDisposedOfBySaleNotDiscontinuedOperationsMember_019f913f-cc1e-75b2-b662-354ba0cc25d2" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis_019f913f-cc1e-73b6-b1ac-423e460e4e4f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_019e218e-3a9f-779b-a4de-0978a8fd5564" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis_019f913f-cc1e-73b6-b1ac-423e460e4e4f" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsNameDomain_019f913f-cc1e-73b6-b1ac-423e460e4e4f_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis_019f913f-cc1e-73b6-b1ac-423e460e4e4f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsNameDomain_019f913f-cc1e-73b6-b1ac-423e460e4e4f_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsNameDomain_019f913f-cc1e-7aa8-ac32-f628de90cc8d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis_019f913f-cc1e-73b6-b1ac-423e460e4e4f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsNameDomain_019f913f-cc1e-7aa8-ac32-f628de90cc8d" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_TacomaHeadquartersMember_019f913f-cc1e-7c01-86d0-dcab8508ee90" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_TacomaHeadquartersMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsNameDomain_019f913f-cc1e-7aa8-ac32-f628de90cc8d" xlink:to="loc_tbi_TacomaHeadquartersMember_019f913f-cc1e-7c01-86d0-dcab8508ee90" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_LongLivedAssetHeldForSaleCarryingValue_019f913f-cc1e-7d09-90c5-094d721ba545" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_LongLivedAssetHeldForSaleCarryingValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-7518-854b-f72691ea678e" xlink:to="loc_tbi_LongLivedAssetHeldForSaleCarryingValue_019f913f-cc1e-7d09-90c5-094d721ba545" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationLossGainOnWriteDown_019f913f-cc1e-7194-94f1-e23029f295a2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationLossGainOnWriteDown"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-7518-854b-f72691ea678e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationLossGainOnWriteDown_019f913f-cc1e-7194-94f1-e23029f295a2" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_Goodwill_019f913f-cc1e-7b7a-b7d6-84661b9c1f96" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_Goodwill"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-7518-854b-f72691ea678e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_Goodwill_019f913f-cc1e-7b7a-b7d6-84661b9c1f96" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_GoodwillAndIntangibleAssetImpairment_019e218e-3a9f-7bea-8abe-5a43553bbc23" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_GoodwillAndIntangibleAssetImpairment"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-7518-854b-f72691ea678e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_GoodwillAndIntangibleAssetImpairment_019e218e-3a9f-7bea-8abe-5a43553bbc23" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://trueblue.com/role/RESTRICTEDCASHANDINVESTMENTSDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#RESTRICTEDCASHANDINVESTMENTSDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://trueblue.com/role/RESTRICTEDCASHANDINVESTMENTSDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsItemsLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-7de7-9a4b-ee6e88c4e4bf" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsItemsLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_ScheduleOfRestrictedCashAndInvestmentsTable_019e218e-3a9f-7706-9faf-1b4bec45f97f" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_ScheduleOfRestrictedCashAndInvestmentsTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsItemsLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-7de7-9a4b-ee6e88c4e4bf" xlink:to="loc_tbi_ScheduleOfRestrictedCashAndInvestmentsTable_019e218e-3a9f-7706-9faf-1b4bec45f97f" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7246-b973-9473d1f7f50d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_tbi_ScheduleOfRestrictedCashAndInvestmentsTable_019e218e-3a9f-7706-9faf-1b4bec45f97f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7246-b973-9473d1f7f50d" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsMember_019e218e-3a9f-7246-b973-9473d1f7f50d_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7246-b973-9473d1f7f50d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsMember_019e218e-3a9f-7246-b973-9473d1f7f50d_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsMember_019e218e-3a9f-7a12-ba75-8a2a4aa50bff" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7246-b973-9473d1f7f50d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsMember_019e218e-3a9f-7a12-ba75-8a2a4aa50bff" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_RestrictedCashandInvestmentsMember_019e218e-3a9f-74e5-ae67-66636dae946e" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_RestrictedCashandInvestmentsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsMember_019e218e-3a9f-7a12-ba75-8a2a4aa50bff" xlink:to="loc_tbi_RestrictedCashandInvestmentsMember_019e218e-3a9f-74e5-ae67-66636dae946e" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7b2a-a0a3-22018b9a1595" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_tbi_ScheduleOfRestrictedCashAndInvestmentsTable_019e218e-3a9f-7706-9faf-1b4bec45f97f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7b2a-a0a3-22018b9a1595" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7b2a-a0a3-22018b9a1595_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7b2a-a0a3-22018b9a1595" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7b2a-a0a3-22018b9a1595_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7de3-9171-b21407a77b33" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7b2a-a0a3-22018b9a1595" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7de3-9171-b21407a77b33" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_MunicipalBondsMember_019e218e-3a9f-7efc-be62-a07c3d66b4ee" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_MunicipalBondsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7de3-9171-b21407a77b33" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_MunicipalBondsMember_019e218e-3a9f-7efc-be62-a07c3d66b4ee" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CorporateBondSecuritiesMember_019e218e-3a9f-78e5-9d78-8ab8586b63c7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CorporateBondSecuritiesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7de3-9171-b21407a77b33" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CorporateBondSecuritiesMember_019e218e-3a9f-78e5-9d78-8ab8586b63c7" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AssetBackedSecuritiesMember_019e218e-3a9f-7ef0-b17c-e4ca15f7b9cb" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AssetBackedSecuritiesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7de3-9171-b21407a77b33" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AssetBackedSecuritiesMember_019e218e-3a9f-7ef0-b17c-e4ca15f7b9cb" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_USGovernmentCorporationsAndAgenciesSecuritiesMember_019e218e-3a9f-7a5a-98fa-a16eaac48638" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_USGovernmentCorporationsAndAgenciesSecuritiesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7de3-9171-b21407a77b33" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_USGovernmentCorporationsAndAgenciesSecuritiesMember_019e218e-3a9f-7a5a-98fa-a16eaac48638" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AssetsHeldByInsuranceRegulators_019e218e-3a9f-7b49-9828-166888d7cfbb" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AssetsHeldByInsuranceRegulators"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsItemsLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-7de7-9a4b-ee6e88c4e4bf" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AssetsHeldByInsuranceRegulators_019e218e-3a9f-7b49-9828-166888d7cfbb" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AssetsHeldInTrustCurrent_019e218e-3a9f-78e2-a8b9-3a7779e7a05a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AssetsHeldInTrustCurrent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsItemsLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-7de7-9a4b-ee6e88c4e4bf" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AssetsHeldInTrustCurrent_019e218e-3a9f-78e2-a8b9-3a7779e7a05a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AssetsHeldInTrustNoncurrent_019e218e-3a9f-7885-be73-eafe762308e7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AssetsHeldInTrustNoncurrent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsItemsLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-7de7-9a4b-ee6e88c4e4bf" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AssetsHeldInTrustNoncurrent_019e218e-3a9f-7885-be73-eafe762308e7" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LifeInsuranceCorporateOrBankOwnedAmount_019e218e-3a9f-7f66-b959-2eec8827f892" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LifeInsuranceCorporateOrBankOwnedAmount"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsItemsLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-7de7-9a4b-ee6e88c4e4bf" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LifeInsuranceCorporateOrBankOwnedAmount_019e218e-3a9f-7f66-b959-2eec8827f892" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherRestrictedAssetsNoncurrent_019e218e-3a9f-75c7-aedc-5ac40f063d41" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OtherRestrictedAssetsNoncurrent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsItemsLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-7de7-9a4b-ee6e88c4e4bf" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherRestrictedAssetsNoncurrent_019e218e-3a9f-75c7-aedc-5ac40f063d41" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndInvestmentsNoncurrent_019e218e-3a9f-7ede-b952-e742645ff721" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndInvestmentsNoncurrent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsItemsLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-7de7-9a4b-ee6e88c4e4bf" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndInvestmentsNoncurrent_019e218e-3a9f-7ede-b952-e742645ff721" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesAdjustmentsForFairValueCalculationAbstract_019e218e-3a9f-7e72-9f56-a49b613a8dd1" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesAdjustmentsForFairValueCalculationAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsItemsLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-7de7-9a4b-ee6e88c4e4bf" xlink:to="loc_tbi_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesAdjustmentsForFairValueCalculationAbstract_019e218e-3a9f-7e72-9f56-a49b613a8dd1" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities_019e218e-3a9f-7ee9-8d3f-dec38d30f618" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_tbi_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesAdjustmentsForFairValueCalculationAbstract_019e218e-3a9f-7e72-9f56-a49b613a8dd1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities_019e218e-3a9f-7ee9-8d3f-dec38d30f618" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesAccumulatedUnrecognizedHoldingGain_019e218e-3a9f-775b-90b2-f6d09f12de55" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesAccumulatedUnrecognizedHoldingGain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_tbi_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesAdjustmentsForFairValueCalculationAbstract_019e218e-3a9f-7e72-9f56-a49b613a8dd1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesAccumulatedUnrecognizedHoldingGain_019e218e-3a9f-775b-90b2-f6d09f12de55" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesAccumulatedUnrecognizedHoldingLoss_019e218e-3a9f-7bee-b552-7a8181bcf114" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesAccumulatedUnrecognizedHoldingLoss"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_tbi_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesAdjustmentsForFairValueCalculationAbstract_019e218e-3a9f-7e72-9f56-a49b613a8dd1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesAccumulatedUnrecognizedHoldingLoss_019e218e-3a9f-7bee-b552-7a8181bcf114" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesFairValue_019e218e-3a9f-7c95-b565-b0365103c645" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesFairValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_tbi_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesAdjustmentsForFairValueCalculationAbstract_019e218e-3a9f-7e72-9f56-a49b613a8dd1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesFairValue_019e218e-3a9f-7c95-b565-b0365103c645" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesDebtMaturitiesNetCarryingAmountAbstract_019e218e-3a9f-7851-bd39-7b992989d046" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesDebtMaturitiesNetCarryingAmountAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsItemsLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-7de7-9a4b-ee6e88c4e4bf" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesDebtMaturitiesNetCarryingAmountAbstract_019e218e-3a9f-7851-bd39-7b992989d046" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesDebtMaturitiesWithinOneYearNetCarryingAmount_019e218e-3a9f-7a99-972e-b0f23c0dcabe" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesDebtMaturitiesWithinOneYearNetCarryingAmount"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesDebtMaturitiesNetCarryingAmountAbstract_019e218e-3a9f-7851-bd39-7b992989d046" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesDebtMaturitiesWithinOneYearNetCarryingAmount_019e218e-3a9f-7a99-972e-b0f23c0dcabe" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAfterOneThroughFiveYearsNetCarryingAmount_019e218e-3a9f-7ba9-80ff-e9f544f0cb24" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAfterOneThroughFiveYearsNetCarryingAmount"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesDebtMaturitiesNetCarryingAmountAbstract_019e218e-3a9f-7851-bd39-7b992989d046" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAfterOneThroughFiveYearsNetCarryingAmount_019e218e-3a9f-7ba9-80ff-e9f544f0cb24" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities_019e218e-3a9f-746d-b15f-93d82d7fee58" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesDebtMaturitiesFairValueAbstract_019e218e-3a9f-7f40-92e7-7bd25d81a281" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesDebtMaturitiesFairValueAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsItemsLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-7de7-9a4b-ee6e88c4e4bf" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesDebtMaturitiesFairValueAbstract_019e218e-3a9f-7f40-92e7-7bd25d81a281" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesDebtMaturitiesWithinOneYearFairValue_019e218e-3a9f-7a36-af2f-07947133936e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesDebtMaturitiesWithinOneYearFairValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesDebtMaturitiesFairValueAbstract_019e218e-3a9f-7f40-92e7-7bd25d81a281" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesDebtMaturitiesWithinOneYearFairValue_019e218e-3a9f-7a36-af2f-07947133936e" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAfterOneThroughFiveYearsFairValue_019e218e-3a9f-7794-9a1a-2571c36d06de" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAfterOneThroughFiveYearsFairValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesDebtMaturitiesFairValueAbstract_019e218e-3a9f-7f40-92e7-7bd25d81a281" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAfterOneThroughFiveYearsFairValue_019e218e-3a9f-7794-9a1a-2571c36d06de" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesFairValue_019e218e-3a9f-7af2-afe6-1e0d2a6ad9dc" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesFairValue"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_UnrealizedGainLossOnInvestments_019e218e-3a9f-7600-8211-bcec4143e825" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_UnrealizedGainLossOnInvestments"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsItemsLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-7de7-9a4b-ee6e88c4e4bf" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_UnrealizedGainLossOnInvestments_019e218e-3a9f-7600-8211-bcec4143e825" xlink:type="arc" order="9"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://trueblue.com/role/SUPPLEMENTALBALANCESHEETINFORMATIONAssetsheldforsaleDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#SUPPLEMENTALBALANCESHEETINFORMATIONAssetsheldforsaleDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://trueblue.com/role/SUPPLEMENTALBALANCESHEETINFORMATIONAssetsheldforsaleDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongLivedAssetsHeldForSaleLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-7bd6-99f7-b79344a0b128" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongLivedAssetsHeldForSaleLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForSaleTable_019e218e-3a9f-7b05-91e1-9332a81f7b7f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForSaleTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongLivedAssetsHeldForSaleLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-7bd6-99f7-b79344a0b128" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForSaleTable_019e218e-3a9f-7b05-91e1-9332a81f7b7f" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7847-b974-5aaf47a38990" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForSaleTable_019e218e-3a9f-7b05-91e1-9332a81f7b7f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7847-b974-5aaf47a38990" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7847-b974-5aaf47a38990_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7847-b974-5aaf47a38990" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7847-b974-5aaf47a38990_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7131-850a-e8d01ec8e7f8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7847-b974-5aaf47a38990" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7131-850a-e8d01ec8e7f8" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupDisposedOfBySaleNotDiscontinuedOperationsMember_019e218e-3a9f-780c-a96d-e6282f846c98" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DisposalGroupDisposedOfBySaleNotDiscontinuedOperationsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7131-850a-e8d01ec8e7f8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupDisposedOfBySaleNotDiscontinuedOperationsMember_019e218e-3a9f-780c-a96d-e6282f846c98" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7f83-b8ca-315ac706683f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForSaleTable_019e218e-3a9f-7b05-91e1-9332a81f7b7f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7f83-b8ca-315ac706683f" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsNameDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7f83-b8ca-315ac706683f_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7f83-b8ca-315ac706683f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsNameDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7f83-b8ca-315ac706683f_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsNameDomain_019e218e-3a9f-765f-939a-435335097c16" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7f83-b8ca-315ac706683f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsNameDomain_019e218e-3a9f-765f-939a-435335097c16" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_TacomaHeadquartersMember_019e218e-3a9f-7295-acb3-eec5c6b97831" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_TacomaHeadquartersMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsNameDomain_019e218e-3a9f-765f-939a-435335097c16" xlink:to="loc_tbi_TacomaHeadquartersMember_019e218e-3a9f-7295-acb3-eec5c6b97831" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AssetsHeldForSaleLongLivedFairValueDisclosure_019f8c72-80cd-7f6a-8d93-ab392116da89" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AssetsHeldForSaleLongLivedFairValueDisclosure"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongLivedAssetsHeldForSaleLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-7bd6-99f7-b79344a0b128" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AssetsHeldForSaleLongLivedFairValueDisclosure_019f8c72-80cd-7f6a-8d93-ab392116da89" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_LongLivedAssetHeldForSaleCarryingValue_019f8c7a-11ce-7bd4-94a9-60a3d659e8eb" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_LongLivedAssetHeldForSaleCarryingValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongLivedAssetsHeldForSaleLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-7bd6-99f7-b79344a0b128" xlink:to="loc_tbi_LongLivedAssetHeldForSaleCarryingValue_019f8c7a-11ce-7bd4-94a9-60a3d659e8eb" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationLossGainOnWriteDown_019f913e-c852-7798-a4e0-d1df58696c09" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationLossGainOnWriteDown"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongLivedAssetsHeldForSaleLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-7bd6-99f7-b79344a0b128" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationLossGainOnWriteDown_019f913e-c852-7798-a4e0-d1df58696c09" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://trueblue.com/role/GOODWILLANDINTANGIBLEASSETSChangesinCarryingAmountofGoodwillDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#GOODWILLANDINTANGIBLEASSETSChangesinCarryingAmountofGoodwillDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://trueblue.com/role/GOODWILLANDINTANGIBLEASSETSChangesinCarryingAmountofGoodwillDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_GoodwillLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-7791-9441-05f4fce20128" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_GoodwillLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfGoodwillTable_019e218e-3a9f-78d2-a270-c7fec31d450c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfGoodwillTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_GoodwillLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-7791-9441-05f4fce20128" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfGoodwillTable_019e218e-3a9f-78d2-a270-c7fec31d450c" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7cb4-b899-05fb3f3dce93" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfGoodwillTable_019e218e-3a9f-78d2-a270-c7fec31d450c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7cb4-b899-05fb3f3dce93" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7cb4-b899-05fb3f3dce93_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SegmentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7cb4-b899-05fb3f3dce93" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7cb4-b899-05fb3f3dce93_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7bc1-80e4-26bda436f50f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SegmentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7cb4-b899-05fb3f3dce93" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7bc1-80e4-26bda436f50f" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_PeopleReadyMember_019e218e-3a9f-7f86-9b73-73b8d4bb8a91" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_PeopleReadyMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7bc1-80e4-26bda436f50f" xlink:to="loc_tbi_PeopleReadyMember_019e218e-3a9f-7f86-9b73-73b8d4bb8a91" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_PeopleManagementMember_019e218e-3a9f-7d49-b4cf-59b4a03d9ee2" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_PeopleManagementMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7bc1-80e4-26bda436f50f" xlink:to="loc_tbi_PeopleManagementMember_019e218e-3a9f-7d49-b4cf-59b4a03d9ee2" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_PeopleSolutionsMember_019e218e-3a9f-7a4f-9bcb-0c712c6e6157" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_PeopleSolutionsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7bc1-80e4-26bda436f50f" xlink:to="loc_tbi_PeopleSolutionsMember_019e218e-3a9f-7a4f-9bcb-0c712c6e6157" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_HSPMember_019e218e-3a9f-7dc2-97c5-f20f49e80669" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_HSPMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7bc1-80e4-26bda436f50f" xlink:to="loc_tbi_HSPMember_019e218e-3a9f-7dc2-97c5-f20f49e80669" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7c2c-a159-60d33e34899f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_RangeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfGoodwillTable_019e218e-3a9f-78d2-a270-c7fec31d450c" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7c2c-a159-60d33e34899f" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeMember_019e218e-3a9f-7c2c-a159-60d33e34899f_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_RangeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7c2c-a159-60d33e34899f" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeMember_019e218e-3a9f-7c2c-a159-60d33e34899f_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeMember_019e218e-3a9f-78b1-b782-805816fe60c1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_RangeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7c2c-a159-60d33e34899f" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeMember_019e218e-3a9f-78b1-b782-805816fe60c1" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_MinimumMember_019e218e-3a9f-7b25-90e8-2fe53e4e8d06" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_MinimumMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeMember_019e218e-3a9f-78b1-b782-805816fe60c1" xlink:to="loc_srt_MinimumMember_019e218e-3a9f-7b25-90e8-2fe53e4e8d06" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_MaximumMember_019e218e-3a9f-7331-8946-0bfd567498b9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_MaximumMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeMember_019e218e-3a9f-78b1-b782-805816fe60c1" xlink:to="loc_srt_MaximumMember_019e218e-3a9f-7331-8946-0bfd567498b9" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ReportingUnitAxis_019e218e-3a9f-766b-92bc-b87802587d59" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ReportingUnitAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfGoodwillTable_019e218e-3a9f-78d2-a270-c7fec31d450c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ReportingUnitAxis_019e218e-3a9f-766b-92bc-b87802587d59" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ReportingUnitDomain_019e218e-3a9f-766b-92bc-b87802587d59_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ReportingUnitDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ReportingUnitAxis_019e218e-3a9f-766b-92bc-b87802587d59" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ReportingUnitDomain_019e218e-3a9f-766b-92bc-b87802587d59_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ReportingUnitDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7a09-84eb-99680b619432" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ReportingUnitDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ReportingUnitAxis_019e218e-3a9f-766b-92bc-b87802587d59" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ReportingUnitDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7a09-84eb-99680b619432" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_HSPMember_019e218e-3a9f-7383-ba28-d7d091739c70" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_HSPMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ReportingUnitDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7a09-84eb-99680b619432" xlink:to="loc_tbi_HSPMember_019e218e-3a9f-7383-ba28-d7d091739c70" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_MeasurementInputTypeAxis_019e218e-3a9f-74fd-b482-2b090137f169" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_MeasurementInputTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfGoodwillTable_019e218e-3a9f-78d2-a270-c7fec31d450c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_MeasurementInputTypeAxis_019e218e-3a9f-74fd-b482-2b090137f169" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_MeasurementInputTypeDomain_019e218e-3a9f-74fd-b482-2b090137f169_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_MeasurementInputTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_MeasurementInputTypeAxis_019e218e-3a9f-74fd-b482-2b090137f169" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_MeasurementInputTypeDomain_019e218e-3a9f-74fd-b482-2b090137f169_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_MeasurementInputTypeDomain_019e218e-3a9f-783b-ac0b-cf0aa398ec96" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_MeasurementInputTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_MeasurementInputTypeAxis_019e218e-3a9f-74fd-b482-2b090137f169" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_MeasurementInputTypeDomain_019e218e-3a9f-783b-ac0b-cf0aa398ec96" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_MeasurementInputDiscountRateMember_019e218e-3a9f-74a9-bcbb-27d40c3150cb" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_MeasurementInputDiscountRateMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_MeasurementInputTypeDomain_019e218e-3a9f-783b-ac0b-cf0aa398ec96" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_MeasurementInputDiscountRateMember_019e218e-3a9f-74a9-bcbb-27d40c3150cb" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_GoodwillForeignCurrencyTranslationGainLoss_019e218e-3a9f-7015-a7bf-bc0f6dc4746e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_GoodwillForeignCurrencyTranslationGainLoss"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_GoodwillLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-7791-9441-05f4fce20128" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_GoodwillForeignCurrencyTranslationGainLoss_019e218e-3a9f-7015-a7bf-bc0f6dc4746e" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_GoodwillGross_019e218e-3a9f-7feb-979a-96ab32f78ec1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_GoodwillGross"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_GoodwillLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-7791-9441-05f4fce20128" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_GoodwillGross_019e218e-3a9f-7feb-979a-96ab32f78ec1" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss_019e218e-3a9f-7e94-8aeb-a0990dc71841" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_GoodwillLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-7791-9441-05f4fce20128" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss_019e218e-3a9f-7e94-8aeb-a0990dc71841" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_Goodwill_019e218e-3a9f-7774-8db8-d515855a211b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_Goodwill"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_GoodwillLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-7791-9441-05f4fce20128" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_Goodwill_019e218e-3a9f-7774-8db8-d515855a211b" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss_019e218e-3a9f-76ef-ac8a-d013f8c3a3ef" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_GoodwillLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-7791-9441-05f4fce20128" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss_019e218e-3a9f-76ef-ac8a-d013f8c3a3ef" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_WeightedAverageCostofCapital_019e218e-3a9f-7b1f-a666-d5f3ea9ae34b" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_WeightedAverageCostofCapital"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_GoodwillLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-7791-9441-05f4fce20128" xlink:to="loc_tbi_WeightedAverageCostofCapital_019e218e-3a9f-7b1f-a666-d5f3ea9ae34b" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://trueblue.com/role/GOODWILLANDINTANGIBLEASSETSNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#GOODWILLANDINTANGIBLEASSETSNarrativeDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://trueblue.com/role/GOODWILLANDINTANGIBLEASSETSNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_GoodwillLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-725e-bf14-f24fd44e4d72" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_GoodwillLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfGoodwillTable_019e218e-3a9f-7ccf-9a80-cac01b8d0c9b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfGoodwillTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_GoodwillLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-725e-bf14-f24fd44e4d72" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfGoodwillTable_019e218e-3a9f-7ccf-9a80-cac01b8d0c9b" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ReportingUnitAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7640-ab7b-1dd04fbf33d4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ReportingUnitAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfGoodwillTable_019e218e-3a9f-7ccf-9a80-cac01b8d0c9b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ReportingUnitAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7640-ab7b-1dd04fbf33d4" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ReportingUnitDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7640-ab7b-1dd04fbf33d4_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ReportingUnitDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ReportingUnitAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7640-ab7b-1dd04fbf33d4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ReportingUnitDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7640-ab7b-1dd04fbf33d4_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ReportingUnitDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7e2e-bdea-5c205d44aa6d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ReportingUnitDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ReportingUnitAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7640-ab7b-1dd04fbf33d4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ReportingUnitDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7e2e-bdea-5c205d44aa6d" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_HSPMember_019e218e-3a9f-74e4-91c6-c171dbe149fe" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_HSPMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ReportingUnitDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7e2e-bdea-5c205d44aa6d" xlink:to="loc_tbi_HSPMember_019e218e-3a9f-74e4-91c6-c171dbe149fe" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7cf3-a2c7-bbfbd28f2f9e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfGoodwillTable_019e218e-3a9f-7ccf-9a80-cac01b8d0c9b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7cf3-a2c7-bbfbd28f2f9e" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7cf3-a2c7-bbfbd28f2f9e_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SegmentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7cf3-a2c7-bbfbd28f2f9e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7cf3-a2c7-bbfbd28f2f9e_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7628-bff7-990a8504fadd" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SegmentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_019e218e-3a9f-7cf3-a2c7-bbfbd28f2f9e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7628-bff7-990a8504fadd" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_HSPMember_019e218e-3a9f-76aa-b6d8-bf40d40405d4" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_HSPMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e218e-3a9f-7628-bff7-990a8504fadd" xlink:to="loc_tbi_HSPMember_019e218e-3a9f-76aa-b6d8-bf40d40405d4" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_GoodwillAndIntangibleAssetImpairment_019e218e-3a9f-7720-b980-bab3249589f0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_GoodwillAndIntangibleAssetImpairment"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_GoodwillLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-725e-bf14-f24fd44e4d72" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_GoodwillAndIntangibleAssetImpairment_019e218e-3a9f-7720-b980-bab3249589f0" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_Goodwill_019e218e-3a9f-7b4e-bceb-8ac0fb217229" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_Goodwill"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_GoodwillLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-725e-bf14-f24fd44e4d72" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_Goodwill_019e218e-3a9f-7b4e-bceb-8ac0fb217229" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill_019f6d66-30ed-743e-8e24-9003fbdd586c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_GoodwillLineItems_019e218e-3a9f-725e-bf14-f24fd44e4d72" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill_019f6d66-30ed-743e-8e24-9003fbdd586c" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://trueblue.com/role/WORKERSCOMPENSATIONINSURANCEANDRESERVESNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#WORKERSCOMPENSATIONINSURANCEANDRESERVESNarrativeDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://trueblue.com/role/WORKERSCOMPENSATIONINSURANCEANDRESERVESNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_WorkersCompensationDeductibleLimitLineItems_019e218e-3b5b-78d9-9c89-3ad1a9ca8f2c" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_WorkersCompensationDeductibleLimitLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_WorkersCompensationDeductibleLimitTable_019e218e-3b5b-7acc-a3d6-16c1dc9230d4" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_WorkersCompensationDeductibleLimitTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_tbi_WorkersCompensationDeductibleLimitLineItems_019e218e-3b5b-78d9-9c89-3ad1a9ca8f2c" xlink:to="loc_tbi_WorkersCompensationDeductibleLimitTable_019e218e-3b5b-7acc-a3d6-16c1dc9230d4" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_WorkersCompensationDeductibleLimitAxis_019e218e-3b5b-7aff-95f2-31d46b006d09" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_WorkersCompensationDeductibleLimitAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_tbi_WorkersCompensationDeductibleLimitTable_019e218e-3b5b-7acc-a3d6-16c1dc9230d4" xlink:to="loc_tbi_WorkersCompensationDeductibleLimitAxis_019e218e-3b5b-7aff-95f2-31d46b006d09" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_WorkersCompensationDeductibleLimitDomain_019e218e-3b5b-7aff-95f2-31d46b006d09_default" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_WorkersCompensationDeductibleLimitDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_tbi_WorkersCompensationDeductibleLimitAxis_019e218e-3b5b-7aff-95f2-31d46b006d09" xlink:to="loc_tbi_WorkersCompensationDeductibleLimitDomain_019e218e-3b5b-7aff-95f2-31d46b006d09_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_WorkersCompensationDeductibleLimitDomain_019e218e-3b5b-7579-a185-09b9bf93839d" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_WorkersCompensationDeductibleLimitDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_tbi_WorkersCompensationDeductibleLimitAxis_019e218e-3b5b-7aff-95f2-31d46b006d09" xlink:to="loc_tbi_WorkersCompensationDeductibleLimitDomain_019e218e-3b5b-7579-a185-09b9bf93839d" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_BelowLimitMember_019e218e-3b5b-7947-bf38-b3137a5c749a" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_BelowLimitMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_tbi_WorkersCompensationDeductibleLimitDomain_019e218e-3b5b-7579-a185-09b9bf93839d" xlink:to="loc_tbi_BelowLimitMember_019e218e-3b5b-7947-bf38-b3137a5c749a" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019e218e-3b5b-70ba-85d1-c6fe6b44ea3a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_RangeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_tbi_WorkersCompensationDeductibleLimitTable_019e218e-3b5b-7acc-a3d6-16c1dc9230d4" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019e218e-3b5b-70ba-85d1-c6fe6b44ea3a" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeMember_019e218e-3b5b-70ba-85d1-c6fe6b44ea3a_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_RangeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019e218e-3b5b-70ba-85d1-c6fe6b44ea3a" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeMember_019e218e-3b5b-70ba-85d1-c6fe6b44ea3a_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeMember_019e218e-3b5b-7245-81b7-240918bf5fb9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_RangeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019e218e-3b5b-70ba-85d1-c6fe6b44ea3a" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeMember_019e218e-3b5b-7245-81b7-240918bf5fb9" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_MinimumMember_019e218e-3b5b-73a0-aa14-ec6b37f71960" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_MinimumMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeMember_019e218e-3b5b-7245-81b7-240918bf5fb9" xlink:to="loc_srt_MinimumMember_019e218e-3b5b-73a0-aa14-ec6b37f71960" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_WorkersCompensationClaimDeductibleLimit_019e218e-3b5b-7df5-9e4f-76d1e04ce4a9" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_WorkersCompensationClaimDeductibleLimit"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_tbi_WorkersCompensationDeductibleLimitLineItems_019e218e-3b5b-78d9-9c89-3ad1a9ca8f2c" xlink:to="loc_tbi_WorkersCompensationClaimDeductibleLimit_019e218e-3b5b-7df5-9e4f-76d1e04ce4a9" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_WorkersCompensationDiscountPercent_019e218e-3b5b-7a90-9427-a4773adc458f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_WorkersCompensationDiscountPercent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_tbi_WorkersCompensationDeductibleLimitLineItems_019e218e-3b5b-78d9-9c89-3ad1a9ca8f2c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_WorkersCompensationDiscountPercent_019e218e-3b5b-7a90-9427-a4773adc458f" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_WeightedAveragePeriodClaimPaymentsBelowDeductibleLimit_019e218e-3b5b-7adb-b9bb-d5ff831f76fa" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_WeightedAveragePeriodClaimPaymentsBelowDeductibleLimit"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_tbi_WorkersCompensationDeductibleLimitLineItems_019e218e-3b5b-78d9-9c89-3ad1a9ca8f2c" xlink:to="loc_tbi_WeightedAveragePeriodClaimPaymentsBelowDeductibleLimit_019e218e-3b5b-7adb-b9bb-d5ff831f76fa" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PaymentsForLossesAndLossAdjustmentExpense_019e218e-3b5b-7b16-ba45-11685b44db53" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_PaymentsForLossesAndLossAdjustmentExpense"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_tbi_WorkersCompensationDeductibleLimitLineItems_019e218e-3b5b-78d9-9c89-3ad1a9ca8f2c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PaymentsForLossesAndLossAdjustmentExpense_019e218e-3b5b-7b16-ba45-11685b44db53" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_Discountedworkerscompensationreserveforexcessclaims_019e218e-3b5b-7faf-aa11-099f002fd3d2" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_Discountedworkerscompensationreserveforexcessclaims"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_tbi_WorkersCompensationDeductibleLimitLineItems_019e218e-3b5b-78d9-9c89-3ad1a9ca8f2c" xlink:to="loc_tbi_Discountedworkerscompensationreserveforexcessclaims_019e218e-3b5b-7faf-aa11-099f002fd3d2" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_WorkersCompensationClaimReceivables_019e218e-3b5b-76a8-b783-4dc3d8370fae" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_WorkersCompensationClaimReceivables"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_tbi_WorkersCompensationDeductibleLimitLineItems_019e218e-3b5b-78d9-9c89-3ad1a9ca8f2c" xlink:to="loc_tbi_WorkersCompensationClaimReceivables_019e218e-3b5b-76a8-b783-4dc3d8370fae" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_WorkersCompensationExpense_019e218e-3b5b-7c4c-bc1e-6eeb508a1e72" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_WorkersCompensationExpense"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_tbi_WorkersCompensationDeductibleLimitLineItems_019e218e-3b5b-78d9-9c89-3ad1a9ca8f2c" xlink:to="loc_tbi_WorkersCompensationExpense_019e218e-3b5b-7c4c-bc1e-6eeb508a1e72" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://trueblue.com/role/LONGTERMDEBTScheduleofDebtDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#LONGTERMDEBTScheduleofDebtDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://trueblue.com/role/LONGTERMDEBTScheduleofDebtDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems_019e218e-3b5b-7b59-b2e1-a5fe76d389e4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityTable_019e218e-3b5b-736c-bb91-e0acd4f9e0b4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems_019e218e-3b5b-7b59-b2e1-a5fe76d389e4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityTable_019e218e-3b5b-736c-bb91-e0acd4f9e0b4" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_019e218e-3b5b-7e44-8c46-c1f49e20d4c0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityTable_019e218e-3b5b-736c-bb91-e0acd4f9e0b4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_019e218e-3b5b-7e44-8c46-c1f49e20d4c0" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019e218e-3b5b-7e44-8c46-c1f49e20d4c0_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_019e218e-3b5b-7e44-8c46-c1f49e20d4c0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019e218e-3b5b-7e44-8c46-c1f49e20d4c0_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019e218e-3b5b-7f5a-9eb1-214b158c3800" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_019e218e-3b5b-7e44-8c46-c1f49e20d4c0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019e218e-3b5b-7f5a-9eb1-214b158c3800" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_TermSOFRLoanMember_019e218e-3b5b-7c25-bfa1-c54aeab2fd7f" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_TermSOFRLoanMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019e218e-3b5b-7f5a-9eb1-214b158c3800" xlink:to="loc_tbi_TermSOFRLoanMember_019e218e-3b5b-7c25-bfa1-c54aeab2fd7f" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BaseRateMember_019e218e-3b5b-79a8-be39-3e0d5f68a35d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_BaseRateMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019e218e-3b5b-7f5a-9eb1-214b158c3800" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BaseRateMember_019e218e-3b5b-79a8-be39-3e0d5f68a35d" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_SwinglineLoanMember_019e218e-3b5b-7cb7-abe5-f63d8ce31d6d" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_SwinglineLoanMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019e218e-3b5b-7f5a-9eb1-214b158c3800" xlink:to="loc_tbi_SwinglineLoanMember_019e218e-3b5b-7cb7-abe5-f63d8ce31d6d" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember_019e218e-3b5b-7c25-8793-3e0d8c00ea70" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019e218e-3b5b-7f5a-9eb1-214b158c3800" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember_019e218e-3b5b-7c25-8793-3e0d8c00ea70" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LetterOfCreditMember_019e218e-3b5b-7899-afef-589c143b7456" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LetterOfCreditMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019e218e-3b5b-7f5a-9eb1-214b158c3800" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LetterOfCreditMember_019e218e-3b5b-7899-afef-589c143b7456" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019e218e-3b5b-7923-a6e1-e19371739a91" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityTable_019e218e-3b5b-736c-bb91-e0acd4f9e0b4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019e218e-3b5b-7923-a6e1-e19371739a91" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e218e-3b5b-7923-a6e1-e19371739a91_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019e218e-3b5b-7923-a6e1-e19371739a91" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e218e-3b5b-7923-a6e1-e19371739a91_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e218e-3b5b-7c0d-9a09-48c7d7dfc61d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019e218e-3b5b-7923-a6e1-e19371739a91" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e218e-3b5b-7c0d-9a09-48c7d7dfc61d" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_AmendedAndRestatedRevolvingCreditAgreementMember_019e218e-3b5b-7ba1-a2b3-425ec9541af6" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_AmendedAndRestatedRevolvingCreditAgreementMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e218e-3b5b-7c0d-9a09-48c7d7dfc61d" xlink:to="loc_tbi_AmendedAndRestatedRevolvingCreditAgreementMember_019e218e-3b5b-7ba1-a2b3-425ec9541af6" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebt_019e218e-3b5b-7514-825b-e00880949300" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongTermDebt"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems_019e218e-3b5b-7b59-b2e1-a5fe76d389e4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebt_019e218e-3b5b-7514-825b-e00880949300" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_LineOfCreditFacilityCovenantBorrowingBase_019e218e-3b5b-78ac-93bd-b95d40c0679e" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_LineOfCreditFacilityCovenantBorrowingBase"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems_019e218e-3b5b-7b59-b2e1-a5fe76d389e4" xlink:to="loc_tbi_LineOfCreditFacilityCovenantBorrowingBase_019e218e-3b5b-78ac-93bd-b95d40c0679e" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_LineOfCreditFacilityCovenantUnusedBorrowingBase_019e218e-3b5b-7f39-94d3-2ab8d30ea3f1" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_LineOfCreditFacilityCovenantUnusedBorrowingBase"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems_019e218e-3b5b-7b59-b2e1-a5fe76d389e4" xlink:to="loc_tbi_LineOfCreditFacilityCovenantUnusedBorrowingBase_019e218e-3b5b-7f39-94d3-2ab8d30ea3f1" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_DebtInstrumentCovenantBorrowingBaseOrLineOfCreditThresholdPercentage_019e218e-3b5b-7164-9cb7-b03bae87adab" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_DebtInstrumentCovenantBorrowingBaseOrLineOfCreditThresholdPercentage"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems_019e218e-3b5b-7b59-b2e1-a5fe76d389e4" xlink:to="loc_tbi_DebtInstrumentCovenantBorrowingBaseOrLineOfCreditThresholdPercentage_019e218e-3b5b-7164-9cb7-b03bae87adab" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_DebtInstrumentCovenantExcessAvailabilityThreshold_019e218e-3b5b-7850-903a-7c38be89c62d" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_DebtInstrumentCovenantExcessAvailabilityThreshold"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems_019e218e-3b5b-7b59-b2e1-a5fe76d389e4" xlink:to="loc_tbi_DebtInstrumentCovenantExcessAvailabilityThreshold_019e218e-3b5b-7850-903a-7c38be89c62d" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://trueblue.com/role/LONGTERMDEBTNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#LONGTERMDEBTNarrativeDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://trueblue.com/role/LONGTERMDEBTNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems_019e218e-3b5b-7cb9-8b50-51a2161d909f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityTable_019e218e-3b5b-758b-9fd8-8b73e9f517a4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems_019e218e-3b5b-7cb9-8b50-51a2161d909f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityTable_019e218e-3b5b-758b-9fd8-8b73e9f517a4" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_019e218e-3b5b-764f-bd09-764850656f28" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityTable_019e218e-3b5b-758b-9fd8-8b73e9f517a4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_019e218e-3b5b-764f-bd09-764850656f28" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019e218e-3b5b-764f-bd09-764850656f28_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_019e218e-3b5b-764f-bd09-764850656f28" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019e218e-3b5b-764f-bd09-764850656f28_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019e218e-3b5b-7d1c-8a75-47cf9433b1f0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_019e218e-3b5b-764f-bd09-764850656f28" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019e218e-3b5b-7d1c-8a75-47cf9433b1f0" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember_019e218e-3b5b-715d-9acc-05c768942b47" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019e218e-3b5b-7d1c-8a75-47cf9433b1f0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember_019e218e-3b5b-715d-9acc-05c768942b47" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_SwinglineLoanMember_019e218e-3b5b-76b2-bfbc-ecb4c085ad59" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_SwinglineLoanMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019e218e-3b5b-7d1c-8a75-47cf9433b1f0" xlink:to="loc_tbi_SwinglineLoanMember_019e218e-3b5b-76b2-bfbc-ecb4c085ad59" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LetterOfCreditMember_019e218e-3b5b-73e1-a023-255988e72f2e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LetterOfCreditMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019e218e-3b5b-7d1c-8a75-47cf9433b1f0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LetterOfCreditMember_019e218e-3b5b-73e1-a023-255988e72f2e" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_TermSOFRLoanMember_019e218e-3b5b-7958-a8a6-598233534ab8" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_TermSOFRLoanMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019e218e-3b5b-7d1c-8a75-47cf9433b1f0" xlink:to="loc_tbi_TermSOFRLoanMember_019e218e-3b5b-7958-a8a6-598233534ab8" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BaseRateMember_019e218e-3b5b-72ec-9ed8-56450c84c2be" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_BaseRateMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019e218e-3b5b-7d1c-8a75-47cf9433b1f0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BaseRateMember_019e218e-3b5b-72ec-9ed8-56450c84c2be" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019e218e-3b5b-7347-b1e2-1acc1815b2dd" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_RangeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityTable_019e218e-3b5b-758b-9fd8-8b73e9f517a4" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019e218e-3b5b-7347-b1e2-1acc1815b2dd" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeMember_019e218e-3b5b-7347-b1e2-1acc1815b2dd_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_RangeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019e218e-3b5b-7347-b1e2-1acc1815b2dd" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeMember_019e218e-3b5b-7347-b1e2-1acc1815b2dd_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeMember_019e218e-3b5b-7f5f-9e39-36a6fbf78231" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_RangeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019e218e-3b5b-7347-b1e2-1acc1815b2dd" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeMember_019e218e-3b5b-7f5f-9e39-36a6fbf78231" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_MinimumMember_019e218e-3b5b-7523-8956-a5613e800237" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_MinimumMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeMember_019e218e-3b5b-7f5f-9e39-36a6fbf78231" xlink:to="loc_srt_MinimumMember_019e218e-3b5b-7523-8956-a5613e800237" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_MaximumMember_019e218e-3b5b-7065-9024-c2d2a7779b9c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_MaximumMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeMember_019e218e-3b5b-7f5f-9e39-36a6fbf78231" xlink:to="loc_srt_MaximumMember_019e218e-3b5b-7065-9024-c2d2a7779b9c" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateAxis_019e218e-3b5b-7e13-8bfa-d198daa04c8d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_VariableRateAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityTable_019e218e-3b5b-758b-9fd8-8b73e9f517a4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateAxis_019e218e-3b5b-7e13-8bfa-d198daa04c8d" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateDomain_019e218e-3b5b-7e13-8bfa-d198daa04c8d_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_VariableRateDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateAxis_019e218e-3b5b-7e13-8bfa-d198daa04c8d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateDomain_019e218e-3b5b-7e13-8bfa-d198daa04c8d_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateDomain_019e218e-3b5b-7e02-89eb-b785e111a934" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_VariableRateDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateAxis_019e218e-3b5b-7e13-8bfa-d198daa04c8d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateDomain_019e218e-3b5b-7e02-89eb-b785e111a934" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_LondonInterbankOfferedRateLIBOR1Member_019e218e-3b5b-728e-ae98-13a2dfff79b5" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_LondonInterbankOfferedRateLIBOR1Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateDomain_019e218e-3b5b-7e02-89eb-b785e111a934" xlink:to="loc_tbi_LondonInterbankOfferedRateLIBOR1Member_019e218e-3b5b-728e-ae98-13a2dfff79b5" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BaseRateMember_019e218e-3b5b-7373-8247-388fa7de5d67" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_BaseRateMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateDomain_019e218e-3b5b-7e02-89eb-b785e111a934" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BaseRateMember_019e218e-3b5b-7373-8247-388fa7de5d67" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_SecuredOvernightFinancingRateSOFRAdjustmentMember_019e218e-3b5b-7ae6-9769-46d171671115" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_SecuredOvernightFinancingRateSOFRAdjustmentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateDomain_019e218e-3b5b-7e02-89eb-b785e111a934" xlink:to="loc_tbi_SecuredOvernightFinancingRateSOFRAdjustmentMember_019e218e-3b5b-7ae6-9769-46d171671115" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_SecuredOvernightFinancingRateSOFRScreenRateMember_019e218e-3b5b-7e43-810d-fb7bb1f163b1" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_SecuredOvernightFinancingRateSOFRScreenRateMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateDomain_019e218e-3b5b-7e02-89eb-b785e111a934" xlink:to="loc_tbi_SecuredOvernightFinancingRateSOFRScreenRateMember_019e218e-3b5b-7e43-810d-fb7bb1f163b1" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SecuredOvernightFinancingRateSofrMember_019e218e-3b5b-73fa-85aa-6670f36893e4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SecuredOvernightFinancingRateSofrMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateDomain_019e218e-3b5b-7e02-89eb-b785e111a934" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SecuredOvernightFinancingRateSofrMember_019e218e-3b5b-73fa-85aa-6670f36893e4" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019e218e-3b5b-785d-b23e-33aea55250c6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityTable_019e218e-3b5b-758b-9fd8-8b73e9f517a4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019e218e-3b5b-785d-b23e-33aea55250c6" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e218e-3b5b-785d-b23e-33aea55250c6_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019e218e-3b5b-785d-b23e-33aea55250c6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e218e-3b5b-785d-b23e-33aea55250c6_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e218e-3b5b-7d89-ba44-62c133bd2291" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019e218e-3b5b-785d-b23e-33aea55250c6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e218e-3b5b-7d89-ba44-62c133bd2291" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_AmendedAndRestatedRevolvingCreditAgreementMember_019e218e-3b5b-7456-ae8f-fa5c0d9e3761" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_AmendedAndRestatedRevolvingCreditAgreementMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e218e-3b5b-7d89-ba44-62c133bd2291" xlink:to="loc_tbi_AmendedAndRestatedRevolvingCreditAgreementMember_019e218e-3b5b-7456-ae8f-fa5c0d9e3761" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity_019e218e-3b5b-7952-9308-7258386c9e1b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems_019e218e-3b5b-7cb9-8b50-51a2161d909f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity_019e218e-3b5b-7952-9308-7258386c9e1b" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacityAccordionFeature_019e218e-3b5b-7812-862a-22233e702836" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacityAccordionFeature"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems_019e218e-3b5b-7cb9-8b50-51a2161d909f" xlink:to="loc_tbi_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacityAccordionFeature_019e218e-3b5b-7812-862a-22233e702836" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1_019e218e-3b5b-7dcc-822d-01ec9596dcb9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems_019e218e-3b5b-7cb9-8b50-51a2161d909f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1_019e218e-3b5b-7dcc-822d-01ec9596dcb9" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_RevolvingCreditFacilityAdditionalBaseRate_019e218e-3b5b-75ec-837e-74bb68fb27c5" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_RevolvingCreditFacilityAdditionalBaseRate"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems_019e218e-3b5b-7cb9-8b50-51a2161d909f" xlink:to="loc_tbi_RevolvingCreditFacilityAdditionalBaseRate_019e218e-3b5b-75ec-837e-74bb68fb27c5" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityInterestRateAtPeriodEnd_019e218e-3b5b-7034-8f99-d0e4eab70562" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityInterestRateAtPeriodEnd"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems_019e218e-3b5b-7cb9-8b50-51a2161d909f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityInterestRateAtPeriodEnd_019e218e-3b5b-7034-8f99-d0e4eab70562" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityUnusedCapacityCommitmentFeePercentage_019e218e-3b5b-7f15-928b-52320eecaf96" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityUnusedCapacityCommitmentFeePercentage"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems_019e218e-3b5b-7cb9-8b50-51a2161d909f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityUnusedCapacityCommitmentFeePercentage_019e218e-3b5b-7f15-928b-52320eecaf96" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_LettersOfCreditAdditionalBasisRate_019e218e-3b5b-73e1-bd36-a3b46c8eb379" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_LettersOfCreditAdditionalBasisRate"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems_019e218e-3b5b-7cb9-8b50-51a2161d909f" xlink:to="loc_tbi_LettersOfCreditAdditionalBasisRate_019e218e-3b5b-73e1-bd36-a3b46c8eb379" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebt_019e218e-3b5b-7174-96d8-a06e36217d7a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongTermDebt"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems_019e218e-3b5b-7cb9-8b50-51a2161d909f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebt_019e218e-3b5b-7174-96d8-a06e36217d7a" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage_019e218e-3b5b-7fde-ae79-1c861975a356" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems_019e218e-3b5b-7cb9-8b50-51a2161d909f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage_019e218e-3b5b-7fde-ae79-1c861975a356" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://trueblue.com/role/COMMITMENTSANDCONTINGENCIESDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#COMMITMENTSANDCONTINGENCIESDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://trueblue.com/role/COMMITMENTSANDCONTINGENCIESDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_WorkersCompensationCommitmentsLineItems_019e218e-3b5b-78f6-81ea-a637a945ff60" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_WorkersCompensationCommitmentsLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_CollateralCommitmentsWorkersCompensationTable_019e218e-3b5b-723d-82b5-43bc5f160c0b" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_CollateralCommitmentsWorkersCompensationTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_tbi_WorkersCompensationCommitmentsLineItems_019e218e-3b5b-78f6-81ea-a637a945ff60" xlink:to="loc_tbi_CollateralCommitmentsWorkersCompensationTable_019e218e-3b5b-723d-82b5-43bc5f160c0b" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019e218e-3b5b-767c-956b-50593db828a4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_RangeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_tbi_CollateralCommitmentsWorkersCompensationTable_019e218e-3b5b-723d-82b5-43bc5f160c0b" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019e218e-3b5b-767c-956b-50593db828a4" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeMember_019e218e-3b5b-767c-956b-50593db828a4_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_RangeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019e218e-3b5b-767c-956b-50593db828a4" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeMember_019e218e-3b5b-767c-956b-50593db828a4_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeMember_019e218e-3b5b-7487-a049-738bd659d5a2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_RangeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019e218e-3b5b-767c-956b-50593db828a4" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeMember_019e218e-3b5b-7487-a049-738bd659d5a2" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_MinimumMember_019e218e-3b5b-7db6-ab76-d4b634da2846" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_MinimumMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeMember_019e218e-3b5b-7487-a049-738bd659d5a2" xlink:to="loc_srt_MinimumMember_019e218e-3b5b-7db6-ab76-d4b634da2846" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_MaximumMember_019e218e-3b5b-709b-a78f-c83924eccf92" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_MaximumMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeMember_019e218e-3b5b-7487-a049-738bd659d5a2" xlink:to="loc_srt_MaximumMember_019e218e-3b5b-709b-a78f-c83924eccf92" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_CollateralCommitmentsCashCollateralHeldByInsuranceCarriers_019e218e-3b5b-7f33-b5de-358559b5cb5b" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_CollateralCommitmentsCashCollateralHeldByInsuranceCarriers"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_tbi_WorkersCompensationCommitmentsLineItems_019e218e-3b5b-78f6-81ea-a637a945ff60" xlink:to="loc_tbi_CollateralCommitmentsCashCollateralHeldByInsuranceCarriers_019e218e-3b5b-7f33-b5de-358559b5cb5b" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AssetsHeldInTrustCurrent_019e218e-3b5b-7074-8ccf-b664fa2c477b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AssetsHeldInTrustCurrent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_tbi_WorkersCompensationCommitmentsLineItems_019e218e-3b5b-78f6-81ea-a637a945ff60" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AssetsHeldInTrustCurrent_019e218e-3b5b-7074-8ccf-b664fa2c477b" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AssetsHeldInTrustNoncurrent_019e218e-3b5b-76c9-9e68-0dfe666b55a2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AssetsHeldInTrustNoncurrent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_tbi_WorkersCompensationCommitmentsLineItems_019e218e-3b5b-78f6-81ea-a637a945ff60" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AssetsHeldInTrustNoncurrent_019e218e-3b5b-76c9-9e68-0dfe666b55a2" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_CollateralCommitmentsLettersofCredit_019e218e-3b5b-7b5c-931b-afa2a01ba0d7" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_CollateralCommitmentsLettersofCredit"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_tbi_WorkersCompensationCommitmentsLineItems_019e218e-3b5b-78f6-81ea-a637a945ff60" xlink:to="loc_tbi_CollateralCommitmentsLettersofCredit_019e218e-3b5b-7b5c-931b-afa2a01ba0d7" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_CollateralCommitmentsSuretyBonds_019e218e-3b5b-7506-981f-b69864c1b999" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_CollateralCommitmentsSuretyBonds"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_tbi_WorkersCompensationCommitmentsLineItems_019e218e-3b5b-78f6-81ea-a637a945ff60" xlink:to="loc_tbi_CollateralCommitmentsSuretyBonds_019e218e-3b5b-7506-981f-b69864c1b999" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_CollateralCommitmentsTotalCollateralCommitments_019e218e-3b5b-7e6c-9e03-f8d6b29b7eee" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_CollateralCommitmentsTotalCollateralCommitments"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_tbi_WorkersCompensationCommitmentsLineItems_019e218e-3b5b-78f6-81ea-a637a945ff60" xlink:to="loc_tbi_CollateralCommitmentsTotalCollateralCommitments_019e218e-3b5b-7e6c-9e03-f8d6b29b7eee" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_CollateralCommitmentsSuretyBondAnnualFeeLimitPercentageOfBondAmount_019e218e-3b5b-7e42-b277-1d64a45cf6f4" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_CollateralCommitmentsSuretyBondAnnualFeeLimitPercentageOfBondAmount"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_tbi_WorkersCompensationCommitmentsLineItems_019e218e-3b5b-78f6-81ea-a637a945ff60" xlink:to="loc_tbi_CollateralCommitmentsSuretyBondAnnualFeeLimitPercentageOfBondAmount_019e218e-3b5b-7e42-b277-1d64a45cf6f4" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_CollateralCommitmentsSuretyBondsReviewAndRenewalPeriodIfElected_019e218e-3b5b-7ffd-ad3f-14409106b891" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_CollateralCommitmentsSuretyBondsReviewAndRenewalPeriodIfElected"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_tbi_WorkersCompensationCommitmentsLineItems_019e218e-3b5b-78f6-81ea-a637a945ff60" xlink:to="loc_tbi_CollateralCommitmentsSuretyBondsReviewAndRenewalPeriodIfElected_019e218e-3b5b-7ffd-ad3f-14409106b891" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_CollateralCommitmentsSuretyBondsRequiredCancellationNotice_019e218e-3b5b-79cf-9df8-2a46622e9cc4" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_CollateralCommitmentsSuretyBondsRequiredCancellationNotice"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_tbi_WorkersCompensationCommitmentsLineItems_019e218e-3b5b-78f6-81ea-a637a945ff60" xlink:to="loc_tbi_CollateralCommitmentsSuretyBondsRequiredCancellationNotice_019e218e-3b5b-79cf-9df8-2a46622e9cc4" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://trueblue.com/role/SHAREHOLDERSEQUITYDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#SHAREHOLDERSEQUITYDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://trueblue.com/role/SHAREHOLDERSEQUITYDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockLineItems_019e218e-3b5b-7c38-a6ba-e45f6bfc8c93" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ClassOfStockLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfStockByClassTable_019e218e-3b5b-744e-b5ce-9a743b8e8377" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfStockByClassTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockLineItems_019e218e-3b5b-7c38-a6ba-e45f6bfc8c93" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfStockByClassTable_019e218e-3b5b-744e-b5ce-9a743b8e8377" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_019e218e-3b5b-76a9-8791-fc64fb0e1248" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfStockByClassTable_019e218e-3b5b-744e-b5ce-9a743b8e8377" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_019e218e-3b5b-76a9-8791-fc64fb0e1248" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_019e218e-3b5b-76a9-8791-fc64fb0e1248_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_019e218e-3b5b-76a9-8791-fc64fb0e1248" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_019e218e-3b5b-76a9-8791-fc64fb0e1248_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_019e218e-3b5b-78ec-836b-a8d585929e92" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_019e218e-3b5b-76a9-8791-fc64fb0e1248" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_019e218e-3b5b-78ec-836b-a8d585929e92" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockMember_019e218e-3b5b-7b53-8c9c-a37dc1e160fc" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_019e218e-3b5b-78ec-836b-a8d585929e92" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockMember_019e218e-3b5b-7b53-8c9c-a37dc1e160fc" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_019e218e-3b5b-7292-bb48-c71efc8c6fa1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfStockByClassTable_019e218e-3b5b-744e-b5ce-9a743b8e8377" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_019e218e-3b5b-7292-bb48-c71efc8c6fa1" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_019e218e-3b5b-7292-bb48-c71efc8c6fa1_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_019e218e-3b5b-7292-bb48-c71efc8c6fa1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_019e218e-3b5b-7292-bb48-c71efc8c6fa1_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_019e218e-3b5b-71a0-a52b-c16ee335fac9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_019e218e-3b5b-7292-bb48-c71efc8c6fa1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_019e218e-3b5b-71a0-a52b-c16ee335fac9" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockMember_019e218e-3b5b-79fe-805b-298ab2bdf957" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_019e218e-3b5b-71a0-a52b-c16ee335fac9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockMember_019e218e-3b5b-79fe-805b-298ab2bdf957" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember_019e218e-3b5b-732c-a309-2dd86093d075" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_019e218e-3b5b-71a0-a52b-c16ee335fac9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember_019e218e-3b5b-732c-a309-2dd86093d075" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember_019e218e-3b5b-796e-bfbd-e9c236a473f9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_019e218e-3b5b-71a0-a52b-c16ee335fac9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember_019e218e-3b5b-796e-bfbd-e9c236a473f9" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019e218e-3b5b-7525-9e8a-2edd0e691897" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_RangeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfStockByClassTable_019e218e-3b5b-744e-b5ce-9a743b8e8377" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019e218e-3b5b-7525-9e8a-2edd0e691897" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeMember_019e218e-3b5b-7525-9e8a-2edd0e691897_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_RangeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019e218e-3b5b-7525-9e8a-2edd0e691897" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeMember_019e218e-3b5b-7525-9e8a-2edd0e691897_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeMember_019e218e-3b5b-76a3-a95f-e6c89ab2d3f1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_RangeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019e218e-3b5b-7525-9e8a-2edd0e691897" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeMember_019e218e-3b5b-76a3-a95f-e6c89ab2d3f1" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_MinimumMember_019e218e-3b5b-7451-a843-378fe1d93a41" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_MinimumMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeMember_019e218e-3b5b-76a3-a95f-e6c89ab2d3f1" xlink:to="loc_srt_MinimumMember_019e218e-3b5b-7451-a843-378fe1d93a41" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_MaximumMember_019e218e-3b5b-77f9-96e6-cef56a7c1a4b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_MaximumMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeMember_019e218e-3b5b-76a3-a95f-e6c89ab2d3f1" xlink:to="loc_srt_MaximumMember_019e218e-3b5b-77f9-96e6-cef56a7c1a4b" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019e218e-3b5b-797b-a194-6face449a21b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockLineItems_019e218e-3b5b-7c38-a6ba-e45f6bfc8c93" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019e218e-3b5b-797b-a194-6face449a21b" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding_019e218e-3b5b-79df-a753-a98ebd7698bf" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019e218e-3b5b-797b-a194-6face449a21b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding_019e218e-3b5b-79df-a753-a98ebd7698bf" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensation_019e218e-3b5b-7520-a0d2-1d03a3fb3c79" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensation"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019e218e-3b5b-797b-a194-6face449a21b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensation_019e218e-3b5b-7520-a0d2-1d03a3fb3c79" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding_019e218e-3b5b-7157-bc58-0d5744d6638b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquity_019e218e-3b5b-7169-adf4-eff583aacec8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StockholdersEquity"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019e218e-3b5b-797b-a194-6face449a21b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquity_019e218e-3b5b-7169-adf4-eff583aacec8" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss_019e218e-3b5b-7ab5-a43a-1df7bcb275ad" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019e218e-3b5b-797b-a194-6face449a21b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss_019e218e-3b5b-7ab5-a43a-1df7bcb275ad" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_NetIssuanceUnderEquityPlanIncludingTaxBenefits_019e218e-3b5b-732d-90c2-1444fa0cc16f" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_NetIssuanceUnderEquityPlanIncludingTaxBenefits"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019e218e-3b5b-797b-a194-6face449a21b" xlink:to="loc_tbi_NetIssuanceUnderEquityPlanIncludingTaxBenefits_019e218e-3b5b-732d-90c2-1444fa0cc16f" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue_019e218e-3b5b-7c44-afc1-9dd47ae289d3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019e218e-3b5b-797b-a194-6face449a21b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue_019e218e-3b5b-7c44-afc1-9dd47ae289d3" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationGainLossArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax_019e218e-3b5b-7113-a084-203641741bb8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationGainLossArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019e218e-3b5b-797b-a194-6face449a21b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationGainLossArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax_019e218e-3b5b-7113-a084-203641741bb8" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquity_019e218e-3b5b-71f0-b0e3-530e3514c0a4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StockholdersEquity"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://trueblue.com/role/SEGMENTINFORMATIONDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#SEGMENTINFORMATIONDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://trueblue.com/role/SEGMENTINFORMATIONDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e218e-3b5b-7a81-9ab0-fd457d8dd7f7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_019e218e-3b5b-7b19-ab08-a7a9c1bcbcdb" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e218e-3b5b-7a81-9ab0-fd457d8dd7f7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_019e218e-3b5b-7b19-ab08-a7a9c1bcbcdb" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_019e218e-3b5b-7531-bd4d-6aab1b5fe38b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ProductOrServiceAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_019e218e-3b5b-7b19-ab08-a7a9c1bcbcdb" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_019e218e-3b5b-7531-bd4d-6aab1b5fe38b" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019e218e-3b5b-7531-bd4d-6aab1b5fe38b_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_019e218e-3b5b-7531-bd4d-6aab1b5fe38b" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019e218e-3b5b-7531-bd4d-6aab1b5fe38b_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019e218e-3b5b-76ba-9f8f-8c06b77e95b9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_019e218e-3b5b-7531-bd4d-6aab1b5fe38b" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019e218e-3b5b-76ba-9f8f-8c06b77e95b9" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ServiceMember_019e218e-3b5b-76b8-99cf-d865190b279d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ServiceMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019e218e-3b5b-76ba-9f8f-8c06b77e95b9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ServiceMember_019e218e-3b5b-76b8-99cf-d865190b279d" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_019e218e-3b5b-78bb-b3f9-e3b9d6f85f46" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_019e218e-3b5b-7b19-ab08-a7a9c1bcbcdb" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_019e218e-3b5b-78bb-b3f9-e3b9d6f85f46" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e218e-3b5b-78bb-b3f9-e3b9d6f85f46_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SegmentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_019e218e-3b5b-78bb-b3f9-e3b9d6f85f46" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e218e-3b5b-78bb-b3f9-e3b9d6f85f46_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e218e-3b5b-790a-aeb8-ca41d2b62d04" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SegmentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_019e218e-3b5b-78bb-b3f9-e3b9d6f85f46" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e218e-3b5b-790a-aeb8-ca41d2b62d04" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_PeopleReadyMember_019e218e-3b5b-7262-b01e-f83dcfc48c6a" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_PeopleReadyMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e218e-3b5b-790a-aeb8-ca41d2b62d04" xlink:to="loc_tbi_PeopleReadyMember_019e218e-3b5b-7262-b01e-f83dcfc48c6a" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_PeopleManagementMember_019e218e-3b5b-76ea-93a2-8b9cf8bc7733" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_PeopleManagementMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e218e-3b5b-790a-aeb8-ca41d2b62d04" xlink:to="loc_tbi_PeopleManagementMember_019e218e-3b5b-76ea-93a2-8b9cf8bc7733" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_PeopleSolutionsMember_019e218e-3b5b-77df-a059-6e251de49819" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_PeopleSolutionsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e218e-3b5b-790a-aeb8-ca41d2b62d04" xlink:to="loc_tbi_PeopleSolutionsMember_019e218e-3b5b-77df-a059-6e251de49819" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis_019e218e-3b5b-7388-9424-62d69fca794a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_019e218e-3b5b-7b19-ab08-a7a9c1bcbcdb" xlink:to="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis_019e218e-3b5b-7388-9424-62d69fca794a" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_019e218e-3b5b-7388-9424-62d69fca794a_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis_019e218e-3b5b-7388-9424-62d69fca794a" xlink:to="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_019e218e-3b5b-7388-9424-62d69fca794a_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_019e218e-3b5b-70a1-ac31-ccdaead7d40b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis_019e218e-3b5b-7388-9424-62d69fca794a" xlink:to="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_019e218e-3b5b-70a1-ac31-ccdaead7d40b" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember_019e218e-3b5b-7b10-919c-b174849532f6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_019e218e-3b5b-70a1-ac31-ccdaead7d40b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember_019e218e-3b5b-7b10-919c-b174849532f6" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_MaterialReconcilingItemsMember_019e218e-3b5b-7607-8bc3-391516c6eec7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_MaterialReconcilingItemsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_019e218e-3b5b-70a1-ac31-ccdaead7d40b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_MaterialReconcilingItemsMember_019e218e-3b5b-7607-8bc3-391516c6eec7" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerIncludingAssessedTax_019e218e-3b5b-76e6-94a5-957139bc2d8a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerIncludingAssessedTax"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e218e-3b5b-7a81-9ab0-fd457d8dd7f7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerIncludingAssessedTax_019e218e-3b5b-76e6-94a5-957139bc2d8a" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold_019e218e-3b5b-71b2-b0fb-3f1cbe8a638f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e218e-3b5b-7a81-9ab0-fd457d8dd7f7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold_019e218e-3b5b-71b2-b0fb-3f1cbe8a638f" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense_019e218e-3b5b-764f-a8c0-d1ed3245c976" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e218e-3b5b-7a81-9ab0-fd457d8dd7f7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense_019e218e-3b5b-764f-a8c0-d1ed3245c976" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_OperatingProfitLossFromSegments_019e218e-3b5b-71d3-a524-13a5a2efc066" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_OperatingProfitLossFromSegments"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e218e-3b5b-7a81-9ab0-fd457d8dd7f7" xlink:to="loc_tbi_OperatingProfitLossFromSegments_019e218e-3b5b-71d3-a524-13a5a2efc066" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingOtherItemAmount_019e218e-3b5b-73d8-bbee-e4385efd1994" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SegmentReportingOtherItemAmount"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e218e-3b5b-7a81-9ab0-fd457d8dd7f7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingOtherItemAmount_019e218e-3b5b-73d8-bbee-e4385efd1994" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_WorkOpportunityTaxCreditProcessingFees_019e218e-3b5b-776b-83bd-a5fdd2899c0e" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_WorkOpportunityTaxCreditProcessingFees"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e218e-3b5b-7a81-9ab0-fd457d8dd7f7" xlink:to="loc_tbi_WorkOpportunityTaxCreditProcessingFees_019e218e-3b5b-776b-83bd-a5fdd2899c0e" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAmortization1_019e218e-3b5b-7c61-93f4-addc67455e1c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAmortization1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e218e-3b5b-7a81-9ab0-fd457d8dd7f7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAmortization1_019e218e-3b5b-7c61-93f4-addc67455e1c" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_GoodwillAndIntangibleAssetImpairment_019e218e-3b5b-7d60-9488-b075d0244fde" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_GoodwillAndIntangibleAssetImpairment"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e218e-3b5b-7a81-9ab0-fd457d8dd7f7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_GoodwillAndIntangibleAssetImpairment_019e218e-3b5b-7d60-9488-b075d0244fde" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_COVID19GovernmentSubsidiesNet_019e28bd-d568-7e1e-a497-1d2ee0c1d3b4" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_COVID19GovernmentSubsidiesNet"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e218e-3b5b-7a81-9ab0-fd457d8dd7f7" xlink:to="loc_tbi_COVID19GovernmentSubsidiesNet_019e28bd-d568-7e1e-a497-1d2ee0c1d3b4" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_AcquisitionRelatedandintegrationCostsAssociatedwithaBusinessCombination_019e218e-3b5b-7bdb-89eb-bd5b375294b1" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_AcquisitionRelatedandintegrationCostsAssociatedwithaBusinessCombination"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e218e-3b5b-7a81-9ab0-fd457d8dd7f7" xlink:to="loc_tbi_AcquisitionRelatedandintegrationCostsAssociatedwithaBusinessCombination_019e218e-3b5b-7bdb-89eb-bd5b375294b1" xlink:type="arc" order="9"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationLossGainOnWriteDown_019f8c8f-198d-7b4a-b2b8-23dc107aa3de" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationLossGainOnWriteDown"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e218e-3b5b-7a81-9ab0-fd457d8dd7f7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationLossGainOnWriteDown_019f8c8f-198d-7b4a-b2b8-23dc107aa3de" xlink:type="arc" order="10"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization_019e218e-3b5b-7b9a-8397-5f589668a82b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e218e-3b5b-7a81-9ab0-fd457d8dd7f7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization_019e218e-3b5b-7b9a-8397-5f589668a82b" xlink:type="arc" order="11"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss_019e218e-3b5b-7132-8466-213a2b63ca70" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e218e-3b5b-7a81-9ab0-fd457d8dd7f7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss_019e218e-3b5b-7132-8466-213a2b63ca70" xlink:type="arc" order="12"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense_019e218e-3b5b-7f81-82b4-d2356a06f181" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e218e-3b5b-7a81-9ab0-fd457d8dd7f7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense_019e218e-3b5b-7f81-82b4-d2356a06f181" xlink:type="arc" order="13"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest_019e218e-3b5b-7bf4-9bc1-aa64e1dfc7f2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e218e-3b5b-7a81-9ab0-fd457d8dd7f7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest_019e218e-3b5b-7bf4-9bc1-aa64e1dfc7f2" xlink:type="arc" order="14"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tbi_WorkforceReductionCosts_019e218e-3b5b-715e-9b7a-59d9e85f088e" xlink:href="tbi-20260628.xsd#tbi_WorkforceReductionCosts"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e218e-3b5b-7a81-9ab0-fd457d8dd7f7" xlink:to="loc_tbi_WorkforceReductionCosts_019e218e-3b5b-715e-9b7a-59d9e85f088e" xlink:type="arc" order="15"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherNonrecurringExpense_019e218e-3b5b-7ca0-87ea-99b9a4eed533" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OtherNonrecurringExpense"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e218e-3b5b-7a81-9ab0-fd457d8dd7f7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherNonrecurringExpense_019e218e-3b5b-7ca0-87ea-99b9a4eed533" xlink:type="arc" order="16"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
</link:linkbase>
