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

<!--XBRL Document Created with the Workiva Platform-->
<!--Copyright 2026 Workiva-->
<!--r:019ead36-691b-77a3-9173-fa76e469ca64,g:25024b94-96f4-4df8-b9c0-86ca84699d81-->
<link:linkbase xmlns:link="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:xbrldt="http://xbrl.org/2005/xbrldt" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase http://www.xbrl.org/2003/xbrl-linkbase-2003-12-31.xsd">
  <link:arcroleRef arcroleURI="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/2005/xbrldt-2005.xsd#all"/>
  <link:arcroleRef arcroleURI="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/2005/xbrldt-2005.xsd#hypercube-dimension"/>
  <link:arcroleRef arcroleURI="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/2005/xbrldt-2005.xsd#dimension-default"/>
  <link:arcroleRef arcroleURI="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/2005/xbrldt-2005.xsd#dimension-domain"/>
  <link:arcroleRef arcroleURI="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/2005/xbrldt-2005.xsd#domain-member"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.encorecapital.com/role/CondensedConsolidatedStatementsofFinancialCondition" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#CondensedConsolidatedStatementsofFinancialCondition"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.encorecapital.com/role/CondensedConsolidatedStatementsofFinancialCondition" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_019ead36-6a9d-7492-a2a8-19cc6f71dbc0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StatementLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementTable_019ead36-6a9d-7c0b-9741-824f9b004234" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StatementTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_019ead36-6a9d-7492-a2a8-19cc6f71dbc0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementTable_019ead36-6a9d-7c0b-9741-824f9b004234" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesAxis_019ead36-6a9d-7e74-b478-fa5dc6ab7dfe" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementTable_019ead36-6a9d-7c0b-9741-824f9b004234" xlink:to="loc_srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesAxis_019ead36-6a9d-7e74-b478-fa5dc6ab7dfe" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesDomain_019ead36-6a9d-7e74-b478-fa5dc6ab7dfe_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesAxis_019ead36-6a9d-7e74-b478-fa5dc6ab7dfe" xlink:to="loc_srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesDomain_019ead36-6a9d-7e74-b478-fa5dc6ab7dfe_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesDomain_019ead36-6a9d-71f0-a4f1-d131f1bdef10" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesAxis_019ead36-6a9d-7e74-b478-fa5dc6ab7dfe" xlink:to="loc_srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesDomain_019ead36-6a9d-71f0-a4f1-d131f1bdef10" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMember_019ead36-6a9d-7cf3-a67d-a61124208488" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesDomain_019ead36-6a9d-71f0-a4f1-d131f1bdef10" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMember_019ead36-6a9d-7cf3-a67d-a61124208488" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AssetsAbstract_019ead36-6a9d-7240-a6d2-f9638c43e302" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AssetsAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_019ead36-6a9d-7492-a2a8-19cc6f71dbc0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AssetsAbstract_019ead36-6a9d-7240-a6d2-f9638c43e302" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue_019ead36-6a9d-7db2-b815-9dd9246406b7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetsAbstract_019ead36-6a9d-7240-a6d2-f9638c43e302" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue_019ead36-6a9d-7db2-b815-9dd9246406b7" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NotesReceivableNet_019ead36-6a9d-78aa-a356-25925f60f555" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_NotesReceivableNet"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetsAbstract_019ead36-6a9d-7240-a6d2-f9638c43e302" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NotesReceivableNet_019ead36-6a9d-78aa-a356-25925f60f555" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet_019ead36-6a9d-79fa-85b5-2f471109a4f9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetsAbstract_019ead36-6a9d-7240-a6d2-f9638c43e302" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet_019ead36-6a9d-79fa-85b5-2f471109a4f9" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherAssets_019ead36-6a9d-76db-9299-223b5f914f93" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OtherAssets"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetsAbstract_019ead36-6a9d-7240-a6d2-f9638c43e302" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherAssets_019ead36-6a9d-76db-9299-223b5f914f93" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_Goodwill_019ead36-6a9d-7d66-a778-1013665e3ecc" 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_AssetsAbstract_019ead36-6a9d-7240-a6d2-f9638c43e302" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_Goodwill_019ead36-6a9d-7d66-a778-1013665e3ecc" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_Assets_019ead36-6a9d-7c0c-ad7a-2369f0efbc48" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_Assets"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetsAbstract_019ead36-6a9d-7240-a6d2-f9638c43e302" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_Assets_019ead36-6a9d-7c0c-ad7a-2369f0efbc48" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquityAbstract_019ead36-6a9d-7cbf-bd93-af4b2b20c154" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquityAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_019ead36-6a9d-7492-a2a8-19cc6f71dbc0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquityAbstract_019ead36-6a9d-7cbf-bd93-af4b2b20c154" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LiabilitiesAbstract_019ead36-6a9d-7990-86b3-505ac31c3f89" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LiabilitiesAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquityAbstract_019ead36-6a9d-7cbf-bd93-af4b2b20c154" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LiabilitiesAbstract_019ead36-6a9d-7990-86b3-505ac31c3f89" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilitiesCurrentAndNoncurrent_019ead36-6a9d-7ba5-9b7e-447fc05327f7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilitiesCurrentAndNoncurrent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LiabilitiesAbstract_019ead36-6a9d-7990-86b3-505ac31c3f89" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilitiesCurrentAndNoncurrent_019ead36-6a9d-7ba5-9b7e-447fc05327f7" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations_019ead36-6a9d-71b4-873a-efed8866d606" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LiabilitiesAbstract_019ead36-6a9d-7990-86b3-505ac31c3f89" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations_019ead36-6a9d-71b4-873a-efed8866d606" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherLiabilities_019ead36-6a9d-7050-93bf-bcd4b104956a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OtherLiabilities"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LiabilitiesAbstract_019ead36-6a9d-7990-86b3-505ac31c3f89" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherLiabilities_019ead36-6a9d-7050-93bf-bcd4b104956a" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_Liabilities_019ead36-6a9d-7a30-819d-587c6ec47c6b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_Liabilities"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LiabilitiesAbstract_019ead36-6a9d-7990-86b3-505ac31c3f89" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_Liabilities_019ead36-6a9d-7a30-819d-587c6ec47c6b" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommitmentsAndContingencies_019ead36-6a9d-77d8-88d7-739e3aab4023" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CommitmentsAndContingencies"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquityAbstract_019ead36-6a9d-7cbf-bd93-af4b2b20c154" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommitmentsAndContingencies_019ead36-6a9d-77d8-88d7-739e3aab4023" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterestAbstract_019ead36-6a9d-7cf8-ad5e-bfc769ed485b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterestAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquityAbstract_019ead36-6a9d-7cbf-bd93-af4b2b20c154" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterestAbstract_019ead36-6a9d-7cf8-ad5e-bfc769ed485b" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PreferredStockValue_019ead36-6a9d-7457-8823-6f187903c02d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_PreferredStockValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterestAbstract_019ead36-6a9d-7cf8-ad5e-bfc769ed485b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PreferredStockValue_019ead36-6a9d-7457-8823-6f187903c02d" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockValue_019ead36-6a9d-7299-9521-280572f2ba30" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterestAbstract_019ead36-6a9d-7cf8-ad5e-bfc769ed485b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockValue_019ead36-6a9d-7299-9521-280572f2ba30" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapital_019ead36-6a9d-7282-9bd2-54b83e6031bc" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapital"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterestAbstract_019ead36-6a9d-7cf8-ad5e-bfc769ed485b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapital_019ead36-6a9d-7282-9bd2-54b83e6031bc" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RetainedEarningsAccumulatedDeficit_019ead36-6a9d-7d6a-ba4b-065e40252bfc" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RetainedEarningsAccumulatedDeficit"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterestAbstract_019ead36-6a9d-7cf8-ad5e-bfc769ed485b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RetainedEarningsAccumulatedDeficit_019ead36-6a9d-7d6a-ba4b-065e40252bfc" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax_019ead36-6a9d-792a-9beb-517fdc37e2f7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterestAbstract_019ead36-6a9d-7cf8-ad5e-bfc769ed485b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax_019ead36-6a9d-792a-9beb-517fdc37e2f7" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest_019ead36-6a9d-7bb4-900a-eaf780c0dce5" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterestAbstract_019ead36-6a9d-7cf8-ad5e-bfc769ed485b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest_019ead36-6a9d-7bb4-900a-eaf780c0dce5" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity_019ead36-6a9d-7871-bdc0-73cacc560959" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquityAbstract_019ead36-6a9d-7cbf-bd93-af4b2b20c154" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity_019ead36-6a9d-7871-bdc0-73cacc560959" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.encorecapital.com/role/CondensedConsolidatedStatementsofEquity" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#CondensedConsolidatedStatementsofEquity"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.encorecapital.com/role/CondensedConsolidatedStatementsofEquity" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_019ead36-6a9d-7c9c-99ca-db27c3c52daf" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StatementLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementTable_019ead36-6a9d-74bd-b1a7-5b99a62eabd2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StatementTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_019ead36-6a9d-7c9c-99ca-db27c3c52daf" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementTable_019ead36-6a9d-74bd-b1a7-5b99a62eabd2" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_019ead36-6a9d-72d6-9576-d51cbf0330ed" 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_StatementTable_019ead36-6a9d-74bd-b1a7-5b99a62eabd2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_019ead36-6a9d-72d6-9576-d51cbf0330ed" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_019ead36-6a9d-72d6-9576-d51cbf0330ed_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_019ead36-6a9d-72d6-9576-d51cbf0330ed" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_019ead36-6a9d-72d6-9576-d51cbf0330ed_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_019ead36-6a9d-7d32-8882-67bc6c19bdc0" 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_019ead36-6a9d-72d6-9576-d51cbf0330ed" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_019ead36-6a9d-7d32-8882-67bc6c19bdc0" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockMember_019ead36-6a9d-7184-b18e-c11b1dcaacdb" 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_019ead36-6a9d-7d32-8882-67bc6c19bdc0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockMember_019ead36-6a9d-7184-b18e-c11b1dcaacdb" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember_019ead36-6a9d-7a7b-9b26-cbbe5ffbff75" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_019ead36-6a9d-7d32-8882-67bc6c19bdc0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember_019ead36-6a9d-7a7b-9b26-cbbe5ffbff75" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember_019ead36-6a9d-7089-8cf5-8aef80d15237" 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_019ead36-6a9d-7d32-8882-67bc6c19bdc0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember_019ead36-6a9d-7089-8cf5-8aef80d15237" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember_019ead36-6a9d-74d4-bda3-2a2cbf091a8e" 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_019ead36-6a9d-7d32-8882-67bc6c19bdc0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember_019ead36-6a9d-74d4-bda3-2a2cbf091a8e" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019ead36-6a9d-7189-b1e8-a27649e7af7a" 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_StatementLineItems_019ead36-6a9d-7c9c-99ca-db27c3c52daf" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019ead36-6a9d-7189-b1e8-a27649e7af7a" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SharesIssued_019ead36-6a9d-74ca-b758-32173985cc29" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SharesIssued"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019ead36-6a9d-7189-b1e8-a27649e7af7a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SharesIssued_019ead36-6a9d-74ca-b758-32173985cc29" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest_019ead36-6a9d-751a-a404-25ecfaa7e58c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019ead36-6a9d-7189-b1e8-a27649e7af7a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest_019ead36-6a9d-751a-a404-25ecfaa7e58c" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ProfitLoss_019ead36-6a9d-7074-87ea-03838504414f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ProfitLoss"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019ead36-6a9d-7189-b1e8-a27649e7af7a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ProfitLoss_019ead36-6a9d-7074-87ea-03838504414f" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsNetOfTax_019ead36-6a9d-75a8-9a65-d435927cda2e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsNetOfTax"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019ead36-6a9d-7189-b1e8-a27649e7af7a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsNetOfTax_019ead36-6a9d-75a8-9a65-d435927cda2e" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercisedIncludesRestrictedStockUnitsNetOfTaxWithholding_019ead36-6a9d-7177-bd74-f46e8c46dab0" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercisedIncludesRestrictedStockUnitsNetOfTaxWithholding"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019ead36-6a9d-7189-b1e8-a27649e7af7a" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercisedIncludesRestrictedStockUnitsNetOfTaxWithholding_019ead36-6a9d-7177-bd74-f46e8c46dab0" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueStockOptionsExercisedIncludesRestrictedStockUnitsNetofTaxWithholdings_019ead36-6a9d-7146-83a0-fb9a0e236d69" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueStockOptionsExercisedIncludesRestrictedStockUnitsNetofTaxWithholdings"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019ead36-6a9d-7189-b1e8-a27649e7af7a" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueStockOptionsExercisedIncludesRestrictedStockUnitsNetofTaxWithholdings_019ead36-6a9d-7146-83a0-fb9a0e236d69" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodShares_019ead36-6a9d-7166-9f99-4c5d77dadc29" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodShares"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019ead36-6a9d-7189-b1e8-a27649e7af7a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodShares_019ead36-6a9d-7166-9f99-4c5d77dadc29" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodValue_019ead36-6a9d-7d0a-abe5-a7b2ca92fe93" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019ead36-6a9d-7189-b1e8-a27649e7af7a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodValue_019ead36-6a9d-7d0a-abe5-a7b2ca92fe93" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue_019ead36-6a9d-795f-9c8e-daa0e884580d" 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_019ead36-6a9d-7189-b1e8-a27649e7af7a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue_019ead36-6a9d-795f-9c8e-daa0e884580d" xlink:type="arc" order="9"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SharesIssued_019ead36-6a9d-7887-bd97-ee30eaf4f9ff" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SharesIssued"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest_019ead36-6a9d-77b5-b9c3-01853cb457c6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.encorecapital.com/role/FairValueMeasurementsFinancialInstrumentsRequiredtobeCarriedatFairValueDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#FairValueMeasurementsFinancialInstrumentsRequiredtobeCarriedatFairValueDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.encorecapital.com/role/FairValueMeasurementsFinancialInstrumentsRequiredtobeCarriedatFairValueDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisValuationTechniquesLineItems_019ead36-6a9d-7473-8722-e527c8735b7e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisValuationTechniquesLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisValuationTechniquesTable_019ead36-6a9d-7be2-9125-175e563ea6af" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisValuationTechniquesTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisValuationTechniquesLineItems_019ead36-6a9d-7473-8722-e527c8735b7e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisValuationTechniquesTable_019ead36-6a9d-7be2-9125-175e563ea6af" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_019ead36-6a9d-7134-8996-8ca3c89865e7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisValuationTechniquesTable_019ead36-6a9d-7be2-9125-175e563ea6af" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_019ead36-6a9d-7134-8996-8ca3c89865e7" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019ead36-6a9d-7134-8996-8ca3c89865e7_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_019ead36-6a9d-7134-8996-8ca3c89865e7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019ead36-6a9d-7134-8996-8ca3c89865e7_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019ead36-6a9d-756b-918a-1d6777e79b67" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_019ead36-6a9d-7134-8996-8ca3c89865e7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019ead36-6a9d-756b-918a-1d6777e79b67" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InterestRateCapMember_019ead36-6a9d-7489-8501-777232b927e4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_InterestRateCapMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019ead36-6a9d-756b-918a-1d6777e79b67" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InterestRateCapMember_019ead36-6a9d-7489-8501-777232b927e4" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember_019ead36-6a9d-7223-aed5-b4ce64f67159" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019ead36-6a9d-756b-918a-1d6777e79b67" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember_019ead36-6a9d-7223-aed5-b4ce64f67159" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_019ead36-6a9d-7480-9f7e-93ca4b81f306" 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_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisValuationTechniquesTable_019ead36-6a9d-7be2-9125-175e563ea6af" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_019ead36-6a9d-7480-9f7e-93ca4b81f306" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019ead36-6a9d-7480-9f7e-93ca4b81f306_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_019ead36-6a9d-7480-9f7e-93ca4b81f306" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019ead36-6a9d-7480-9f7e-93ca4b81f306_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019ead36-6a9d-73ca-84aa-5af9bea230d2" 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_019ead36-6a9d-7480-9f7e-93ca4b81f306" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019ead36-6a9d-73ca-84aa-5af9bea230d2" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member_019ead36-6a9d-772b-b09f-dba7382fd3be" 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_019ead36-6a9d-73ca-84aa-5af9bea230d2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member_019ead36-6a9d-772b-b09f-dba7382fd3be" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member_019ead36-6a9d-76c9-8a44-1517ff0f3553" 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_019ead36-6a9d-73ca-84aa-5af9bea230d2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member_019ead36-6a9d-76c9-8a44-1517ff0f3553" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member_019ead36-6a9d-7a65-9617-bd4df884f2d4" 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_019ead36-6a9d-73ca-84aa-5af9bea230d2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member_019ead36-6a9d-7a65-9617-bd4df884f2d4" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AssetsAbstract_019ead36-6a9d-7732-b159-876d60728934" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AssetsAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisValuationTechniquesLineItems_019ead36-6a9d-7473-8722-e527c8735b7e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AssetsAbstract_019ead36-6a9d-7732-b159-876d60728934" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InterestRateDerivativeAssetsAtFairValue_019ead36-6a9d-7819-a06e-664896d4b450" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_InterestRateDerivativeAssetsAtFairValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetsAbstract_019ead36-6a9d-7732-b159-876d60728934" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InterestRateDerivativeAssetsAtFairValue_019ead36-6a9d-7819-a06e-664896d4b450" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LiabilitiesAbstract_019ead36-6a9d-7da1-90b9-2402f1df71eb" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LiabilitiesAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisValuationTechniquesLineItems_019ead36-6a9d-7473-8722-e527c8735b7e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LiabilitiesAbstract_019ead36-6a9d-7da1-90b9-2402f1df71eb" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InterestRateDerivativeLiabilitiesAtFairValue_019ead36-6a9d-7bc5-a323-debaea7ce838" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_InterestRateDerivativeLiabilitiesAtFairValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LiabilitiesAbstract_019ead36-6a9d-7da1-90b9-2402f1df71eb" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InterestRateDerivativeLiabilitiesAtFairValue_019ead36-6a9d-7bc5-a323-debaea7ce838" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.encorecapital.com/role/FairValueMeasurementsFinancialInstrumentsNotRequiredtobeCarriedatFairValueDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#FairValueMeasurementsFinancialInstrumentsNotRequiredtobeCarriedatFairValueDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.encorecapital.com/role/FairValueMeasurementsFinancialInstrumentsNotRequiredtobeCarriedatFairValueDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueBalanceSheetGroupingFinancialStatementCaptionsLineItems_019ead36-6a9d-7733-be48-c7bc83845298" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueBalanceSheetGroupingFinancialStatementCaptionsLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingTable_019ead36-6a9d-76ba-b1a7-9afec92702f9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueBalanceSheetGroupingFinancialStatementCaptionsLineItems_019ead36-6a9d-7733-be48-c7bc83845298" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingTable_019ead36-6a9d-76ba-b1a7-9afec92702f9" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis_019ead36-6a9d-7f55-a8a6-343dad1b8f01" 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_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingTable_019ead36-6a9d-76ba-b1a7-9afec92702f9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis_019ead36-6a9d-7f55-a8a6-343dad1b8f01" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember_019ead36-6a9d-7f55-a8a6-343dad1b8f01_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_019ead36-6a9d-7f55-a8a6-343dad1b8f01" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember_019ead36-6a9d-7f55-a8a6-343dad1b8f01_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueDisclosureItemAmountsDomain_019ead36-6a9d-76dd-8787-b14f627deddc" 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_019ead36-6a9d-7f55-a8a6-343dad1b8f01" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueDisclosureItemAmountsDomain_019ead36-6a9d-76dd-8787-b14f627deddc" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember_019ead36-6a9d-75a4-b485-78304344429f" 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_019ead36-6a9d-76dd-8787-b14f627deddc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember_019ead36-6a9d-75a4-b485-78304344429f" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember_019ead36-6a9d-7fd9-bc70-f9c434e11d4f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember_019ead36-6a9d-75a4-b485-78304344429f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember_019ead36-6a9d-7fd9-bc70-f9c434e11d4f" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember_019ead36-6a9d-7eef-b019-c9b112f5ac5d" 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_019ead36-6a9d-75a4-b485-78304344429f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember_019ead36-6a9d-7eef-b019-c9b112f5ac5d" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019ead36-6a9d-7db6-8bea-a5e69b8110f3" 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_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingTable_019ead36-6a9d-76ba-b1a7-9afec92702f9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019ead36-6a9d-7db6-8bea-a5e69b8110f3" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ead36-6a9d-7db6-8bea-a5e69b8110f3_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_019ead36-6a9d-7db6-8bea-a5e69b8110f3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ead36-6a9d-7db6-8bea-a5e69b8110f3_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ead36-6a9d-75aa-9754-9c3ea45def49" 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_019ead36-6a9d-7db6-8bea-a5e69b8110f3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ead36-6a9d-75aa-9754-9c3ea45def49" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_SeniorSecuredNotesMember_019ead36-6a9d-7fd2-9399-33ffdfdfb07f" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_SeniorSecuredNotesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ead36-6a9d-75aa-9754-9c3ea45def49" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_SeniorSecuredNotesMember_019ead36-6a9d-7fd2-9399-33ffdfdfb07f" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_A2029ConvertibleNotesMember_019ead36-6a9d-746b-9270-1475c1c3261b" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_A2029ConvertibleNotesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ead36-6a9d-75aa-9754-9c3ea45def49" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_A2029ConvertibleNotesMember_019ead36-6a9d-746b-9270-1475c1c3261b" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_019ead36-6a9d-7493-86bc-7835ba729e92" 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_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingTable_019ead36-6a9d-76ba-b1a7-9afec92702f9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_019ead36-6a9d-7493-86bc-7835ba729e92" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019ead36-6a9d-7493-86bc-7835ba729e92_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_019ead36-6a9d-7493-86bc-7835ba729e92" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019ead36-6a9d-7493-86bc-7835ba729e92_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019ead36-6a9d-75f9-85f7-6b451ca57f34" 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_019ead36-6a9d-7493-86bc-7835ba729e92" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019ead36-6a9d-75f9-85f7-6b451ca57f34" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_GlobalSeniorSecuredRevolvingCreditFacilityMember_019ead36-6a9d-7759-9293-4ca9179e09ed" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_GlobalSeniorSecuredRevolvingCreditFacilityMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019ead36-6a9d-75f9-85f7-6b451ca57f34" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_GlobalSeniorSecuredRevolvingCreditFacilityMember_019ead36-6a9d-7759-9293-4ca9179e09ed" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_CabotSecuritisationSeniorFacilityMember_019ead36-6a9d-7479-876a-3043fa38ce27" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_CabotSecuritisationSeniorFacilityMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019ead36-6a9d-75f9-85f7-6b451ca57f34" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_CabotSecuritisationSeniorFacilityMember_019ead36-6a9d-7479-876a-3043fa38ce27" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_U.S.FacilityMember_019ead36-6a9d-7ecf-90c5-61d9dfaa50e2" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_U.S.FacilityMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019ead36-6a9d-75f9-85f7-6b451ca57f34" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_U.S.FacilityMember_019ead36-6a9d-7ecf-90c5-61d9dfaa50e2" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_019ead36-6a9d-7bab-af4e-7e06fa60b66d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingTable_019ead36-6a9d-76ba-b1a7-9afec92702f9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_019ead36-6a9d-7bab-af4e-7e06fa60b66d" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019ead36-6a9d-7bab-af4e-7e06fa60b66d_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_019ead36-6a9d-7bab-af4e-7e06fa60b66d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019ead36-6a9d-7bab-af4e-7e06fa60b66d_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019ead36-6a9d-7887-aaba-dde72fc29f3a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_019ead36-6a9d-7bab-af4e-7e06fa60b66d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019ead36-6a9d-7887-aaba-dde72fc29f3a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherDebtSecuritiesMember_019ead36-6a9d-7801-ae63-ade94e276dce" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OtherDebtSecuritiesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019ead36-6a9d-7887-aaba-dde72fc29f3a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherDebtSecuritiesMember_019ead36-6a9d-7801-ae63-ade94e276dce" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_019ead36-6a9d-7fd4-a598-d283061f43ca" 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_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingTable_019ead36-6a9d-76ba-b1a7-9afec92702f9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_019ead36-6a9d-7fd4-a598-d283061f43ca" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019ead36-6a9d-7fd4-a598-d283061f43ca_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_019ead36-6a9d-7fd4-a598-d283061f43ca" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019ead36-6a9d-7fd4-a598-d283061f43ca_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019ead36-6a9d-773c-a6a9-af4b894cf303" 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_019ead36-6a9d-7fd4-a598-d283061f43ca" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019ead36-6a9d-773c-a6a9-af4b894cf303" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member_019ead36-6a9d-72ca-bc10-bb41c1def6fd" 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_019ead36-6a9d-773c-a6a9-af4b894cf303" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member_019ead36-6a9d-72ca-bc10-bb41c1def6fd" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member_019ead36-6a9d-7d97-8e0e-b4b74d1547f0" 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_019ead36-6a9d-773c-a6a9-af4b894cf303" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member_019ead36-6a9d-7d97-8e0e-b4b74d1547f0" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member_019ead36-6a9d-7864-9d98-611a48b5ea2c" 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_019ead36-6a9d-773c-a6a9-af4b894cf303" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member_019ead36-6a9d-7864-9d98-611a48b5ea2c" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosureAbstract_019ead36-6a9d-740d-b30c-2fbb34b9d0a6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosureAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueBalanceSheetGroupingFinancialStatementCaptionsLineItems_019ead36-6a9d-7733-be48-c7bc83845298" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosureAbstract_019ead36-6a9d-740d-b30c-2fbb34b9d0a6" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure_019ead36-6a9d-7001-8866-dc6a93627cf6" 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_AssetsFairValueDisclosureAbstract_019ead36-6a9d-740d-b30c-2fbb34b9d0a6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure_019ead36-6a9d-7001-8866-dc6a93627cf6" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ReceivablesFairValueDisclosure_019ead36-6a9d-7c06-bf9e-219eceb93eca" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ReceivablesFairValueDisclosure"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosureAbstract_019ead36-6a9d-740d-b30c-2fbb34b9d0a6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ReceivablesFairValueDisclosure_019ead36-6a9d-7c06-bf9e-219eceb93eca" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherAssetsFairValueDisclosure_019ead36-6a9d-7c0d-a217-ecaf149ae72c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OtherAssetsFairValueDisclosure"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosureAbstract_019ead36-6a9d-740d-b30c-2fbb34b9d0a6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherAssetsFairValueDisclosure_019ead36-6a9d-7c0d-a217-ecaf149ae72c" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosureAbstract_019ead36-6a9d-703f-b6c8-6f33654ef42b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosureAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueBalanceSheetGroupingFinancialStatementCaptionsLineItems_019ead36-6a9d-7733-be48-c7bc83845298" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosureAbstract_019ead36-6a9d-703f-b6c8-6f33654ef42b" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilitiesFairValueDisclosure_019ead36-6a9d-7063-bfbf-ad718030cc61" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilitiesFairValueDisclosure"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosureAbstract_019ead36-6a9d-703f-b6c8-6f33654ef42b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilitiesFairValueDisclosure_019ead36-6a9d-7063-bfbf-ad718030cc61" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFairValue_019ead36-6a9d-77c3-aa85-c745440a39b4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFairValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosureAbstract_019ead36-6a9d-703f-b6c8-6f33654ef42b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFairValue_019ead36-6a9d-77c3-aa85-c745440a39b4" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesFairValueDisclosure_019ead36-6a9d-7382-9560-0a491116a843" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesFairValueDisclosure"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosureAbstract_019ead36-6a9d-703f-b6c8-6f33654ef42b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesFairValueDisclosure_019ead36-6a9d-7382-9560-0a491116a843" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.encorecapital.com/role/DerivativesandHedgingInstrumentsScheduleofFairValueofDerivativeInstrumentsDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#DerivativesandHedgingInstrumentsScheduleofFairValueofDerivativeInstrumentsDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.encorecapital.com/role/DerivativesandHedgingInstrumentsScheduleofFairValueofDerivativeInstrumentsDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems_019ead36-6a9d-7c0a-a668-28835bdb4e98" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeTable_019ead36-6a9d-7457-bfec-649a3f7afef8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems_019ead36-6a9d-7c0a-a668-28835bdb4e98" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeTable_019ead36-6a9d-7457-bfec-649a3f7afef8" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis_019ead36-6a9d-7fd6-a5c1-0c61ad410ab9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeTable_019ead36-6a9d-7457-bfec-649a3f7afef8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis_019ead36-6a9d-7fd6-a5c1-0c61ad410ab9" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationDomain_019ead36-6a9d-7fd6-a5c1-0c61ad410ab9_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_HedgingDesignationDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis_019ead36-6a9d-7fd6-a5c1-0c61ad410ab9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationDomain_019ead36-6a9d-7fd6-a5c1-0c61ad410ab9_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationDomain_019ead36-6a9d-7d39-9b2f-b853c58bea9a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_HedgingDesignationDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis_019ead36-6a9d-7fd6-a5c1-0c61ad410ab9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationDomain_019ead36-6a9d-7d39-9b2f-b853c58bea9a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember_019ead36-6a9d-79dd-84c1-552177c9b7e1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationDomain_019ead36-6a9d-7d39-9b2f-b853c58bea9a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember_019ead36-6a9d-79dd-84c1-552177c9b7e1" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_019ead36-6a9d-7377-8053-136f381e9734" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeTable_019ead36-6a9d-7457-bfec-649a3f7afef8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_019ead36-6a9d-7377-8053-136f381e9734" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019ead36-6a9d-7377-8053-136f381e9734_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_019ead36-6a9d-7377-8053-136f381e9734" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019ead36-6a9d-7377-8053-136f381e9734_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019ead36-6a9d-7982-b131-32bffa2a6f6c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_019ead36-6a9d-7377-8053-136f381e9734" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019ead36-6a9d-7982-b131-32bffa2a6f6c" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InterestRateCapMember_019ead36-6a9d-73bf-93e5-d8b987ed8abc" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_InterestRateCapMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019ead36-6a9d-7982-b131-32bffa2a6f6c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InterestRateCapMember_019ead36-6a9d-73bf-93e5-d8b987ed8abc" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember_019ead36-6a9d-7249-9fee-01e1b6e7e27b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019ead36-6a9d-7982-b131-32bffa2a6f6c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember_019ead36-6a9d-7249-9fee-01e1b6e7e27b" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementOfFinancialPositionLocationBalanceAxis_019fb973-0054-79b1-8d5d-701b90c47ade" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StatementOfFinancialPositionLocationBalanceAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeTable_019ead36-6a9d-7457-bfec-649a3f7afef8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementOfFinancialPositionLocationBalanceAxis_019fb973-0054-79b1-8d5d-701b90c47ade" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherAssets_019fb973-d42c-7e53-a557-c77e67eca65d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OtherAssets"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems_019ead36-6a9d-7c0a-a668-28835bdb4e98" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherAssets_019fb973-d42c-7e53-a557-c77e67eca65d" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherLiabilities_019fb974-1690-7437-bc70-f867fa39a475" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OtherLiabilities"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems_019ead36-6a9d-7c0a-a668-28835bdb4e98" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherLiabilities_019fb974-1690-7437-bc70-f867fa39a475" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InterestRateDerivativeAssetsAtFairValue_019ead36-6a9d-7d7e-9717-badcfdde4096" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_InterestRateDerivativeAssetsAtFairValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems_019ead36-6a9d-7c0a-a668-28835bdb4e98" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InterestRateDerivativeAssetsAtFairValue_019ead36-6a9d-7d7e-9717-badcfdde4096" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InterestRateDerivativeLiabilitiesAtFairValue_019ead36-6a9d-741e-8fec-ee5084f5d68f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_InterestRateDerivativeLiabilitiesAtFairValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems_019ead36-6a9d-7c0a-a668-28835bdb4e98" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InterestRateDerivativeLiabilitiesAtFairValue_019ead36-6a9d-741e-8fec-ee5084f5d68f" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.encorecapital.com/role/DerivativesandHedgingInstrumentsScheduleofFairValueofDerivativeInstrumentsDetails_1" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#DerivativesandHedgingInstrumentsScheduleofFairValueofDerivativeInstrumentsDetails_1"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.encorecapital.com/role/DerivativesandHedgingInstrumentsScheduleofFairValueofDerivativeInstrumentsDetails_1" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems_019ead36-6a9d-7c0a-a668-28835bdb4e98" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeTable_019ead36-6a9d-7457-bfec-649a3f7afef8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems_019ead36-6a9d-7c0a-a668-28835bdb4e98" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeTable_019ead36-6a9d-7457-bfec-649a3f7afef8" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis_019ead36-6a9d-7fd6-a5c1-0c61ad410ab9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeTable_019ead36-6a9d-7457-bfec-649a3f7afef8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis_019ead36-6a9d-7fd6-a5c1-0c61ad410ab9" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationDomain_019ead36-6a9d-7fd6-a5c1-0c61ad410ab9_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_HedgingDesignationDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis_019ead36-6a9d-7fd6-a5c1-0c61ad410ab9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationDomain_019ead36-6a9d-7fd6-a5c1-0c61ad410ab9_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationDomain_019ead36-6a9d-7d39-9b2f-b853c58bea9a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_HedgingDesignationDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis_019ead36-6a9d-7fd6-a5c1-0c61ad410ab9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationDomain_019ead36-6a9d-7d39-9b2f-b853c58bea9a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember_019ead36-6a9d-79dd-84c1-552177c9b7e1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationDomain_019ead36-6a9d-7d39-9b2f-b853c58bea9a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember_019ead36-6a9d-79dd-84c1-552177c9b7e1" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_019ead36-6a9d-7377-8053-136f381e9734" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeTable_019ead36-6a9d-7457-bfec-649a3f7afef8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_019ead36-6a9d-7377-8053-136f381e9734" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019ead36-6a9d-7377-8053-136f381e9734_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_019ead36-6a9d-7377-8053-136f381e9734" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019ead36-6a9d-7377-8053-136f381e9734_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019ead36-6a9d-7982-b131-32bffa2a6f6c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_019ead36-6a9d-7377-8053-136f381e9734" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019ead36-6a9d-7982-b131-32bffa2a6f6c" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InterestRateCapMember_019ead36-6a9d-73bf-93e5-d8b987ed8abc" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_InterestRateCapMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019ead36-6a9d-7982-b131-32bffa2a6f6c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InterestRateCapMember_019ead36-6a9d-73bf-93e5-d8b987ed8abc" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember_019ead36-6a9d-7249-9fee-01e1b6e7e27b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019ead36-6a9d-7982-b131-32bffa2a6f6c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember_019ead36-6a9d-7249-9fee-01e1b6e7e27b" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherAssets_019fb973-d42c-7e53-a557-c77e67eca65d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OtherAssets"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems_019ead36-6a9d-7c0a-a668-28835bdb4e98" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherAssets_019fb973-d42c-7e53-a557-c77e67eca65d" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherLiabilities_019fb974-1690-7437-bc70-f867fa39a475" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OtherLiabilities"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems_019ead36-6a9d-7c0a-a668-28835bdb4e98" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherLiabilities_019fb974-1690-7437-bc70-f867fa39a475" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InterestRateDerivativeAssetsAtFairValue_019ead36-6a9d-7d7e-9717-badcfdde4096" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_InterestRateDerivativeAssetsAtFairValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems_019ead36-6a9d-7c0a-a668-28835bdb4e98" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InterestRateDerivativeAssetsAtFairValue_019ead36-6a9d-7d7e-9717-badcfdde4096" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InterestRateDerivativeLiabilitiesAtFairValue_019ead36-6a9d-741e-8fec-ee5084f5d68f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_InterestRateDerivativeLiabilitiesAtFairValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems_019ead36-6a9d-7c0a-a668-28835bdb4e98" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InterestRateDerivativeLiabilitiesAtFairValue_019ead36-6a9d-741e-8fec-ee5084f5d68f" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.encorecapital.com/role/DerivativesandHedgingInstrumentsNotionalAmountDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#DerivativesandHedgingInstrumentsNotionalAmountDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.encorecapital.com/role/DerivativesandHedgingInstrumentsNotionalAmountDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsAndHedgingActivitiesDisclosuresLineItems_019ead36-6a9d-7391-8d74-d058d271aa4e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsAndHedgingActivitiesDisclosuresLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsAndHedgingActivitiesDisclosuresTable_019ead36-6a9d-7164-947d-3e3891d4dd24" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsAndHedgingActivitiesDisclosuresTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsAndHedgingActivitiesDisclosuresLineItems_019ead36-6a9d-7391-8d74-d058d271aa4e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsAndHedgingActivitiesDisclosuresTable_019ead36-6a9d-7164-947d-3e3891d4dd24" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_019ead36-6a9d-7e16-8a78-1cb5376ce1fa" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsAndHedgingActivitiesDisclosuresTable_019ead36-6a9d-7164-947d-3e3891d4dd24" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_019ead36-6a9d-7e16-8a78-1cb5376ce1fa" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019ead36-6a9d-7e16-8a78-1cb5376ce1fa_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_019ead36-6a9d-7e16-8a78-1cb5376ce1fa" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019ead36-6a9d-7e16-8a78-1cb5376ce1fa_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019ead36-6a9d-7377-9839-b4cfec7f096b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_019ead36-6a9d-7e16-8a78-1cb5376ce1fa" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019ead36-6a9d-7377-9839-b4cfec7f096b" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_InterestRateCap2024CapMember_019ead36-6a9d-7b73-8e75-78f219e9618c" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_InterestRateCap2024CapMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019ead36-6a9d-7377-9839-b4cfec7f096b" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_InterestRateCap2024CapMember_019ead36-6a9d-7b73-8e75-78f219e9618c" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_InterestRateCap2025CapMember_019ead36-6a9d-7387-8103-e48a02d32665" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_InterestRateCap2025CapMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019ead36-6a9d-7377-9839-b4cfec7f096b" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_InterestRateCap2025CapMember_019ead36-6a9d-7387-8103-e48a02d32665" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_InterestRateCap2025CapU.S.FacilityMember_019ead36-6a9d-7b19-9c66-8b1f23684705" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_InterestRateCap2025CapU.S.FacilityMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019ead36-6a9d-7377-9839-b4cfec7f096b" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_InterestRateCap2025CapU.S.FacilityMember_019ead36-6a9d-7b19-9c66-8b1f23684705" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_InterestRateCap2026CapMember_019faeed-139f-73e4-85a8-231acdf53829" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_InterestRateCap2026CapMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019ead36-6a9d-7377-9839-b4cfec7f096b" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_InterestRateCap2026CapMember_019faeed-139f-73e4-85a8-231acdf53829" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_InterestRateSwap2023EuroIRSwapMember_019ead36-6a9d-727b-beed-4103429e1192" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_InterestRateSwap2023EuroIRSwapMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019ead36-6a9d-7377-9839-b4cfec7f096b" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_InterestRateSwap2023EuroIRSwapMember_019ead36-6a9d-727b-beed-4103429e1192" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_InterestRateSwap2024EuroIRSwapMember_019ead36-6a9d-7d32-bd59-17079f276cd3" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_InterestRateSwap2024EuroIRSwapMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019ead36-6a9d-7377-9839-b4cfec7f096b" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_InterestRateSwap2024EuroIRSwapMember_019ead36-6a9d-7d32-bd59-17079f276cd3" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_InterestRateSwap2023SOFRIRSwapsU.S.FacilityMember_019ead36-6a9d-7f82-9bbd-62f672f9882b" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_InterestRateSwap2023SOFRIRSwapsU.S.FacilityMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019ead36-6a9d-7377-9839-b4cfec7f096b" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_InterestRateSwap2023SOFRIRSwapsU.S.FacilityMember_019ead36-6a9d-7f82-9bbd-62f672f9882b" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_InterestRateSwap2025SOFRIRSwapsU.S.FacilityMember_019ead36-6a9d-7568-a590-ad443e1637a9" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_InterestRateSwap2025SOFRIRSwapsU.S.FacilityMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019ead36-6a9d-7377-9839-b4cfec7f096b" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_InterestRateSwap2025SOFRIRSwapsU.S.FacilityMember_019ead36-6a9d-7568-a590-ad443e1637a9" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_InterestRateSwap2025SOFRIRSwapsGlobalSeniorFacilityMember_019ead36-6a9d-7114-be6b-6426f12ba33b" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_InterestRateSwap2025SOFRIRSwapsGlobalSeniorFacilityMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019ead36-6a9d-7377-9839-b4cfec7f096b" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_InterestRateSwap2025SOFRIRSwapsGlobalSeniorFacilityMember_019ead36-6a9d-7114-be6b-6426f12ba33b" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis_019ead36-6a9d-78e7-a1c5-f7bf10b347b2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsAndHedgingActivitiesDisclosuresTable_019ead36-6a9d-7164-947d-3e3891d4dd24" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis_019ead36-6a9d-78e7-a1c5-f7bf10b347b2" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_HedgingRelationshipDomain_019ead36-6a9d-78e7-a1c5-f7bf10b347b2_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_HedgingRelationshipDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis_019ead36-6a9d-78e7-a1c5-f7bf10b347b2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_HedgingRelationshipDomain_019ead36-6a9d-78e7-a1c5-f7bf10b347b2_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_HedgingRelationshipDomain_019ead36-6a9d-741f-9dd8-ad09f62e3dc0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_HedgingRelationshipDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis_019ead36-6a9d-78e7-a1c5-f7bf10b347b2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_HedgingRelationshipDomain_019ead36-6a9d-741f-9dd8-ad09f62e3dc0" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CashFlowHedgingMember_019ead36-6a9d-7811-8007-9bd63bce3527" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CashFlowHedgingMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_HedgingRelationshipDomain_019ead36-6a9d-741f-9dd8-ad09f62e3dc0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CashFlowHedgingMember_019ead36-6a9d-7811-8007-9bd63bce3527" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis_019ead36-6a9d-777f-907e-dccb1cb4d07c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsAndHedgingActivitiesDisclosuresTable_019ead36-6a9d-7164-947d-3e3891d4dd24" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis_019ead36-6a9d-777f-907e-dccb1cb4d07c" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationDomain_019ead36-6a9d-777f-907e-dccb1cb4d07c_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_HedgingDesignationDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis_019ead36-6a9d-777f-907e-dccb1cb4d07c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationDomain_019ead36-6a9d-777f-907e-dccb1cb4d07c_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationDomain_019ead36-6a9d-7566-a7bd-0324fe2fd2c2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_HedgingDesignationDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis_019ead36-6a9d-777f-907e-dccb1cb4d07c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationDomain_019ead36-6a9d-7566-a7bd-0324fe2fd2c2" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember_019ead36-6a9d-7ea7-a6f5-ce56a3f11ced" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationDomain_019ead36-6a9d-7566-a7bd-0324fe2fd2c2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember_019ead36-6a9d-7ea7-a6f5-ce56a3f11ced" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeNotionalAmount_019ead36-6a9d-758e-b809-f8a2953fd8f4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeNotionalAmount"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsAndHedgingActivitiesDisclosuresLineItems_019ead36-6a9d-7391-8d74-d058d271aa4e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeNotionalAmount_019ead36-6a9d-758e-b809-f8a2953fd8f4" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.encorecapital.com/role/DerivativesandHedgingInstrumentsEffectsofDerivativesDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#DerivativesandHedgingInstrumentsEffectsofDerivativesDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.encorecapital.com/role/DerivativesandHedgingInstrumentsEffectsofDerivativesDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems_019ead36-6a9e-7b31-bf94-cf736961e122" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeTable_019ead36-6a9e-71e2-8fc3-9af223841f1b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems_019ead36-6a9e-7b31-bf94-cf736961e122" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeTable_019ead36-6a9e-71e2-8fc3-9af223841f1b" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis_019ead36-6a9e-7e0a-acb0-cb900e789a80" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeTable_019ead36-6a9e-71e2-8fc3-9af223841f1b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis_019ead36-6a9e-7e0a-acb0-cb900e789a80" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationDomain_019ead36-6a9e-7e0a-acb0-cb900e789a80_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_HedgingDesignationDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis_019ead36-6a9e-7e0a-acb0-cb900e789a80" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationDomain_019ead36-6a9e-7e0a-acb0-cb900e789a80_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationDomain_019ead36-6a9e-76fe-93e7-2e2b7abce1bc" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_HedgingDesignationDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis_019ead36-6a9e-7e0a-acb0-cb900e789a80" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationDomain_019ead36-6a9e-76fe-93e7-2e2b7abce1bc" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember_019ead36-6a9e-7f55-993e-9cc5024f98b6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationDomain_019ead36-6a9e-76fe-93e7-2e2b7abce1bc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember_019ead36-6a9e-7f55-993e-9cc5024f98b6" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_019ead36-6a9e-7639-ae43-14671c7caf44" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeTable_019ead36-6a9e-71e2-8fc3-9af223841f1b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_019ead36-6a9e-7639-ae43-14671c7caf44" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019ead36-6a9e-7639-ae43-14671c7caf44_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_019ead36-6a9e-7639-ae43-14671c7caf44" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019ead36-6a9e-7639-ae43-14671c7caf44_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019ead36-6a9e-73aa-b0d7-867e4a53ef8a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_019ead36-6a9e-7639-ae43-14671c7caf44" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019ead36-6a9e-73aa-b0d7-867e4a53ef8a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember_019ead36-6a9e-709f-a692-593719558646" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019ead36-6a9e-73aa-b0d7-867e4a53ef8a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember_019ead36-6a9e-709f-a692-593719558646" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InterestRateCapMember_019ead36-6a9e-71de-94b2-f1d69b9e13c2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_InterestRateCapMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019ead36-6a9e-73aa-b0d7-867e4a53ef8a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InterestRateCapMember_019ead36-6a9e-71de-94b2-f1d69b9e13c2" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis_019ead36-6a9e-72de-b969-1079f800acd6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeTable_019ead36-6a9e-71e2-8fc3-9af223841f1b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis_019ead36-6a9e-72de-b969-1079f800acd6" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_HedgingRelationshipDomain_019ead36-6a9e-72de-b969-1079f800acd6_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_HedgingRelationshipDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis_019ead36-6a9e-72de-b969-1079f800acd6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_HedgingRelationshipDomain_019ead36-6a9e-72de-b969-1079f800acd6_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_HedgingRelationshipDomain_019ead36-6a9e-7c6c-bcfb-2ed2acf05bb1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_HedgingRelationshipDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis_019ead36-6a9e-72de-b969-1079f800acd6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_HedgingRelationshipDomain_019ead36-6a9e-7c6c-bcfb-2ed2acf05bb1" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CashFlowHedgingMember_019ead36-6a9e-76db-890e-341b7aa2c5c9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CashFlowHedgingMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_HedgingRelationshipDomain_019ead36-6a9e-7c6c-bcfb-2ed2acf05bb1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CashFlowHedgingMember_019ead36-6a9e-76db-890e-341b7aa2c5c9" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementOfIncomeLocationBalanceAxis_019fb49b-69e9-79bc-8de1-19a025dea88a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StatementOfIncomeLocationBalanceAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeTable_019ead36-6a9e-71e2-8fc3-9af223841f1b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementOfIncomeLocationBalanceAxis_019fb49b-69e9-79bc-8de1-19a025dea88a" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCashFlowHedgeGainLossBeforeReclassificationAfterTax_019ead36-6a9e-7791-837c-25106c0c5210" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCashFlowHedgeGainLossBeforeReclassificationAfterTax"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems_019ead36-6a9e-7b31-bf94-cf736961e122" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCashFlowHedgeGainLossBeforeReclassificationAfterTax_019ead36-6a9e-7791-837c-25106c0c5210" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCashFlowHedgeGainLossReclassificationAfterTax_019ead36-6a9e-73c0-ad32-f137efa3aa64" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCashFlowHedgeGainLossReclassificationAfterTax"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems_019ead36-6a9e-7b31-bf94-cf736961e122" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCashFlowHedgeGainLossReclassificationAfterTax_019ead36-6a9e-73c0-ad32-f137efa3aa64" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InterestExpenseNonoperating_019fb983-559f-7f3d-bea1-5fb6c7674727" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_InterestExpenseNonoperating"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems_019ead36-6a9e-7b31-bf94-cf736961e122" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InterestExpenseNonoperating_019fb983-559f-7f3d-bea1-5fb6c7674727" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.encorecapital.com/role/DerivativesandHedgingInstrumentsEffectsofDerivativesDetails_1" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#DerivativesandHedgingInstrumentsEffectsofDerivativesDetails_1"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.encorecapital.com/role/DerivativesandHedgingInstrumentsEffectsofDerivativesDetails_1" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems_019ead36-6a9e-7b31-bf94-cf736961e122" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeTable_019ead36-6a9e-71e2-8fc3-9af223841f1b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems_019ead36-6a9e-7b31-bf94-cf736961e122" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeTable_019ead36-6a9e-71e2-8fc3-9af223841f1b" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis_019ead36-6a9e-7e0a-acb0-cb900e789a80" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeTable_019ead36-6a9e-71e2-8fc3-9af223841f1b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis_019ead36-6a9e-7e0a-acb0-cb900e789a80" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationDomain_019ead36-6a9e-7e0a-acb0-cb900e789a80_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_HedgingDesignationDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis_019ead36-6a9e-7e0a-acb0-cb900e789a80" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationDomain_019ead36-6a9e-7e0a-acb0-cb900e789a80_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationDomain_019ead36-6a9e-76fe-93e7-2e2b7abce1bc" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_HedgingDesignationDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis_019ead36-6a9e-7e0a-acb0-cb900e789a80" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationDomain_019ead36-6a9e-76fe-93e7-2e2b7abce1bc" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember_019ead36-6a9e-7f55-993e-9cc5024f98b6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationDomain_019ead36-6a9e-76fe-93e7-2e2b7abce1bc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember_019ead36-6a9e-7f55-993e-9cc5024f98b6" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_019ead36-6a9e-7639-ae43-14671c7caf44" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeTable_019ead36-6a9e-71e2-8fc3-9af223841f1b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_019ead36-6a9e-7639-ae43-14671c7caf44" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019ead36-6a9e-7639-ae43-14671c7caf44_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_019ead36-6a9e-7639-ae43-14671c7caf44" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019ead36-6a9e-7639-ae43-14671c7caf44_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019ead36-6a9e-73aa-b0d7-867e4a53ef8a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_019ead36-6a9e-7639-ae43-14671c7caf44" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019ead36-6a9e-73aa-b0d7-867e4a53ef8a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember_019ead36-6a9e-709f-a692-593719558646" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019ead36-6a9e-73aa-b0d7-867e4a53ef8a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember_019ead36-6a9e-709f-a692-593719558646" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InterestRateCapMember_019ead36-6a9e-71de-94b2-f1d69b9e13c2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_InterestRateCapMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019ead36-6a9e-73aa-b0d7-867e4a53ef8a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InterestRateCapMember_019ead36-6a9e-71de-94b2-f1d69b9e13c2" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis_019ead36-6a9e-72de-b969-1079f800acd6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeTable_019ead36-6a9e-71e2-8fc3-9af223841f1b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis_019ead36-6a9e-72de-b969-1079f800acd6" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_HedgingRelationshipDomain_019ead36-6a9e-72de-b969-1079f800acd6_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_HedgingRelationshipDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis_019ead36-6a9e-72de-b969-1079f800acd6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_HedgingRelationshipDomain_019ead36-6a9e-72de-b969-1079f800acd6_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_HedgingRelationshipDomain_019ead36-6a9e-7c6c-bcfb-2ed2acf05bb1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_HedgingRelationshipDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis_019ead36-6a9e-72de-b969-1079f800acd6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_HedgingRelationshipDomain_019ead36-6a9e-7c6c-bcfb-2ed2acf05bb1" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CashFlowHedgingMember_019ead36-6a9e-76db-890e-341b7aa2c5c9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CashFlowHedgingMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_HedgingRelationshipDomain_019ead36-6a9e-7c6c-bcfb-2ed2acf05bb1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CashFlowHedgingMember_019ead36-6a9e-76db-890e-341b7aa2c5c9" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCashFlowHedgeGainLossBeforeReclassificationAfterTax_019ead36-6a9e-7791-837c-25106c0c5210" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCashFlowHedgeGainLossBeforeReclassificationAfterTax"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems_019ead36-6a9e-7b31-bf94-cf736961e122" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCashFlowHedgeGainLossBeforeReclassificationAfterTax_019ead36-6a9e-7791-837c-25106c0c5210" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCashFlowHedgeGainLossReclassificationAfterTax_019ead36-6a9e-73c0-ad32-f137efa3aa64" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCashFlowHedgeGainLossReclassificationAfterTax"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems_019ead36-6a9e-7b31-bf94-cf736961e122" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCashFlowHedgeGainLossReclassificationAfterTax_019ead36-6a9e-73c0-ad32-f137efa3aa64" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InterestExpenseNonoperating_019fb983-559f-7f3d-bea1-5fb6c7674727" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_InterestExpenseNonoperating"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems_019ead36-6a9e-7b31-bf94-cf736961e122" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InterestExpenseNonoperating_019fb983-559f-7f3d-bea1-5fb6c7674727" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.encorecapital.com/role/BorrowingsConsolidatedDebtandCapitalLeaseObligationsTableDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#BorrowingsConsolidatedDebtandCapitalLeaseObligationsTableDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.encorecapital.com/role/BorrowingsConsolidatedDebtandCapitalLeaseObligationsTableDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6a9e-79a7-868a-a5fe8e89b2ab" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019ead36-6a9e-71a5-9167-f36e5479a478" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6a9e-79a7-868a-a5fe8e89b2ab" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019ead36-6a9e-71a5-9167-f36e5479a478" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_019ead36-6a9e-7d60-8126-71b3c1366abd" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019ead36-6a9e-71a5-9167-f36e5479a478" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_019ead36-6a9e-7d60-8126-71b3c1366abd" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019ead36-6a9e-7d60-8126-71b3c1366abd_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_019ead36-6a9e-7d60-8126-71b3c1366abd" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019ead36-6a9e-7d60-8126-71b3c1366abd_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019ead36-6a9e-71fb-aa71-9f527558ce2e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_019ead36-6a9e-7d60-8126-71b3c1366abd" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019ead36-6a9e-71fb-aa71-9f527558ce2e" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember_019ead36-6a9e-7d47-afc7-f210d1a0174f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019ead36-6a9e-71fb-aa71-9f527558ce2e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember_019ead36-6a9e-7d47-afc7-f210d1a0174f" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember_019ead36-6a9e-786f-8985-48e02e51b53a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019ead36-6a9e-71fb-aa71-9f527558ce2e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember_019ead36-6a9e-786f-8985-48e02e51b53a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ConvertibleNotesPayableMember_019ead36-6a9e-730b-bee0-6b44980dc21f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ConvertibleNotesPayableMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019ead36-6a9e-71fb-aa71-9f527558ce2e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ConvertibleNotesPayableMember_019ead36-6a9e-730b-bee0-6b44980dc21f" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherDebtSecuritiesMember_019ead36-6a9e-7009-a00a-982bda062195" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OtherDebtSecuritiesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019ead36-6a9e-71fb-aa71-9f527558ce2e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherDebtSecuritiesMember_019ead36-6a9e-7009-a00a-982bda062195" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_019ead36-6a9e-7ef1-a22f-c15c0ceed36f" 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_DebtInstrumentTable_019ead36-6a9e-71a5-9167-f36e5479a478" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_019ead36-6a9e-7ef1-a22f-c15c0ceed36f" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019ead36-6a9e-7ef1-a22f-c15c0ceed36f_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_019ead36-6a9e-7ef1-a22f-c15c0ceed36f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019ead36-6a9e-7ef1-a22f-c15c0ceed36f_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019ead36-6a9e-7f3b-894d-6c17510a6420" 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_019ead36-6a9e-7ef1-a22f-c15c0ceed36f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019ead36-6a9e-7f3b-894d-6c17510a6420" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_GlobalSeniorSecuredRevolvingCreditFacilityMember_019ead36-6a9e-7e77-8930-2290196d78cd" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_GlobalSeniorSecuredRevolvingCreditFacilityMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019ead36-6a9e-7f3b-894d-6c17510a6420" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_GlobalSeniorSecuredRevolvingCreditFacilityMember_019ead36-6a9e-7e77-8930-2290196d78cd" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_CabotSecuritisationSeniorFacilityMember_019ead36-6a9e-7097-ae2d-d43c1043eb9c" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_CabotSecuritisationSeniorFacilityMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019ead36-6a9e-7f3b-894d-6c17510a6420" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_CabotSecuritisationSeniorFacilityMember_019ead36-6a9e-7097-ae2d-d43c1043eb9c" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_U.S.FacilityMember_019ead36-6a9e-7fdd-b9f4-c9a906de7999" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_U.S.FacilityMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019ead36-6a9e-7f3b-894d-6c17510a6420" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_U.S.FacilityMember_019ead36-6a9e-7fdd-b9f4-c9a906de7999" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019ead36-6a9e-78fd-a270-0c2d8fc2be66" 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_DebtInstrumentTable_019ead36-6a9e-71a5-9167-f36e5479a478" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019ead36-6a9e-78fd-a270-0c2d8fc2be66" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ead36-6a9e-78fd-a270-0c2d8fc2be66_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_019ead36-6a9e-78fd-a270-0c2d8fc2be66" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ead36-6a9e-78fd-a270-0c2d8fc2be66_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ead36-6a9e-79f5-8861-64792d3b3fbb" 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_019ead36-6a9e-78fd-a270-0c2d8fc2be66" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ead36-6a9e-79f5-8861-64792d3b3fbb" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_SeniorSecuredNotesMember_019ead36-6a9e-7eae-9d2f-ba4e4dd8e840" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_SeniorSecuredNotesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ead36-6a9e-79f5-8861-64792d3b3fbb" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_SeniorSecuredNotesMember_019ead36-6a9e-7eae-9d2f-ba4e4dd8e840" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebt_019ead36-6a9e-7695-81f5-789c7d1eee8b" 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_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6a9e-79a7-868a-a5fe8e89b2ab" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebt_019ead36-6a9e-7695-81f5-789c7d1eee8b" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FinanceLeaseLiability_019ead36-6a9e-78bc-a6a7-8b00c0f58f65" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FinanceLeaseLiability"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6a9e-79a7-868a-a5fe8e89b2ab" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FinanceLeaseLiability_019ead36-6a9e-78bc-a6a7-8b00c0f58f65" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FinanceLeaseLiabilityStatementOfFinancialPositionExtensibleList_019ead36-6b6b-7c42-a135-1be144ef7c3c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FinanceLeaseLiabilityStatementOfFinancialPositionExtensibleList"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FinanceLeaseLiability_019ead36-6a9e-78bc-a6a7-8b00c0f58f65" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FinanceLeaseLiabilityStatementOfFinancialPositionExtensibleList_019ead36-6b6b-7c42-a135-1be144ef7c3c" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_LongTermDebtAndLeaseObligationsIncludingCurrentMaturitiesGrossOfDebtIssuancesCosts_019ead36-6b6b-75df-9163-3ae8a6b81480" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_LongTermDebtAndLeaseObligationsIncludingCurrentMaturitiesGrossOfDebtIssuancesCosts"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6a9e-79a7-868a-a5fe8e89b2ab" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_LongTermDebtAndLeaseObligationsIncludingCurrentMaturitiesGrossOfDebtIssuancesCosts_019ead36-6b6b-75df-9163-3ae8a6b81480" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscountPremiumAndDebtIssuanceCostsNet_019ead36-6b6b-7f3d-9018-58b075534c2b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscountPremiumAndDebtIssuanceCostsNet"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6a9e-79a7-868a-a5fe8e89b2ab" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscountPremiumAndDebtIssuanceCostsNet_019ead36-6b6b-7f3d-9018-58b075534c2b" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations_019ead36-6b6b-760f-80be-c9310e7c4331" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6a9e-79a7-868a-a5fe8e89b2ab" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations_019ead36-6b6b-760f-80be-c9310e7c4331" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.encorecapital.com/role/BorrowingsGlobalSeniorSecuredRevolvingCreditFacilityNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#BorrowingsGlobalSeniorSecuredRevolvingCreditFacilityNarrativeDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.encorecapital.com/role/BorrowingsGlobalSeniorSecuredRevolvingCreditFacilityNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6b-754e-9d15-d4f9fa73a4da" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019ead36-6b6b-7fa8-925b-61bb6da4812d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6b-754e-9d15-d4f9fa73a4da" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019ead36-6b6b-7fa8-925b-61bb6da4812d" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateAxis_019ead36-6b6b-7a60-b87a-db02e1901de6" 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_DebtInstrumentTable_019ead36-6b6b-7fa8-925b-61bb6da4812d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateAxis_019ead36-6b6b-7a60-b87a-db02e1901de6" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7a60-b87a-db02e1901de6_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_019ead36-6b6b-7a60-b87a-db02e1901de6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7a60-b87a-db02e1901de6_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7f0d-bcc2-209b9d970b4d" 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_019ead36-6b6b-7a60-b87a-db02e1901de6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7f0d-bcc2-209b9d970b4d" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_EuroInterbankOfferedRateEURIBORMember_019ead36-6b6b-78db-844f-2c63e3c21283" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_EuroInterbankOfferedRateEURIBORMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7f0d-bcc2-209b9d970b4d" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_EuroInterbankOfferedRateEURIBORMember_019ead36-6b6b-78db-844f-2c63e3c21283" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_SterlingOvernightIndexAverageSONIAMember_019ead36-6b6b-785d-931d-ac1f1a7799f6" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_SterlingOvernightIndexAverageSONIAMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7f0d-bcc2-209b9d970b4d" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_SterlingOvernightIndexAverageSONIAMember_019ead36-6b6b-785d-931d-ac1f1a7799f6" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SecuredOvernightFinancingRateSofrOvernightIndexSwapRateMember_019ead36-6b6b-7661-a5fa-e6435e486b6e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SecuredOvernightFinancingRateSofrOvernightIndexSwapRateMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7f0d-bcc2-209b9d970b4d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SecuredOvernightFinancingRateSofrOvernightIndexSwapRateMember_019ead36-6b6b-7661-a5fa-e6435e486b6e" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_019ead36-6b6b-7c37-bf7e-c2b9b149ded3" 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_DebtInstrumentTable_019ead36-6b6b-7fa8-925b-61bb6da4812d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_019ead36-6b6b-7c37-bf7e-c2b9b149ded3" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7c37-bf7e-c2b9b149ded3_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_019ead36-6b6b-7c37-bf7e-c2b9b149ded3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7c37-bf7e-c2b9b149ded3_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019ead36-6b6b-78d8-adc7-4bd600748177" 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_019ead36-6b6b-7c37-bf7e-c2b9b149ded3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019ead36-6b6b-78d8-adc7-4bd600748177" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_GlobalSeniorSecuredRevolvingCreditFacilityMember_019ead36-6b6b-7f47-9023-a61fbd870816" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_GlobalSeniorSecuredRevolvingCreditFacilityMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019ead36-6b6b-78d8-adc7-4bd600748177" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_GlobalSeniorSecuredRevolvingCreditFacilityMember_019ead36-6b6b-7f47-9023-a61fbd870816" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember_019ead36-6b6b-76e1-b08f-766beeda514c" 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_019ead36-6b6b-78d8-adc7-4bd600748177" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember_019ead36-6b6b-76e1-b08f-766beeda514c" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_019ead36-6b6b-7cee-b4b4-0333950ca129" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019ead36-6b6b-7fa8-925b-61bb6da4812d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_019ead36-6b6b-7cee-b4b4-0333950ca129" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7cee-b4b4-0333950ca129_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_019ead36-6b6b-7cee-b4b4-0333950ca129" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7cee-b4b4-0333950ca129_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7dfa-952d-e02332a163b8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_019ead36-6b6b-7cee-b4b4-0333950ca129" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7dfa-952d-e02332a163b8" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember_019ead36-6b6b-79da-870b-2d7ddc6e3087" 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_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7dfa-952d-e02332a163b8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember_019ead36-6b6b-79da-870b-2d7ddc6e3087" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019ead36-6b6b-70e7-bcce-c2e18740ada9" 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_DebtInstrumentTable_019ead36-6b6b-7fa8-925b-61bb6da4812d" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019ead36-6b6b-70e7-bcce-c2e18740ada9" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeMember_019ead36-6b6b-70e7-bcce-c2e18740ada9_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_019ead36-6b6b-70e7-bcce-c2e18740ada9" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeMember_019ead36-6b6b-70e7-bcce-c2e18740ada9_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeMember_019ead36-6b6b-757d-993a-b7dc9db7eef2" 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_019ead36-6b6b-70e7-bcce-c2e18740ada9" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeMember_019ead36-6b6b-757d-993a-b7dc9db7eef2" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_MinimumMember_019ead36-6b6b-7232-b6c2-2981039cfede" 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_019ead36-6b6b-757d-993a-b7dc9db7eef2" xlink:to="loc_srt_MinimumMember_019ead36-6b6b-7232-b6c2-2981039cfede" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019ead36-6b6b-7a42-aafe-f60f115ce363" 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_DebtInstrumentTable_019ead36-6b6b-7fa8-925b-61bb6da4812d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019ead36-6b6b-7a42-aafe-f60f115ce363" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7a42-aafe-f60f115ce363_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_019ead36-6b6b-7a42-aafe-f60f115ce363" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7a42-aafe-f60f115ce363_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7c0c-aff8-db9d470ef426" 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_019ead36-6b6b-7a42-aafe-f60f115ce363" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7c0c-aff8-db9d470ef426" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_RevolvingCreditFacilitySeptember2028MaturityMember_019ead36-6b6b-7f7d-8db5-925ca12f553e" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_RevolvingCreditFacilitySeptember2028MaturityMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7c0c-aff8-db9d470ef426" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_RevolvingCreditFacilitySeptember2028MaturityMember_019ead36-6b6b-7f7d-8db5-925ca12f553e" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_StatementScenarioAxis_019ead36-6b6b-7fd0-a460-4dc8b5aea156" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_StatementScenarioAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019ead36-6b6b-7fa8-925b-61bb6da4812d" xlink:to="loc_srt_StatementScenarioAxis_019ead36-6b6b-7fd0-a460-4dc8b5aea156" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ScenarioUnspecifiedDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7fd0-a460-4dc8b5aea156_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ScenarioUnspecifiedDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_StatementScenarioAxis_019ead36-6b6b-7fd0-a460-4dc8b5aea156" xlink:to="loc_srt_ScenarioUnspecifiedDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7fd0-a460-4dc8b5aea156_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ScenarioUnspecifiedDomain_019ead36-6b6b-73d3-a556-dd930b222314" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ScenarioUnspecifiedDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_StatementScenarioAxis_019ead36-6b6b-7fd0-a460-4dc8b5aea156" xlink:to="loc_srt_ScenarioUnspecifiedDomain_019ead36-6b6b-73d3-a556-dd930b222314" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ScenarioForecastMember_019ead36-6b6b-705e-90a7-585c27567c2f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ScenarioForecastMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ScenarioUnspecifiedDomain_019ead36-6b6b-73d3-a556-dd930b222314" xlink:to="loc_srt_ScenarioForecastMember_019ead36-6b6b-705e-90a7-585c27567c2f" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity_019ead36-6b6b-7bb8-89ca-1f0bf51c4617" 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_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6b-754e-9d15-d4f9fa73a4da" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity_019ead36-6b6b-7bb8-89ca-1f0bf51c4617" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1_019ead36-6b6b-775b-b493-488ec83b8145" 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_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6b-754e-9d15-d4f9fa73a4da" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1_019ead36-6b6b-775b-b493-488ec83b8145" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_DebtInstrumentInterestRateAdjustmentSpread_019ead36-6b6b-7478-be95-4850129dd886" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_DebtInstrumentInterestRateAdjustmentSpread"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6b-754e-9d15-d4f9fa73a4da" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_DebtInstrumentInterestRateAdjustmentSpread_019ead36-6b6b-7478-be95-4850129dd886" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCommitmentFeePercentage_019ead36-6b6b-712c-8ce2-fa7af0571809" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCommitmentFeePercentage"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6b-754e-9d15-d4f9fa73a4da" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCommitmentFeePercentage_019ead36-6b6b-712c-8ce2-fa7af0571809" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_LineOfCreditFacilityCovenantTermsMaximumRatioOfFinancialIndebtednessToCashAndCashEquivalentInvestments_019ead36-6b6b-71c9-a68a-e4aa52f8821b" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_LineOfCreditFacilityCovenantTermsMaximumRatioOfFinancialIndebtednessToCashAndCashEquivalentInvestments"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6b-754e-9d15-d4f9fa73a4da" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_LineOfCreditFacilityCovenantTermsMaximumRatioOfFinancialIndebtednessToCashAndCashEquivalentInvestments_019ead36-6b6b-71c9-a68a-e4aa52f8821b" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_LineOfCreditFacilityCovenantTermsUtilizationThreshold_019ead36-6b6b-7e8e-976c-bb2c830bbb69" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_LineOfCreditFacilityCovenantTermsUtilizationThreshold"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6b-754e-9d15-d4f9fa73a4da" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_LineOfCreditFacilityCovenantTermsUtilizationThreshold_019ead36-6b6b-7e8e-976c-bb2c830bbb69" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_LineOfCreditFacilityCovenantTermsMaximumRatioOfSuperSeniorLiabilitiesToCashAndCashEquivalentInvestments_019ead36-6b6b-73f7-9231-7caf2621726b" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_LineOfCreditFacilityCovenantTermsMaximumRatioOfSuperSeniorLiabilitiesToCashAndCashEquivalentInvestments"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6b-754e-9d15-d4f9fa73a4da" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_LineOfCreditFacilityCovenantTermsMaximumRatioOfSuperSeniorLiabilitiesToCashAndCashEquivalentInvestments_019ead36-6b6b-73f7-9231-7caf2621726b" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_LineOfCreditFacilityCovenantTermsFixedChargeCoverageRatio_019ead36-6b6b-7286-96e2-4314bb1dd6b3" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_LineOfCreditFacilityCovenantTermsFixedChargeCoverageRatio"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6b-754e-9d15-d4f9fa73a4da" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_LineOfCreditFacilityCovenantTermsFixedChargeCoverageRatio_019ead36-6b6b-7286-96e2-4314bb1dd6b3" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebt_019ead36-6b6b-74cd-904d-575f4766257d" 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_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6b-754e-9d15-d4f9fa73a4da" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebt_019ead36-6b6b-74cd-904d-575f4766257d" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebtWeightedAverageInterestRateOverTime_019ead36-6b6b-79be-ab92-7e2e6e6c755e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongTermDebtWeightedAverageInterestRateOverTime"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6b-754e-9d15-d4f9fa73a4da" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebtWeightedAverageInterestRateOverTime_019ead36-6b6b-79be-ab92-7e2e6e6c755e" xlink:type="arc" order="9"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityRemainingBorrowingCapacity_019ead36-6b6b-774e-b6e9-a6445288792f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityRemainingBorrowingCapacity"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6b-754e-9d15-d4f9fa73a4da" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityRemainingBorrowingCapacity_019ead36-6b6b-774e-b6e9-a6445288792f" xlink:type="arc" order="10"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.encorecapital.com/role/BorrowingsSeniorSecuredNotesTableDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#BorrowingsSeniorSecuredNotesTableDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.encorecapital.com/role/BorrowingsSeniorSecuredNotesTableDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6b-78c8-87af-b31368ed3f46" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019ead36-6b6b-7a15-822b-04f7e17b75f8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6b-78c8-87af-b31368ed3f46" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019ead36-6b6b-7a15-822b-04f7e17b75f8" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_019ead36-6b6b-7847-ac2f-b1a4afa2ff36" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019ead36-6b6b-7a15-822b-04f7e17b75f8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_019ead36-6b6b-7847-ac2f-b1a4afa2ff36" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7847-ac2f-b1a4afa2ff36_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_019ead36-6b6b-7847-ac2f-b1a4afa2ff36" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7847-ac2f-b1a4afa2ff36_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7cab-8428-efaa390e974b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_019ead36-6b6b-7847-ac2f-b1a4afa2ff36" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7cab-8428-efaa390e974b" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_SeniorSecuredNotesMember_019ead36-6b6b-7dc8-a591-7b7676002e57" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_SeniorSecuredNotesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7cab-8428-efaa390e974b" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_SeniorSecuredNotesMember_019ead36-6b6b-7dc8-a591-7b7676002e57" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019ead36-6b6b-7182-992d-3821bb81b0cc" 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_DebtInstrumentTable_019ead36-6b6b-7a15-822b-04f7e17b75f8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019ead36-6b6b-7182-992d-3821bb81b0cc" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7182-992d-3821bb81b0cc_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_019ead36-6b6b-7182-992d-3821bb81b0cc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7182-992d-3821bb81b0cc_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7844-a64b-fccbb0fd740b" 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_019ead36-6b6b-7182-992d-3821bb81b0cc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7844-a64b-fccbb0fd740b" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_Encore2028NotesMember_019ead36-6b6b-78b9-a6d0-0e10ea654398" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_Encore2028NotesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7844-a64b-fccbb0fd740b" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_Encore2028NotesMember_019ead36-6b6b-78b9-a6d0-0e10ea654398" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_Encore2028FloatingRateNotesMember_019ead36-6b6b-746a-97a5-31e22782548a" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_Encore2028FloatingRateNotesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7844-a64b-fccbb0fd740b" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_Encore2028FloatingRateNotesMember_019ead36-6b6b-746a-97a5-31e22782548a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_Encore2029NotesMember_019ead36-6b6b-7a4f-8fd2-cc5edc62ca4e" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_Encore2029NotesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7844-a64b-fccbb0fd740b" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_Encore2029NotesMember_019ead36-6b6b-7a4f-8fd2-cc5edc62ca4e" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_Encore2030NotesMember_019ead36-6b6b-7a60-8451-3082a27ccc6d" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_Encore2030NotesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7844-a64b-fccbb0fd740b" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_Encore2030NotesMember_019ead36-6b6b-7a60-8451-3082a27ccc6d" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_Encore2031NotesMember_019ead36-6b6b-7d42-8455-8c50f0212798" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_Encore2031NotesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7844-a64b-fccbb0fd740b" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_Encore2031NotesMember_019ead36-6b6b-7d42-8455-8c50f0212798" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_Encore2032NotesMember_019faef4-71dd-7b3d-9042-e0a1df92c9e6" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_Encore2032NotesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7844-a64b-fccbb0fd740b" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_Encore2032NotesMember_019faef4-71dd-7b3d-9042-e0a1df92c9e6" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_Encore2033FloatingRateNotesMember_019faf17-af43-7073-85ca-fbd4e4db532a" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_Encore2033FloatingRateNotesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7844-a64b-fccbb0fd740b" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_Encore2033FloatingRateNotesMember_019faf17-af43-7073-85ca-fbd4e4db532a" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebt_019ead36-6b6b-760e-a608-2d2a02f4a2a0" 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_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6b-78c8-87af-b31368ed3f46" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebt_019ead36-6b6b-760e-a608-2d2a02f4a2a0" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage_019ead36-6b6b-78e3-8e9b-fe9df5455bc3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6b-78c8-87af-b31368ed3f46" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage_019ead36-6b6b-78e3-8e9b-fe9df5455bc3" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_DebtInstrumentVariableRateFloor_019ead36-6b6b-70dc-8675-b0042c7e4e5f" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_DebtInstrumentVariableRateFloor"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6b-78c8-87af-b31368ed3f46" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_DebtInstrumentVariableRateFloor_019ead36-6b6b-70dc-8675-b0042c7e4e5f" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1_019ead36-6b6b-7e3a-9d5e-7694ee2c56f6" 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_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6b-78c8-87af-b31368ed3f46" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1_019ead36-6b6b-7e3a-9d5e-7694ee2c56f6" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.encorecapital.com/role/BorrowingsSeniorSecuredNotesNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#BorrowingsSeniorSecuredNotesNarrativeDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.encorecapital.com/role/BorrowingsSeniorSecuredNotesNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6b-7c33-b2f0-ac53e383011c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019ead36-6b6b-79e8-9417-dde5c1419390" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6b-7c33-b2f0-ac53e383011c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019ead36-6b6b-79e8-9417-dde5c1419390" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019ead36-6b6b-786b-a0fd-74d2d05b60a3" 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_DebtInstrumentTable_019ead36-6b6b-79e8-9417-dde5c1419390" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019ead36-6b6b-786b-a0fd-74d2d05b60a3" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ead36-6b6b-786b-a0fd-74d2d05b60a3_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_019ead36-6b6b-786b-a0fd-74d2d05b60a3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ead36-6b6b-786b-a0fd-74d2d05b60a3_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7f47-bd8f-766f49db8f13" 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_019ead36-6b6b-786b-a0fd-74d2d05b60a3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7f47-bd8f-766f49db8f13" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_Encore2032NotesMember_019faf20-2b69-7ff4-8de7-d792d66d6a5d" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_Encore2032NotesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7f47-bd8f-766f49db8f13" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_Encore2032NotesMember_019faf20-2b69-7ff4-8de7-d792d66d6a5d" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_Encore2029NotesMember_019faf6f-2b9d-7c23-8625-1cc6a1827592" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_Encore2029NotesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7f47-bd8f-766f49db8f13" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_Encore2029NotesMember_019faf6f-2b9d-7c23-8625-1cc6a1827592" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_Encore2033FloatingRateNotesMember_019fafb3-afaf-75fc-9783-938d398c3502" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_Encore2033FloatingRateNotesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7f47-bd8f-766f49db8f13" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_Encore2033FloatingRateNotesMember_019fafb3-afaf-75fc-9783-938d398c3502" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_Encore2028FloatingRateNotesMember_019ead36-6b6b-7f1b-9007-df742d93464a" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_Encore2028FloatingRateNotesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7f47-bd8f-766f49db8f13" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_Encore2028FloatingRateNotesMember_019ead36-6b6b-7f1b-9007-df742d93464a" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_019ead36-6b6b-717c-9dd8-80ffb2a5df09" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019ead36-6b6b-79e8-9417-dde5c1419390" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_019ead36-6b6b-717c-9dd8-80ffb2a5df09" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019ead36-6b6b-717c-9dd8-80ffb2a5df09_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_019ead36-6b6b-717c-9dd8-80ffb2a5df09" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019ead36-6b6b-717c-9dd8-80ffb2a5df09_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019ead36-6b6b-751f-8b21-b543f9fb235e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_019ead36-6b6b-717c-9dd8-80ffb2a5df09" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019ead36-6b6b-751f-8b21-b543f9fb235e" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_SeniorSecuredNotesMember_019ead36-6b6b-77c0-856d-0145876bda28" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_SeniorSecuredNotesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019ead36-6b6b-751f-8b21-b543f9fb235e" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_SeniorSecuredNotesMember_019ead36-6b6b-77c0-856d-0145876bda28" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_CurrencyAxis_019fb1f9-c7b5-78ee-ae83-fbb63cf9bc4d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_CurrencyAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019ead36-6b6b-79e8-9417-dde5c1419390" xlink:to="loc_srt_CurrencyAxis_019fb1f9-c7b5-78ee-ae83-fbb63cf9bc4d" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_currency_AllCurrenciesDomain_019fb1f9-c7b5-78ee-ae83-fbb63cf9bc4d_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/currency/2026/currency-2026.xsd#currency_AllCurrenciesDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_CurrencyAxis_019fb1f9-c7b5-78ee-ae83-fbb63cf9bc4d" xlink:to="loc_currency_AllCurrenciesDomain_019fb1f9-c7b5-78ee-ae83-fbb63cf9bc4d_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_currency_AllCurrenciesDomain_019fb1fa-39b2-7b8b-ae3c-6525603e48d1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/currency/2026/currency-2026.xsd#currency_AllCurrenciesDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_CurrencyAxis_019fb1f9-c7b5-78ee-ae83-fbb63cf9bc4d" xlink:to="loc_currency_AllCurrenciesDomain_019fb1fa-39b2-7b8b-ae3c-6525603e48d1" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_currency_EUR_019fb1fa-a0b6-7d3b-a5fc-8870a6e15fa0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/currency/2026/currency-2026.xsd#currency_EUR"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_currency_AllCurrenciesDomain_019fb1fa-39b2-7b8b-ae3c-6525603e48d1" xlink:to="loc_currency_EUR_019fb1fa-a0b6-7d3b-a5fc-8870a6e15fa0" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount_019faf1f-f77e-78e6-b368-38d5aea1bdef" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6b-7c33-b2f0-ac53e383011c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount_019faf1f-f77e-78e6-b368-38d5aea1bdef" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage_019faf64-eb49-75f9-a6cc-a9c88a270e3a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6b-7c33-b2f0-ac53e383011c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage_019faf64-eb49-75f9-a6cc-a9c88a270e3a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_DebtInstrumentIssuancePricePercent_019faf6a-869f-7d7c-b794-bba0a0559935" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_DebtInstrumentIssuancePricePercent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6b-7c33-b2f0-ac53e383011c" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_DebtInstrumentIssuancePricePercent_019faf6a-869f-7d7c-b794-bba0a0559935" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EarlyRepaymentOfSeniorDebt_019faf6e-4723-7c07-8c79-0cb2b037741e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_EarlyRepaymentOfSeniorDebt"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6b-7c33-b2f0-ac53e383011c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EarlyRepaymentOfSeniorDebt_019faf6e-4723-7c07-8c79-0cb2b037741e" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt_019faf73-440c-78f4-a3ea-41c98c6c27a8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6b-7c33-b2f0-ac53e383011c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt_019faf73-440c-78f4-a3ea-41c98c6c27a8" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PaymentsOfDebtExtinguishmentCosts_019faf75-9695-71d2-a035-0e9c5559dfa9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_PaymentsOfDebtExtinguishmentCosts"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6b-7c33-b2f0-ac53e383011c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PaymentsOfDebtExtinguishmentCosts_019faf75-9695-71d2-a035-0e9c5559dfa9" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyExchangeRateTranslation1_019fb1fb-1eaa-7970-8e34-31124e944cdb" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyExchangeRateTranslation1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6b-7c33-b2f0-ac53e383011c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyExchangeRateTranslation1_019fb1fb-1eaa-7970-8e34-31124e944cdb" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_DebtInstrumentVariableRateFloor_019fb1fc-8749-7f14-8bac-fe470155726b" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_DebtInstrumentVariableRateFloor"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6b-7c33-b2f0-ac53e383011c" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_DebtInstrumentVariableRateFloor_019fb1fc-8749-7f14-8bac-fe470155726b" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebtWeightedAverageInterestRateOverTime_019ead36-6b6b-7870-86c7-cad22cd03be0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongTermDebtWeightedAverageInterestRateOverTime"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6b-7c33-b2f0-ac53e383011c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebtWeightedAverageInterestRateOverTime_019ead36-6b6b-7870-86c7-cad22cd03be0" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.encorecapital.com/role/BorrowingsConvertibleNotesTableandNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#BorrowingsConvertibleNotesTableandNarrativeDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.encorecapital.com/role/BorrowingsConvertibleNotesTableandNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6b-7ea7-8d91-0cc60684de31" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019ead36-6b6b-72a8-bcc2-b3f3a52b6f74" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6b-7ea7-8d91-0cc60684de31" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019ead36-6b6b-72a8-bcc2-b3f3a52b6f74" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_019ead36-6b6b-76e0-9dbe-f9e01f799404" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019ead36-6b6b-72a8-bcc2-b3f3a52b6f74" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_019ead36-6b6b-76e0-9dbe-f9e01f799404" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019ead36-6b6b-76e0-9dbe-f9e01f799404_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_019ead36-6b6b-76e0-9dbe-f9e01f799404" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019ead36-6b6b-76e0-9dbe-f9e01f799404_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7585-afac-f1e4d3c3be59" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_019ead36-6b6b-76e0-9dbe-f9e01f799404" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7585-afac-f1e4d3c3be59" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ConvertibleNotesPayableMember_019ead36-6b6b-7676-8524-547a8a4842a1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ConvertibleNotesPayableMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7585-afac-f1e4d3c3be59" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ConvertibleNotesPayableMember_019ead36-6b6b-7676-8524-547a8a4842a1" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019ead36-6b6b-77d9-a2b3-7e9f0e22a6fe" 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_DebtInstrumentTable_019ead36-6b6b-72a8-bcc2-b3f3a52b6f74" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019ead36-6b6b-77d9-a2b3-7e9f0e22a6fe" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ead36-6b6b-77d9-a2b3-7e9f0e22a6fe_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_019ead36-6b6b-77d9-a2b3-7e9f0e22a6fe" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ead36-6b6b-77d9-a2b3-7e9f0e22a6fe_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ead36-6b6b-743a-9f95-322f99e47da5" 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_019ead36-6b6b-77d9-a2b3-7e9f0e22a6fe" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ead36-6b6b-743a-9f95-322f99e47da5" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_A2029ConvertibleNotesMember_019ead36-6b6b-7379-ba59-7e55e0f840ed" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_A2029ConvertibleNotesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ead36-6b6b-743a-9f95-322f99e47da5" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_A2029ConvertibleNotesMember_019ead36-6b6b-7379-ba59-7e55e0f840ed" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis_019fb0c6-e0ed-7792-84d8-a42c45f4715f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019ead36-6b6b-72a8-bcc2-b3f3a52b6f74" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis_019fb0c6-e0ed-7792-84d8-a42c45f4715f" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeDomain_019fb0c6-e0ed-7792-84d8-a42c45f4715f_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis_019fb0c6-e0ed-7792-84d8-a42c45f4715f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeDomain_019fb0c6-e0ed-7792-84d8-a42c45f4715f_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeDomain_019fb0c6-e0ed-7360-a698-cee8337d9ab9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis_019fb0c6-e0ed-7792-84d8-a42c45f4715f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeDomain_019fb0c6-e0ed-7360-a698-cee8337d9ab9" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember_019fb0c7-34fa-7759-8de5-7d48f3f4c79a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeDomain_019fb0c6-e0ed-7360-a698-cee8337d9ab9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember_019fb0c7-34fa-7759-8de5-7d48f3f4c79a" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebt_019ead36-6b6b-7404-a263-3c9d5fec3b40" 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_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6b-7ea7-8d91-0cc60684de31" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebt_019ead36-6b6b-7404-a263-3c9d5fec3b40" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage_019ead36-6b6b-781d-bbd3-32f928f235ad" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6b-7ea7-8d91-0cc60684de31" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage_019ead36-6b6b-781d-bbd3-32f928f235ad" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleConversionPrice1_019ead36-6b6b-75ab-bd50-75475f3d8e0b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleConversionPrice1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6b-7ea7-8d91-0cc60684de31" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleConversionPrice1_019ead36-6b6b-75ab-bd50-75475f3d8e0b" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount_019fafd7-3d12-7b30-9638-96681da21055" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6b-7ea7-8d91-0cc60684de31" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount_019fafd7-3d12-7b30-9638-96681da21055" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPricePercentageOfPrincipalAmountRedeemed_019fafd9-b6b0-70b0-928a-3b4487888e29" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPricePercentageOfPrincipalAmountRedeemed"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6b-7ea7-8d91-0cc60684de31" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPricePercentageOfPrincipalAmountRedeemed_019fafd9-b6b0-70b0-928a-3b4487888e29" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InterestExpenseDebtExcludingAmortization_019ead36-6b6b-7050-95e5-d13bb07a9a7e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_InterestExpenseDebtExcludingAmortization"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6b-7ea7-8d91-0cc60684de31" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InterestExpenseDebtExcludingAmortization_019ead36-6b6b-7050-95e5-d13bb07a9a7e" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_DebtInstrumentConvertibleOrExchangeableInitialConversionRatio_019fb4c5-0426-7ecd-abb1-9472a1c37629" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_DebtInstrumentConvertibleOrExchangeableInitialConversionRatio"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6b-7ea7-8d91-0cc60684de31" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_DebtInstrumentConvertibleOrExchangeableInitialConversionRatio_019fb4c5-0426-7ecd-abb1-9472a1c37629" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_DebtInstrumentConvertibleOrExchangeableAdjustedConversionRatio_019fb4c5-0426-785f-9cdd-52f53925f79c" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_DebtInstrumentConvertibleOrExchangeableAdjustedConversionRatio"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6b-7ea7-8d91-0cc60684de31" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_DebtInstrumentConvertibleOrExchangeableAdjustedConversionRatio_019fb4c5-0426-785f-9cdd-52f53925f79c" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.encorecapital.com/role/BorrowingsScheduleofConvertibleNotesFeaturesandCertainKeyTermsDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#BorrowingsScheduleofConvertibleNotesFeaturesandCertainKeyTermsDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.encorecapital.com/role/BorrowingsScheduleofConvertibleNotesFeaturesandCertainKeyTermsDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6b-75a3-86a8-ff8deacce161" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019ead36-6b6b-7cbd-8729-64e9f4b7f391" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6b-75a3-86a8-ff8deacce161" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019ead36-6b6b-7cbd-8729-64e9f4b7f391" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019ead36-6b6b-7667-ac72-056ba3be92fa" 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_DebtInstrumentTable_019ead36-6b6b-7cbd-8729-64e9f4b7f391" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019ead36-6b6b-7667-ac72-056ba3be92fa" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7667-ac72-056ba3be92fa_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_019ead36-6b6b-7667-ac72-056ba3be92fa" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7667-ac72-056ba3be92fa_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7855-beb8-83060984ffc5" 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_019ead36-6b6b-7667-ac72-056ba3be92fa" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7855-beb8-83060984ffc5" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_A2029ConvertibleNotesMember_019ead36-6b6b-71fc-8bfb-23652b3fe159" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_A2029ConvertibleNotesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7855-beb8-83060984ffc5" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_A2029ConvertibleNotesMember_019ead36-6b6b-71fc-8bfb-23652b3fe159" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_019ead36-6b6b-7d8d-b4a5-c533e63733e8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019ead36-6b6b-7cbd-8729-64e9f4b7f391" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_019ead36-6b6b-7d8d-b4a5-c533e63733e8" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7d8d-b4a5-c533e63733e8_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_019ead36-6b6b-7d8d-b4a5-c533e63733e8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7d8d-b4a5-c533e63733e8_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7652-aed3-1009e9395830" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_019ead36-6b6b-7d8d-b4a5-c533e63733e8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7652-aed3-1009e9395830" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ConvertibleNotesPayableMember_019ead36-6b6b-7ee7-8735-6934335d6f22" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ConvertibleNotesPayableMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7652-aed3-1009e9395830" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ConvertibleNotesPayableMember_019ead36-6b6b-7ee7-8735-6934335d6f22" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleConversionPrice1_019ead36-6b6b-779a-a3a2-d08779681297" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleConversionPrice1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6b-75a3-86a8-ff8deacce161" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleConversionPrice1_019ead36-6b6b-779a-a3a2-d08779681297" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_ClosingStockPriceAtDateOfConvertibleNotesIssuance_019ead36-6b6b-7da9-a16d-37b1d662fcc7" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_ClosingStockPriceAtDateOfConvertibleNotesIssuance"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6b-75a3-86a8-ff8deacce161" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_ClosingStockPriceAtDateOfConvertibleNotesIssuance_019ead36-6b6b-7da9-a16d-37b1d662fcc7" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_DebtInstrumentConvertibleOrExchangeableInitialConversionRatio_019ead36-6b6b-7ad7-8bf7-a6d68b8f1109" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_DebtInstrumentConvertibleOrExchangeableInitialConversionRatio"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6b-75a3-86a8-ff8deacce161" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_DebtInstrumentConvertibleOrExchangeableInitialConversionRatio_019ead36-6b6b-7ad7-8bf7-a6d68b8f1109" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_DebtInstrumentConvertibleOrExchangeableEffectiveConversionPrice_019ead36-6b6b-743d-a288-324f4919dd37" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_DebtInstrumentConvertibleOrExchangeableEffectiveConversionPrice"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6b-75a3-86a8-ff8deacce161" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_DebtInstrumentConvertibleOrExchangeableEffectiveConversionPrice_019ead36-6b6b-743d-a288-324f4919dd37" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_DebtInstrumentConvertibleIfConvertedValueInExcessOfPrincipal1_019ead36-6b6b-7ed2-9542-f089a81d3a04" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_DebtInstrumentConvertibleIfConvertedValueInExcessOfPrincipal1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6b-75a3-86a8-ff8deacce161" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_DebtInstrumentConvertibleIfConvertedValueInExcessOfPrincipal1_019ead36-6b6b-7ed2-9542-f089a81d3a04" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.encorecapital.com/role/BorrowingsInterestExpenseRelatedtoConvertibleNotesNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#BorrowingsInterestExpenseRelatedtoConvertibleNotesNarrativeDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.encorecapital.com/role/BorrowingsInterestExpenseRelatedtoConvertibleNotesNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6b-7e9b-813b-c3d2e136d2f6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019ead36-6b6b-763f-a0bb-9bb307ca5b49" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6b-7e9b-813b-c3d2e136d2f6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019ead36-6b6b-763f-a0bb-9bb307ca5b49" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_019ead36-6b6b-7c8e-ab84-4e3b82aafc20" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019ead36-6b6b-763f-a0bb-9bb307ca5b49" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_019ead36-6b6b-7c8e-ab84-4e3b82aafc20" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7c8e-ab84-4e3b82aafc20_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_019ead36-6b6b-7c8e-ab84-4e3b82aafc20" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7c8e-ab84-4e3b82aafc20_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7304-a6c5-0379bb032526" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_019ead36-6b6b-7c8e-ab84-4e3b82aafc20" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7304-a6c5-0379bb032526" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ConvertibleNotesPayableMember_019ead36-6b6b-7d54-8c87-b3bd987ecdc6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ConvertibleNotesPayableMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7304-a6c5-0379bb032526" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ConvertibleNotesPayableMember_019ead36-6b6b-7d54-8c87-b3bd987ecdc6" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InterestExpenseDebtExcludingAmortization_019ead36-6b6b-705f-9745-3afd9dc6e95e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_InterestExpenseDebtExcludingAmortization"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6b-7e9b-813b-c3d2e136d2f6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InterestExpenseDebtExcludingAmortization_019ead36-6b6b-705f-9745-3afd9dc6e95e" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.encorecapital.com/role/BorrowingsCabotSecuritisationSeniorFacilityDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#BorrowingsCabotSecuritisationSeniorFacilityDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.encorecapital.com/role/BorrowingsCabotSecuritisationSeniorFacilityDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6c-7705-8c4f-aeb7cc14eb55" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019ead36-6b6b-7bf4-a05a-3e346a307030" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6c-7705-8c4f-aeb7cc14eb55" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019ead36-6b6b-7bf4-a05a-3e346a307030" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019ead36-6b6b-7462-b3f9-2366b2dc2c01" 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_DebtInstrumentTable_019ead36-6b6b-7bf4-a05a-3e346a307030" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019ead36-6b6b-7462-b3f9-2366b2dc2c01" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7462-b3f9-2366b2dc2c01_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_019ead36-6b6b-7462-b3f9-2366b2dc2c01" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7462-b3f9-2366b2dc2c01_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7185-a7f8-e01bbc733a3a" 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_019ead36-6b6b-7462-b3f9-2366b2dc2c01" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7185-a7f8-e01bbc733a3a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_CabotSecuritisationSeniorFacilityMember_019ead36-6b6b-7d91-85f9-c1a9a4ca65fe" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_CabotSecuritisationSeniorFacilityMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ead36-6b6b-7185-a7f8-e01bbc733a3a" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_CabotSecuritisationSeniorFacilityMember_019ead36-6b6b-7d91-85f9-c1a9a4ca65fe" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019ead36-6b6c-7db3-898c-cffba35e70eb" 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_DebtInstrumentTable_019ead36-6b6b-7bf4-a05a-3e346a307030" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019ead36-6b6c-7db3-898c-cffba35e70eb" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeMember_019ead36-6b6c-7db3-898c-cffba35e70eb_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_019ead36-6b6c-7db3-898c-cffba35e70eb" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeMember_019ead36-6b6c-7db3-898c-cffba35e70eb_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeMember_019ead36-6b6c-75e5-a01d-1adea83a9442" 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_019ead36-6b6c-7db3-898c-cffba35e70eb" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeMember_019ead36-6b6c-75e5-a01d-1adea83a9442" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_MinimumMember_019ead36-6b6c-7024-ad71-2b91edaaef49" 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_019ead36-6b6c-75e5-a01d-1adea83a9442" xlink:to="loc_srt_MinimumMember_019ead36-6b6c-7024-ad71-2b91edaaef49" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_MaximumMember_019ead36-6b6c-762e-894d-1aaea19b94a8" 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_019ead36-6b6c-75e5-a01d-1adea83a9442" xlink:to="loc_srt_MaximumMember_019ead36-6b6c-762e-894d-1aaea19b94a8" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis_019ead36-6b6c-74e2-a0b5-d76fd0cfe70d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019ead36-6b6b-7bf4-a05a-3e346a307030" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis_019ead36-6b6c-74e2-a0b5-d76fd0cfe70d" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodDomain_019ead36-6b6c-74e2-a0b5-d76fd0cfe70d_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis_019ead36-6b6c-74e2-a0b5-d76fd0cfe70d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodDomain_019ead36-6b6c-74e2-a0b5-d76fd0cfe70d_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodDomain_019ead36-6b6c-7b93-bf32-4a0088eb1247" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis_019ead36-6b6c-74e2-a0b5-d76fd0cfe70d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodDomain_019ead36-6b6c-7b93-bf32-4a0088eb1247" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodOneMember_019ead36-6b6c-7da7-b72a-c25dbfcd9ca0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodOneMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodDomain_019ead36-6b6c-7b93-bf32-4a0088eb1247" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodOneMember_019ead36-6b6c-7da7-b72a-c25dbfcd9ca0" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodTwoMember_019ead36-6b6c-770f-9abc-f9658b51ff01" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodTwoMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodDomain_019ead36-6b6c-7b93-bf32-4a0088eb1247" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodTwoMember_019ead36-6b6c-770f-9abc-f9658b51ff01" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_CurrencyAxis_019ead36-6b6c-7b87-b319-f9ec82d53349" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_CurrencyAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019ead36-6b6b-7bf4-a05a-3e346a307030" xlink:to="loc_srt_CurrencyAxis_019ead36-6b6c-7b87-b319-f9ec82d53349" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_currency_AllCurrenciesDomain_019ead36-6b6c-7b87-b319-f9ec82d53349_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/currency/2026/currency-2026.xsd#currency_AllCurrenciesDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_CurrencyAxis_019ead36-6b6c-7b87-b319-f9ec82d53349" xlink:to="loc_currency_AllCurrenciesDomain_019ead36-6b6c-7b87-b319-f9ec82d53349_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_currency_AllCurrenciesDomain_019ead36-6b6c-7f49-b948-82c1dd21a8c6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/currency/2026/currency-2026.xsd#currency_AllCurrenciesDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_CurrencyAxis_019ead36-6b6c-7b87-b319-f9ec82d53349" xlink:to="loc_currency_AllCurrenciesDomain_019ead36-6b6c-7f49-b948-82c1dd21a8c6" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_currency_GBP_019ead36-6b6c-73de-89f4-c1fc252cc6ed" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/currency/2026/currency-2026.xsd#currency_GBP"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_currency_AllCurrenciesDomain_019ead36-6b6c-7f49-b948-82c1dd21a8c6" xlink:to="loc_currency_GBP_019ead36-6b6c-73de-89f4-c1fc252cc6ed" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_StatementScenarioAxis_019ead36-6b6c-7fcd-b518-bbc1f1c8f059" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_StatementScenarioAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019ead36-6b6b-7bf4-a05a-3e346a307030" xlink:to="loc_srt_StatementScenarioAxis_019ead36-6b6c-7fcd-b518-bbc1f1c8f059" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ScenarioUnspecifiedDomain_019ead36-6b6c-7fcd-b518-bbc1f1c8f059_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ScenarioUnspecifiedDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_StatementScenarioAxis_019ead36-6b6c-7fcd-b518-bbc1f1c8f059" xlink:to="loc_srt_ScenarioUnspecifiedDomain_019ead36-6b6c-7fcd-b518-bbc1f1c8f059_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ScenarioUnspecifiedDomain_019ead36-6b6c-7c61-a6e6-28ed36d555e6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ScenarioUnspecifiedDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_StatementScenarioAxis_019ead36-6b6c-7fcd-b518-bbc1f1c8f059" xlink:to="loc_srt_ScenarioUnspecifiedDomain_019ead36-6b6c-7c61-a6e6-28ed36d555e6" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ScenarioForecastMember_019ead36-6b6c-720f-927d-bc69faee29cd" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ScenarioForecastMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ScenarioUnspecifiedDomain_019ead36-6b6c-7c61-a6e6-28ed36d555e6" xlink:to="loc_srt_ScenarioForecastMember_019ead36-6b6c-720f-927d-bc69faee29cd" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity_019ead36-6b6c-7d90-a8cc-8295b7d81634" 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_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6c-7705-8c4f-aeb7cc14eb55" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity_019ead36-6b6c-7d90-a8cc-8295b7d81634" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1_019ead36-6b6c-7300-a764-36096be79a67" 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_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6c-7705-8c4f-aeb7cc14eb55" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1_019ead36-6b6c-7300-a764-36096be79a67" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebt_019ead36-6b6c-7256-979b-48086e8df751" 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_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6c-7705-8c4f-aeb7cc14eb55" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebt_019ead36-6b6c-7256-979b-48086e8df751" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyExchangeRateTranslation1_019ead36-6b6c-79aa-9862-67d3ea24645d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyExchangeRateTranslation1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6c-7705-8c4f-aeb7cc14eb55" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyExchangeRateTranslation1_019ead36-6b6c-79aa-9862-67d3ea24645d" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_FinancingReceivablesAcquired_019ead36-6b6c-78fb-a701-a705fec50d92" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_FinancingReceivablesAcquired"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6c-7705-8c4f-aeb7cc14eb55" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_FinancingReceivablesAcquired_019ead36-6b6c-78fb-a701-a705fec50d92" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebtWeightedAverageInterestRateOverTime_019ead36-6b6c-712d-a8f2-45aac031957a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongTermDebtWeightedAverageInterestRateOverTime"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6c-7705-8c4f-aeb7cc14eb55" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebtWeightedAverageInterestRateOverTime_019ead36-6b6c-712d-a8f2-45aac031957a" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.encorecapital.com/role/BorrowingsUSFacilityDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#BorrowingsUSFacilityDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.encorecapital.com/role/BorrowingsUSFacilityDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6c-772a-9363-7f212f67855b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019ead36-6b6c-7600-ab05-20e7ed6b7bb0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6c-772a-9363-7f212f67855b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019ead36-6b6c-7600-ab05-20e7ed6b7bb0" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_019ead36-6b6c-70d2-812c-347e237628b7" 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_DebtInstrumentTable_019ead36-6b6c-7600-ab05-20e7ed6b7bb0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_019ead36-6b6c-70d2-812c-347e237628b7" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019ead36-6b6c-70d2-812c-347e237628b7_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_019ead36-6b6c-70d2-812c-347e237628b7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019ead36-6b6c-70d2-812c-347e237628b7_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019ead36-6b6c-7b4c-831e-aad0b745bcc9" 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_019ead36-6b6c-70d2-812c-347e237628b7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019ead36-6b6c-7b4c-831e-aad0b745bcc9" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_U.S.FacilityMember_019ead36-6b6c-7bfc-8b36-7a453ec18873" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_U.S.FacilityMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019ead36-6b6c-7b4c-831e-aad0b745bcc9" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_U.S.FacilityMember_019ead36-6b6c-7bfc-8b36-7a453ec18873" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_019ead36-6b6c-72b7-8a18-f89154b25208" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019ead36-6b6c-7600-ab05-20e7ed6b7bb0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_019ead36-6b6c-72b7-8a18-f89154b25208" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019ead36-6b6c-72b7-8a18-f89154b25208_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_019ead36-6b6c-72b7-8a18-f89154b25208" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019ead36-6b6c-72b7-8a18-f89154b25208_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019ead36-6b6c-7a26-a9fb-eb0c72487526" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_019ead36-6b6c-72b7-8a18-f89154b25208" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019ead36-6b6c-7a26-a9fb-eb0c72487526" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember_019ead36-6b6c-790c-a5b6-325787d2d450" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019ead36-6b6c-7a26-a9fb-eb0c72487526" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember_019ead36-6b6c-790c-a5b6-325787d2d450" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019ead36-6b6c-79ab-9950-a9938daf5dff" 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_DebtInstrumentTable_019ead36-6b6c-7600-ab05-20e7ed6b7bb0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019ead36-6b6c-79ab-9950-a9938daf5dff" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ead36-6b6c-79ab-9950-a9938daf5dff_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_019ead36-6b6c-79ab-9950-a9938daf5dff" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ead36-6b6c-79ab-9950-a9938daf5dff_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ead36-6b6c-7f9b-83bf-7196a68f3850" 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_019ead36-6b6c-79ab-9950-a9938daf5dff" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ead36-6b6c-7f9b-83bf-7196a68f3850" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_U.S.FacilityMember_019ead36-6b6c-7fa1-bc73-9ef5d8196c33" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_U.S.FacilityMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019ead36-6b6c-7f9b-83bf-7196a68f3850" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_U.S.FacilityMember_019ead36-6b6c-7fa1-bc73-9ef5d8196c33" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity_019ead36-6b6c-7db7-acbb-91de0f967aa3" 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_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6c-772a-9363-7f212f67855b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity_019ead36-6b6c-7db7-acbb-91de0f967aa3" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1_019ead36-6b6c-7fad-80a2-aeb28cc2814f" 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_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6c-772a-9363-7f212f67855b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1_019ead36-6b6c-7fad-80a2-aeb28cc2814f" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebt_019ead36-6b6c-725c-8012-2e483a86cf35" 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_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6c-772a-9363-7f212f67855b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebt_019ead36-6b6c-725c-8012-2e483a86cf35" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_FinancingReceivablesAcquired_019ead36-6b6c-7d6f-bb81-7701911ee852" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_FinancingReceivablesAcquired"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6c-772a-9363-7f212f67855b" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_FinancingReceivablesAcquired_019ead36-6b6c-7d6f-bb81-7701911ee852" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebtWeightedAverageInterestRateOverTime_019ead36-6b6c-7f65-8328-2e78d22dc261" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongTermDebtWeightedAverageInterestRateOverTime"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019ead36-6b6c-772a-9363-7f212f67855b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebtWeightedAverageInterestRateOverTime_019ead36-6b6c-7f65-8328-2e78d22dc261" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.encorecapital.com/role/AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveLossDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveLossDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.encorecapital.com/role/AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveLossDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossLineItems_019ead36-6b6c-7ab8-830e-a7314ad3aec3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTable_019ead36-6b6c-7cef-802c-fdafcae2e2fd" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossLineItems_019ead36-6b6c-7ab8-830e-a7314ad3aec3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTable_019ead36-6b6c-7cef-802c-fdafcae2e2fd" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_019ead36-6b6c-74fd-9cb0-69ab56105f5e" 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_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTable_019ead36-6b6c-7cef-802c-fdafcae2e2fd" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_019ead36-6b6c-74fd-9cb0-69ab56105f5e" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_019ead36-6b6c-74fd-9cb0-69ab56105f5e_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_019ead36-6b6c-74fd-9cb0-69ab56105f5e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_019ead36-6b6c-74fd-9cb0-69ab56105f5e_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_019ead36-6b6c-763d-af30-21c4e7edfec9" 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_019ead36-6b6c-74fd-9cb0-69ab56105f5e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_019ead36-6b6c-763d-af30-21c4e7edfec9" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedGainLossCashFlowHedgeIncludingNoncontrollingInterestMember_019ead36-6b6c-7554-88f1-0b047f76e7bc" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AccumulatedGainLossCashFlowHedgeIncludingNoncontrollingInterestMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_019ead36-6b6c-763d-af30-21c4e7edfec9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedGainLossCashFlowHedgeIncludingNoncontrollingInterestMember_019ead36-6b6c-7554-88f1-0b047f76e7bc" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedForeignCurrencyAdjustmentIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterestMember_019ead36-6b6c-70dd-91e2-eaa67dac421c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AccumulatedForeignCurrencyAdjustmentIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterestMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_019ead36-6b6c-763d-af30-21c4e7edfec9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedForeignCurrencyAdjustmentIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterestMember_019ead36-6b6c-70dd-91e2-eaa67dac421c" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AociIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterestMember_019ead36-6b6c-7f88-88b3-d9ad0bc571de" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AociIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterestMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_019ead36-6b6c-763d-af30-21c4e7edfec9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AociIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterestMember_019ead36-6b6c-7f88-88b3-d9ad0bc571de" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodNetOfTaxAbstract_019ead36-6b6c-70aa-983a-8901309481d9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodNetOfTaxAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossLineItems_019ead36-6b6c-7ab8-830e-a7314ad3aec3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodNetOfTaxAbstract_019ead36-6b6c-70aa-983a-8901309481d9" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest_019ead36-6b6c-727e-8506-ce4ac70c0802" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodNetOfTaxAbstract_019ead36-6b6c-70aa-983a-8901309481d9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest_019ead36-6b6c-727e-8506-ce4ac70c0802" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsBeforeTax_019ead36-6b6c-7170-8225-076ab9551bb4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsBeforeTax"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodNetOfTaxAbstract_019ead36-6b6c-70aa-983a-8901309481d9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsBeforeTax_019ead36-6b6c-7170-8225-076ab9551bb4" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodBeforeTax_019ead36-6b6c-7a17-86ff-059de24d08b9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodBeforeTax"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodNetOfTaxAbstract_019ead36-6b6c-70aa-983a-8901309481d9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodBeforeTax_019ead36-6b6c-7a17-86ff-059de24d08b9" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTax_019ead36-6b6c-7a9b-86ad-c331754685b5" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTax"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodNetOfTaxAbstract_019ead36-6b6c-70aa-983a-8901309481d9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTax_019ead36-6b6c-7a9b-86ad-c331754685b5" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest_019ead36-6b6c-781b-a108-9fca0158a1c2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.encorecapital.com/role/IncomeTaxesNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#IncomeTaxesNarrativeDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.encorecapital.com/role/IncomeTaxesNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxContingencyLineItems_019ead36-6b6c-727f-9a17-7ea80d365f72" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeTaxContingencyLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxContingencyTable_019ead36-6b6c-746c-bfb0-8adb4499a99c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeTaxContingencyTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxContingencyLineItems_019ead36-6b6c-727f-9a17-7ea80d365f72" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxContingencyTable_019ead36-6b6c-746c-bfb0-8adb4499a99c" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_StatementGeographicalAxis_019ead36-6b6c-7f30-872a-47de4960cdc3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_StatementGeographicalAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxContingencyTable_019ead36-6b6c-746c-bfb0-8adb4499a99c" xlink:to="loc_srt_StatementGeographicalAxis_019ead36-6b6c-7f30-872a-47de4960cdc3" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain_019ead36-6b6c-7f30-872a-47de4960cdc3_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_StatementGeographicalAxis_019ead36-6b6c-7f30-872a-47de4960cdc3" xlink:to="loc_srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain_019ead36-6b6c-7f30-872a-47de4960cdc3_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain_019ead36-6b6c-7059-aee9-95f4bb19867a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_StatementGeographicalAxis_019ead36-6b6c-7f30-872a-47de4960cdc3" xlink:to="loc_srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain_019ead36-6b6c-7059-aee9-95f4bb19867a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_country_CR_019ead36-6b6c-7e11-a6d9-f2d2ffee5c11" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/country/2026/country-2026.xsd#country_CR"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain_019ead36-6b6c-7059-aee9-95f4bb19867a" xlink:to="loc_country_CR_019ead36-6b6c-7e11-a6d9-f2d2ffee5c11" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_StatementScenarioAxis_019ead36-6b6c-790f-9cb9-77d2fac0bb2d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_StatementScenarioAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxContingencyTable_019ead36-6b6c-746c-bfb0-8adb4499a99c" xlink:to="loc_srt_StatementScenarioAxis_019ead36-6b6c-790f-9cb9-77d2fac0bb2d" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ScenarioUnspecifiedDomain_019ead36-6b6c-790f-9cb9-77d2fac0bb2d_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ScenarioUnspecifiedDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_StatementScenarioAxis_019ead36-6b6c-790f-9cb9-77d2fac0bb2d" xlink:to="loc_srt_ScenarioUnspecifiedDomain_019ead36-6b6c-790f-9cb9-77d2fac0bb2d_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ScenarioUnspecifiedDomain_019ead36-6b6c-7b3d-93e2-2727bbf1642f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ScenarioUnspecifiedDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_StatementScenarioAxis_019ead36-6b6c-790f-9cb9-77d2fac0bb2d" xlink:to="loc_srt_ScenarioUnspecifiedDomain_019ead36-6b6c-7b3d-93e2-2727bbf1642f" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ScenarioForecastMember_019ead36-6b6c-76be-bbb1-59807c1726b0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ScenarioForecastMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ScenarioUnspecifiedDomain_019ead36-6b6c-7b3d-93e2-2727bbf1642f" xlink:to="loc_srt_ScenarioForecastMember_019ead36-6b6c-76be-bbb1-59807c1726b0" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations_019ead36-6b6c-788b-a0f7-7f769380945f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxContingencyLineItems_019ead36-6b6c-727f-9a17-7ea80d365f72" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations_019ead36-6b6c-788b-a0f7-7f769380945f" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxHolidays_019ead36-6b6c-761e-9ab0-6c93183e68d1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxHolidays"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxContingencyLineItems_019ead36-6b6c-727f-9a17-7ea80d365f72" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxHolidays_019ead36-6b6c-761e-9ab0-6c93183e68d1" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.encorecapital.com/role/SegmentandGeographicInformationReportableSegmentDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#SegmentandGeographicInformationReportableSegmentDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.encorecapital.com/role/SegmentandGeographicInformationReportableSegmentDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019ead36-6b6c-716e-a646-c457840ddf5b" 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_019ead36-6b6c-78b0-9ec8-48635de1ce56" 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_019ead36-6b6c-716e-a646-c457840ddf5b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_019ead36-6b6c-78b0-9ec8-48635de1ce56" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis_019ead36-6b6c-7bbe-8a1d-d560992f3a3e" 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_019ead36-6b6c-78b0-9ec8-48635de1ce56" xlink:to="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis_019ead36-6b6c-7bbe-8a1d-d560992f3a3e" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_019ead36-6b6c-7bbe-8a1d-d560992f3a3e_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_019ead36-6b6c-7bbe-8a1d-d560992f3a3e" xlink:to="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_019ead36-6b6c-7bbe-8a1d-d560992f3a3e_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_019ead36-6b6c-71bc-a3f9-46051290b27f" 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_019ead36-6b6c-7bbe-8a1d-d560992f3a3e" xlink:to="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_019ead36-6b6c-71bc-a3f9-46051290b27f" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember_019ead36-6b6c-78e2-b275-04e1c4c9cfcc" 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_019ead36-6b6c-71bc-a3f9-46051290b27f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember_019ead36-6b6c-78e2-b275-04e1c4c9cfcc" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CorporateNonSegmentMember_019ead36-6b6c-77f6-be81-6c20b3a18429" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CorporateNonSegmentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_019ead36-6b6c-71bc-a3f9-46051290b27f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CorporateNonSegmentMember_019ead36-6b6c-77f6-be81-6c20b3a18429" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_Revenues_019ead36-6b6c-7860-b77b-67a0c9d27020" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_Revenues"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019ead36-6b6c-716e-a646-c457840ddf5b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_Revenues_019ead36-6b6c-7860-b77b-67a0c9d27020" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OperatingExpenses_019ead36-6b6c-705f-9a8d-ee7fda032d1b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OperatingExpenses"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019ead36-6b6c-716e-a646-c457840ddf5b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OperatingExpenses_019ead36-6b6c-705f-9a8d-ee7fda032d1b" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss_019ead36-6b6c-7590-9adc-b8f99f34cccd" 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_019ead36-6b6c-716e-a646-c457840ddf5b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss_019ead36-6b6c-7590-9adc-b8f99f34cccd" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingOtherItemAmount_019ead36-6b6c-77d7-86ba-1bbd107a6e53" 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_019ead36-6b6c-716e-a646-c457840ddf5b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingOtherItemAmount_019ead36-6b6c-77d7-86ba-1bbd107a6e53" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InterestExpenseNonoperating_019ead36-6b6c-7c2d-998e-05112af29937" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_InterestExpenseNonoperating"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019ead36-6b6c-716e-a646-c457840ddf5b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InterestExpenseNonoperating_019ead36-6b6c-7c2d-998e-05112af29937" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit_019ead36-6b6c-78e1-904b-7413b302ac7a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019ead36-6b6c-716e-a646-c457840ddf5b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit_019ead36-6b6c-78e1-904b-7413b302ac7a" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ProfitLoss_019ead36-6b6c-7519-8440-a420dd31f470" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ProfitLoss"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019ead36-6b6c-716e-a646-c457840ddf5b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ProfitLoss_019ead36-6b6c-7519-8440-a420dd31f470" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LaborAndRelatedExpense_019ead36-6b6c-7fc3-866f-3725908e7200" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LaborAndRelatedExpense"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019ead36-6b6c-716e-a646-c457840ddf5b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LaborAndRelatedExpense_019ead36-6b6c-7fc3-866f-3725908e7200" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense_019ead36-6b6c-70cd-95ca-c4528e43e2a3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019ead36-6b6c-716e-a646-c457840ddf5b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense_019ead36-6b6c-70cd-95ca-c4528e43e2a3" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.encorecapital.com/role/SegmentReportingDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#SegmentReportingDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.encorecapital.com/role/SegmentReportingDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019fb494-dbf8-730f-96c7-d475b7f2b23b" 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_019fb494-dbf8-7422-9a85-50f4813e0f89" 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_019fb494-dbf8-730f-96c7-d475b7f2b23b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_019fb494-dbf8-7422-9a85-50f4813e0f89" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_019fb494-dbf8-76c7-a90b-8711ffadda18" 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_019fb494-dbf8-7422-9a85-50f4813e0f89" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_019fb494-dbf8-76c7-a90b-8711ffadda18" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019fb494-dbf8-76c7-a90b-8711ffadda18_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_019fb494-dbf8-76c7-a90b-8711ffadda18" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019fb494-dbf8-76c7-a90b-8711ffadda18_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019fb494-dbf8-7da8-903c-ce3e8cf5fc1f" 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_019fb494-dbf8-76c7-a90b-8711ffadda18" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019fb494-dbf8-7da8-903c-ce3e8cf5fc1f" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_ReportableSegmentMember_019fb494-dbf8-735f-9dd5-302d46d14a61" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_ReportableSegmentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019fb494-dbf8-7da8-903c-ce3e8cf5fc1f" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_ReportableSegmentMember_019fb494-dbf8-735f-9dd5-302d46d14a61" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NumberOfReportableSegments_019fb494-dbf8-7985-be9b-eb5101d2241d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_NumberOfReportableSegments"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019fb494-dbf8-730f-96c7-d475b7f2b23b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NumberOfReportableSegments_019fb494-dbf8-7985-be9b-eb5101d2241d" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.encorecapital.com/role/SegmentandGeographicInformationGeographicAreasDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#SegmentandGeographicInformationGeographicAreasDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.encorecapital.com/role/SegmentandGeographicInformationGeographicAreasDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019ead36-6b6c-7d7c-a407-2ed0e926af11" 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_019ead36-6b6c-75db-a98d-23cb7654616c" 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_019ead36-6b6c-7d7c-a407-2ed0e926af11" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_019ead36-6b6c-75db-a98d-23cb7654616c" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_StatementGeographicalAxis_019ead36-6b6c-7c8c-af45-dd20f394a65a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_StatementGeographicalAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_019ead36-6b6c-75db-a98d-23cb7654616c" xlink:to="loc_srt_StatementGeographicalAxis_019ead36-6b6c-7c8c-af45-dd20f394a65a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain_019ead36-6b6c-7c8c-af45-dd20f394a65a_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_StatementGeographicalAxis_019ead36-6b6c-7c8c-af45-dd20f394a65a" xlink:to="loc_srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain_019ead36-6b6c-7c8c-af45-dd20f394a65a_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain_019ead36-6b6c-780b-b91c-403872b5f932" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_StatementGeographicalAxis_019ead36-6b6c-7c8c-af45-dd20f394a65a" xlink:to="loc_srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain_019ead36-6b6c-780b-b91c-403872b5f932" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_country_US_019ead36-6b6c-7c98-8061-5da876d4e580" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/country/2026/country-2026.xsd#country_US"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain_019ead36-6b6c-780b-b91c-403872b5f932" xlink:to="loc_country_US_019ead36-6b6c-7c98-8061-5da876d4e580" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_EuropeMember_019ead36-6b6c-74e7-a6ee-aaaf5d22d2f6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_EuropeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain_019ead36-6b6c-780b-b91c-403872b5f932" xlink:to="loc_srt_EuropeMember_019ead36-6b6c-74e7-a6ee-aaaf5d22d2f6" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_country_GB_019ead36-6b6c-7079-9ab9-7750ce7fa512" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/country/2026/country-2026.xsd#country_GB"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_EuropeMember_019ead36-6b6c-74e7-a6ee-aaaf5d22d2f6" xlink:to="loc_country_GB_019ead36-6b6c-7079-9ab9-7750ce7fa512" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_OtherEuropeanCountriesMember_019ead36-6b6c-792a-9bd6-ec84e175dfc7" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_OtherEuropeanCountriesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_EuropeMember_019ead36-6b6c-74e7-a6ee-aaaf5d22d2f6" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_OtherEuropeanCountriesMember_019ead36-6b6c-792a-9bd6-ec84e175dfc7" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_OtherGeographiesMember_019ead36-6b6c-785c-a1cd-fb15612eb26f" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_OtherGeographiesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain_019ead36-6b6c-780b-b91c-403872b5f932" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_OtherGeographiesMember_019ead36-6b6c-785c-a1cd-fb15612eb26f" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_ecpg_RevenuesAdjustedByNetAllowances_019ead36-6b6c-728a-8066-2f046f37142e" xlink:href="ecpg-20260630.xsd#ecpg_RevenuesAdjustedByNetAllowances"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019ead36-6b6c-7d7c-a407-2ed0e926af11" xlink:to="loc_ecpg_RevenuesAdjustedByNetAllowances_019ead36-6b6c-728a-8066-2f046f37142e" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://fasb.org/srt/role/srt-eedm/ExtensibleEnumerationLists" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-roles-2026.xsd#eedm1"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://fasb.org/srt/role/srt-eedm/ExtensibleEnumerationLists" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LiabilitiesAbstract" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LiabilitiesAbstract"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LiabilitiesAbstract" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations" xlink:type="arc" order="31"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
</link:linkbase>
