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

<!--XBRL Document Created with Wdesk from Workiva-->
<!--Copyright 2020 Workiva-->
<!--r:66e737c8-0e81-4bbc-b93a-b5761b074e4f,g:b2c9cfb4-b333-488e-ac7c-f221ba97356c-->
<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.express.com/role/CoverPage" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#CoverPage"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.express.com/role/CoverPage" xlink:type="extended" id="i5398a69037eb4f89a59fa509990e313a_CoverPage">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentInformationLineItems_33b8b6f3-0e91-4e0f-bdf6-e4d0a5041a0b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_DocumentInformationLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentType_798b3a0f-b7c1-4095-86e6-1af4a3710c46" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_DocumentType"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_DocumentInformationLineItems_33b8b6f3-0e91-4e0f-bdf6-e4d0a5041a0b" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentType_798b3a0f-b7c1-4095-86e6-1af4a3710c46" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentQuarterlyReport_2b301a10-09a1-4fd6-9bba-259680cdfd57" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_DocumentQuarterlyReport"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_DocumentInformationLineItems_33b8b6f3-0e91-4e0f-bdf6-e4d0a5041a0b" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentQuarterlyReport_2b301a10-09a1-4fd6-9bba-259680cdfd57" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_27a0ff61-4f99-48a4-bddf-dd7351ee3b4d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_DocumentInformationLineItems_33b8b6f3-0e91-4e0f-bdf6-e4d0a5041a0b" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_27a0ff61-4f99-48a4-bddf-dd7351ee3b4d" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentTransitionReport_6c001bb5-e7b6-4b72-8175-28413f78ea66" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_DocumentTransitionReport"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_DocumentInformationLineItems_33b8b6f3-0e91-4e0f-bdf6-e4d0a5041a0b" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentTransitionReport_6c001bb5-e7b6-4b72-8175-28413f78ea66" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_abf96ba4-0956-403d-81f5-35557af8e6a5" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityFileNumber"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_DocumentInformationLineItems_33b8b6f3-0e91-4e0f-bdf6-e4d0a5041a0b" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_abf96ba4-0956-403d-81f5-35557af8e6a5" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_f4879f9a-763a-4c7c-a2c5-82743dd1315a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityRegistrantName"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_DocumentInformationLineItems_33b8b6f3-0e91-4e0f-bdf6-e4d0a5041a0b" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_f4879f9a-763a-4c7c-a2c5-82743dd1315a" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_9b40ea0f-ef32-44ac-a4ad-1e52a94b67b3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_DocumentInformationLineItems_33b8b6f3-0e91-4e0f-bdf6-e4d0a5041a0b" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_9b40ea0f-ef32-44ac-a4ad-1e52a94b67b3" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_c187d44d-ae11-41e0-b7e6-875d06aaf3aa" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_DocumentInformationLineItems_33b8b6f3-0e91-4e0f-bdf6-e4d0a5041a0b" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_c187d44d-ae11-41e0-b7e6-875d06aaf3aa" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_3e2e2aa5-1ac4-46b4-96e9-5b5d9b9218ff" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_DocumentInformationLineItems_33b8b6f3-0e91-4e0f-bdf6-e4d0a5041a0b" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_3e2e2aa5-1ac4-46b4-96e9-5b5d9b9218ff" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_80fa8369-1627-4cdf-8d8e-ceb87128496d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_DocumentInformationLineItems_33b8b6f3-0e91-4e0f-bdf6-e4d0a5041a0b" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_80fa8369-1627-4cdf-8d8e-ceb87128496d" xlink:type="arc" order="9"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_62d1a670-2c99-4b18-ba92-857723b92969" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_DocumentInformationLineItems_33b8b6f3-0e91-4e0f-bdf6-e4d0a5041a0b" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_62d1a670-2c99-4b18-ba92-857723b92969" xlink:type="arc" order="10"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_d339a08a-13f5-4c6b-ad6d-eaf0984cc1d3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_DocumentInformationLineItems_33b8b6f3-0e91-4e0f-bdf6-e4d0a5041a0b" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_d339a08a-13f5-4c6b-ad6d-eaf0984cc1d3" xlink:type="arc" order="11"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_4f3c9cdd-8ba4-4d50-8f63-773803a73035" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_CityAreaCode"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_DocumentInformationLineItems_33b8b6f3-0e91-4e0f-bdf6-e4d0a5041a0b" xlink:to="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_4f3c9cdd-8ba4-4d50-8f63-773803a73035" xlink:type="arc" order="12"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_16d6e9bb-a55d-4362-9cde-e222450ce6f9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_LocalPhoneNumber"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_DocumentInformationLineItems_33b8b6f3-0e91-4e0f-bdf6-e4d0a5041a0b" xlink:to="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_16d6e9bb-a55d-4362-9cde-e222450ce6f9" xlink:type="arc" order="13"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_e7bcf27e-f797-4083-9005-81a168c8efe2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_Security12bTitle"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_DocumentInformationLineItems_33b8b6f3-0e91-4e0f-bdf6-e4d0a5041a0b" xlink:to="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_e7bcf27e-f797-4083-9005-81a168c8efe2" xlink:type="arc" order="14"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_8de27cce-ccd0-4e5b-9097-a2a4de2a2eb9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_TradingSymbol"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_DocumentInformationLineItems_33b8b6f3-0e91-4e0f-bdf6-e4d0a5041a0b" xlink:to="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_8de27cce-ccd0-4e5b-9097-a2a4de2a2eb9" xlink:type="arc" order="15"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_ff4da8fb-f47f-4a4d-9ecc-9c972b9c9a2d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_SecurityExchangeName"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_DocumentInformationLineItems_33b8b6f3-0e91-4e0f-bdf6-e4d0a5041a0b" xlink:to="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_ff4da8fb-f47f-4a4d-9ecc-9c972b9c9a2d" xlink:type="arc" order="16"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityCurrentReportingStatus_931f4257-2b1b-44d9-88c2-0d1d54ecb410" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityCurrentReportingStatus"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_DocumentInformationLineItems_33b8b6f3-0e91-4e0f-bdf6-e4d0a5041a0b" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityCurrentReportingStatus_931f4257-2b1b-44d9-88c2-0d1d54ecb410" xlink:type="arc" order="17"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityInteractiveDataCurrent_ba2348eb-97ce-4c89-ade0-67556a6dd355" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityInteractiveDataCurrent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_DocumentInformationLineItems_33b8b6f3-0e91-4e0f-bdf6-e4d0a5041a0b" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityInteractiveDataCurrent_ba2348eb-97ce-4c89-ade0-67556a6dd355" xlink:type="arc" order="18"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityFilerCategory_c84178ba-b766-401f-bf87-7b3c09d04de6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityFilerCategory"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_DocumentInformationLineItems_33b8b6f3-0e91-4e0f-bdf6-e4d0a5041a0b" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityFilerCategory_c84178ba-b766-401f-bf87-7b3c09d04de6" xlink:type="arc" order="19"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntitySmallBusiness_4e37201e-94d2-42d9-ace5-7a5b13c96dea" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntitySmallBusiness"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_DocumentInformationLineItems_33b8b6f3-0e91-4e0f-bdf6-e4d0a5041a0b" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntitySmallBusiness_4e37201e-94d2-42d9-ace5-7a5b13c96dea" xlink:type="arc" order="20"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_4ab508ec-5edb-4273-b15a-8b627f769c04" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_DocumentInformationLineItems_33b8b6f3-0e91-4e0f-bdf6-e4d0a5041a0b" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_4ab508ec-5edb-4273-b15a-8b627f769c04" xlink:type="arc" order="21"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityShellCompany_ff4ff119-6f5c-410a-aaa5-602d84c875d9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityShellCompany"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_DocumentInformationLineItems_33b8b6f3-0e91-4e0f-bdf6-e4d0a5041a0b" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityShellCompany_ff4ff119-6f5c-410a-aaa5-602d84c875d9" xlink:type="arc" order="22"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityCommonStockSharesOutstanding_5009d362-c49d-40c8-919b-d82d4286fb46" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityCommonStockSharesOutstanding"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_DocumentInformationLineItems_33b8b6f3-0e91-4e0f-bdf6-e4d0a5041a0b" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityCommonStockSharesOutstanding_5009d362-c49d-40c8-919b-d82d4286fb46" xlink:type="arc" order="23"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_c2ce74a6-faed-46a8-9cb2-d81e058be25a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityCentralIndexKey"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_DocumentInformationLineItems_33b8b6f3-0e91-4e0f-bdf6-e4d0a5041a0b" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_c2ce74a6-faed-46a8-9cb2-d81e058be25a" xlink:type="arc" order="24"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_CurrentFiscalYearEndDate_8a829b5c-3ae7-46c1-a5e5-9ea5e363a0ea" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_CurrentFiscalYearEndDate"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_DocumentInformationLineItems_33b8b6f3-0e91-4e0f-bdf6-e4d0a5041a0b" xlink:to="loc_dei_CurrentFiscalYearEndDate_8a829b5c-3ae7-46c1-a5e5-9ea5e363a0ea" xlink:type="arc" order="25"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentFiscalYearFocus_d3b64ec6-93ee-4f04-9159-408bdf8b512e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_DocumentFiscalYearFocus"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_DocumentInformationLineItems_33b8b6f3-0e91-4e0f-bdf6-e4d0a5041a0b" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentFiscalYearFocus_d3b64ec6-93ee-4f04-9159-408bdf8b512e" xlink:type="arc" order="26"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentFiscalPeriodFocus_dfba2e4c-f554-45d8-9f3c-32111938c8f8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_DocumentFiscalPeriodFocus"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_DocumentInformationLineItems_33b8b6f3-0e91-4e0f-bdf6-e4d0a5041a0b" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentFiscalPeriodFocus_dfba2e4c-f554-45d8-9f3c-32111938c8f8" xlink:type="arc" order="27"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_8d4cede0-9ad9-4f3b-b858-efe8ff1cee92" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_AmendmentFlag"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_DocumentInformationLineItems_33b8b6f3-0e91-4e0f-bdf6-e4d0a5041a0b" xlink:to="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_8d4cede0-9ad9-4f3b-b858-efe8ff1cee92" xlink:type="arc" order="28"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentInformationTable_78e9d319-68c2-4c7e-81dc-f997a36a1cb1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_DocumentInformationTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_dei_DocumentInformationLineItems_33b8b6f3-0e91-4e0f-bdf6-e4d0a5041a0b" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentInformationTable_78e9d319-68c2-4c7e-81dc-f997a36a1cb1" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_95ada9ba-c5c0-47da-8003-be30b1d9860f" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_dei_DocumentInformationTable_78e9d319-68c2-4c7e-81dc-f997a36a1cb1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_95ada9ba-c5c0-47da-8003-be30b1d9860f" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_95ada9ba-c5c0-47da-8003-be30b1d9860f_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_95ada9ba-c5c0-47da-8003-be30b1d9860f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_95ada9ba-c5c0-47da-8003-be30b1d9860f_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_5118bc37-d3e7-4ac9-a4c9-187eef11483c" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_95ada9ba-c5c0-47da-8003-be30b1d9860f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_5118bc37-d3e7-4ac9-a4c9-187eef11483c" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockMember_d821c0b3-2bf4-465c-8404-b35f7aaf4afb" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_5118bc37-d3e7-4ac9-a4c9-187eef11483c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockMember_d821c0b3-2bf4-465c-8404-b35f7aaf4afb" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_expr_PreferredStockPurchaseRightsMember_fe0a6c74-25a1-4d02-8163-b170f83e54fd" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#expr_PreferredStockPurchaseRightsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_5118bc37-d3e7-4ac9-a4c9-187eef11483c" xlink:to="loc_expr_PreferredStockPurchaseRightsMember_fe0a6c74-25a1-4d02-8163-b170f83e54fd" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.express.com/role/ConsolidatedBalanceSheets" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#ConsolidatedBalanceSheets"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.express.com/role/ConsolidatedBalanceSheets" xlink:type="extended" id="i80eb37324c7a42c98df98cf89e6d82fb_ConsolidatedBalanceSheets"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.express.com/role/ConsolidatedBalanceSheetsParentheticals" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#ConsolidatedBalanceSheetsParentheticals"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.express.com/role/ConsolidatedBalanceSheetsParentheticals" xlink:type="extended" id="i24615cb69eb144018e1ea6f5688a54f0_ConsolidatedBalanceSheetsParentheticals"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.express.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsofIncomeandComprehensiveIncome" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#ConsolidatedStatementsofIncomeandComprehensiveIncome"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.express.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsofIncomeandComprehensiveIncome" xlink:type="extended" id="ifd5dd898af4f4ebf925217647b3329ce_ConsolidatedStatementsofIncomeandComprehensiveIncome"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.express.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsofChangesinStockholdersEquity" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#ConsolidatedStatementsofChangesinStockholdersEquity"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.express.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsofChangesinStockholdersEquity" xlink:type="extended" id="idf74d8c0640d451a81514ed71086f973_ConsolidatedStatementsofChangesinStockholdersEquity">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_8db411f9-2b28-493e-859f-dd4e7370e44d" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StatementLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_ceccc22a-e9bb-4abb-96a8-3023898785a3" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_8db411f9-2b28-493e-859f-dd4e7370e44d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_ceccc22a-e9bb-4abb-96a8-3023898785a3" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding_6067605a-a028-4977-8432-594da1cba29e" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_ceccc22a-e9bb-4abb-96a8-3023898785a3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding_6067605a-a028-4977-8432-594da1cba29e" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquity_3ff4f881-8058-42d1-a791-692919eaa80c" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StockholdersEquity"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_ceccc22a-e9bb-4abb-96a8-3023898785a3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquity_3ff4f881-8058-42d1-a791-692919eaa80c" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_TreasuryStockShares_75b0eb58-8712-45c6-bc9a-5853d889245a" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_TreasuryStockShares"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_ceccc22a-e9bb-4abb-96a8-3023898785a3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_TreasuryStockShares_75b0eb58-8712-45c6-bc9a-5853d889245a" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss_4082863c-accb-4662-a410-de6f796c3c23" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_ceccc22a-e9bb-4abb-96a8-3023898785a3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss_4082863c-accb-4662-a410-de6f796c3c23" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensation_a7f02b5a-3b5c-42e0-97fd-457daece7bf6" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensation"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_ceccc22a-e9bb-4abb-96a8-3023898785a3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensation_a7f02b5a-3b5c-42e0-97fd-457daece7bf6" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensation_a6b37c75-6df3-4d22-9423-d506ea2c513c" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensation"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_ceccc22a-e9bb-4abb-96a8-3023898785a3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensation_a6b37c75-6df3-4d22-9423-d506ea2c513c" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue_d34e5940-93dc-4542-b77a-365d690c7077" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_ceccc22a-e9bb-4abb-96a8-3023898785a3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue_d34e5940-93dc-4542-b77a-365d690c7077" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired_61ec7745-eeba-409b-af79-53e917389ab9" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_ceccc22a-e9bb-4abb-96a8-3023898785a3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired_61ec7745-eeba-409b-af79-53e917389ab9" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod_4896ab85-5f6e-4b11-9bca-adec2bdefd33" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_ceccc22a-e9bb-4abb-96a8-3023898785a3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod_4896ab85-5f6e-4b11-9bca-adec2bdefd33" xlink:type="arc" order="9"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding_5b6047d2-4e86-47ac-a5b5-ccd6d04afc39" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquity_da28d185-d6d7-4d2c-be3b-c582f9609e33" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StockholdersEquity"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_TreasuryStockShares_56dbc7cd-475a-464b-b160-77628dbad71e" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_TreasuryStockShares"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementTable_d8f5d350-5475-46d7-8b09-f50ecc1c95e0" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StatementTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_8db411f9-2b28-493e-859f-dd4e7370e44d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementTable_d8f5d350-5475-46d7-8b09-f50ecc1c95e0" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_cdccf7fa-d1a8-4313-86f2-70b46ab55284" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementTable_d8f5d350-5475-46d7-8b09-f50ecc1c95e0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_cdccf7fa-d1a8-4313-86f2-70b46ab55284" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_cdccf7fa-d1a8-4313-86f2-70b46ab55284_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_cdccf7fa-d1a8-4313-86f2-70b46ab55284" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_cdccf7fa-d1a8-4313-86f2-70b46ab55284_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_30bf96ab-85f3-400c-983b-f96463dd45f5" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_cdccf7fa-d1a8-4313-86f2-70b46ab55284" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_30bf96ab-85f3-400c-983b-f96463dd45f5" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockMember_bd0006a5-2a76-41ac-b23c-42df5de3f4af" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_30bf96ab-85f3-400c-983b-f96463dd45f5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockMember_bd0006a5-2a76-41ac-b23c-42df5de3f4af" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember_1c2c44f1-01f7-4bbd-9939-f4e0faa33fdb" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_30bf96ab-85f3-400c-983b-f96463dd45f5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember_1c2c44f1-01f7-4bbd-9939-f4e0faa33fdb" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember_d34ddd95-d3c3-4850-8083-0f5de2d8071e" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_30bf96ab-85f3-400c-983b-f96463dd45f5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember_d34ddd95-d3c3-4850-8083-0f5de2d8071e" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember_7496568a-ff86-4b72-8637-be42f054cc32" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_30bf96ab-85f3-400c-983b-f96463dd45f5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember_7496568a-ff86-4b72-8637-be42f054cc32" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember_201993fd-21bd-4537-9490-3d0f3b8b8c0a" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_30bf96ab-85f3-400c-983b-f96463dd45f5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember_201993fd-21bd-4537-9490-3d0f3b8b8c0a" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAxis_431f37df-9a47-44f5-bfb0-fde48c80432e" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementTable_d8f5d350-5475-46d7-8b09-f50ecc1c95e0" xlink:to="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAxis_431f37df-9a47-44f5-bfb0-fde48c80432e" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionDomain_431f37df-9a47-44f5-bfb0-fde48c80432e_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAxis_431f37df-9a47-44f5-bfb0-fde48c80432e" xlink:to="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionDomain_431f37df-9a47-44f5-bfb0-fde48c80432e_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionDomain_7ce5aae9-e9c9-4938-903f-cbc4bd8481f7" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAxis_431f37df-9a47-44f5-bfb0-fde48c80432e" xlink:to="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionDomain_7ce5aae9-e9c9-4938-903f-cbc4bd8481f7" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAdjustmentMember_133616ec-caa9-4da0-ab90-000860de8619" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAdjustmentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionDomain_7ce5aae9-e9c9-4938-903f-cbc4bd8481f7" xlink:to="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAdjustmentMember_133616ec-caa9-4da0-ab90-000860de8619" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.express.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsofCashFlows" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#ConsolidatedStatementsofCashFlows"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.express.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsofCashFlows" xlink:type="extended" id="i68cc7e3922ff47b0aa59e58916410ff6_ConsolidatedStatementsofCashFlows"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.express.com/role/DescriptionofBusinessandBasisofPresentation" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#DescriptionofBusinessandBasisofPresentation"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.express.com/role/DescriptionofBusinessandBasisofPresentation" xlink:type="extended" id="i647839418d7841c0b3ee2abe2e464544_DescriptionofBusinessandBasisofPresentation"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.express.com/role/DescriptionofBusinessandBasisofPresentationPolicies" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#DescriptionofBusinessandBasisofPresentationPolicies"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.express.com/role/DescriptionofBusinessandBasisofPresentationPolicies" xlink:type="extended" id="i633b4691113d4f16b32d80ab5ed6a686_DescriptionofBusinessandBasisofPresentationPolicies"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.express.com/role/DescriptionofBusinessandBasisofPresentationDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#DescriptionofBusinessandBasisofPresentationDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.express.com/role/DescriptionofBusinessandBasisofPresentationDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i658ac662aa4a45d38dd9a5cb9b54ad4c_DescriptionofBusinessandBasisofPresentationDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_expr_DescriptionOfBusinessAndBasisOfPresentationLineItems_08241cff-cf66-478a-99ab-592874c91d69" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#expr_DescriptionOfBusinessAndBasisOfPresentationLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NumberOfStores_04c0db32-5bf4-4639-8d96-c678a651afab" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_NumberOfStores"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_expr_DescriptionOfBusinessAndBasisOfPresentationLineItems_08241cff-cf66-478a-99ab-592874c91d69" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NumberOfStores_04c0db32-5bf4-4639-8d96-c678a651afab" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_expr_StoresUnderFranchiseAgreements_d9ebd42c-c7ed-466a-a144-ea1148a49b52" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#expr_StoresUnderFranchiseAgreements"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_expr_DescriptionOfBusinessAndBasisOfPresentationLineItems_08241cff-cf66-478a-99ab-592874c91d69" xlink:to="loc_expr_StoresUnderFranchiseAgreements_d9ebd42c-c7ed-466a-a144-ea1148a49b52" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NumberOfOperatingSegments_cb7a6914-96df-4bac-b8ec-06705075f146" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_NumberOfOperatingSegments"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_expr_DescriptionOfBusinessAndBasisOfPresentationLineItems_08241cff-cf66-478a-99ab-592874c91d69" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NumberOfOperatingSegments_cb7a6914-96df-4bac-b8ec-06705075f146" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_expr_DescriptionOfBusinessAndBasisOfPresentationTable_f5c3f5c7-8e13-4aa3-86bd-de4fd9f0207b" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#expr_DescriptionOfBusinessAndBasisOfPresentationTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_expr_DescriptionOfBusinessAndBasisOfPresentationLineItems_08241cff-cf66-478a-99ab-592874c91d69" xlink:to="loc_expr_DescriptionOfBusinessAndBasisOfPresentationTable_f5c3f5c7-8e13-4aa3-86bd-de4fd9f0207b" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_expr_StoreTypeAxis_9f82c555-bd00-43f0-86f3-867430181185" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#expr_StoreTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_expr_DescriptionOfBusinessAndBasisOfPresentationTable_f5c3f5c7-8e13-4aa3-86bd-de4fd9f0207b" xlink:to="loc_expr_StoreTypeAxis_9f82c555-bd00-43f0-86f3-867430181185" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_expr_StoreTypeDomain_9f82c555-bd00-43f0-86f3-867430181185_default" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#expr_StoreTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_expr_StoreTypeAxis_9f82c555-bd00-43f0-86f3-867430181185" xlink:to="loc_expr_StoreTypeDomain_9f82c555-bd00-43f0-86f3-867430181185_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_expr_StoreTypeDomain_f39039e9-1cc9-4d83-a9f3-6b8648211135" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#expr_StoreTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_expr_StoreTypeAxis_9f82c555-bd00-43f0-86f3-867430181185" xlink:to="loc_expr_StoreTypeDomain_f39039e9-1cc9-4d83-a9f3-6b8648211135" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RetailMember_f5aa8998-a833-4073-b462-ff74897d653b" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_RetailMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_expr_StoreTypeDomain_f39039e9-1cc9-4d83-a9f3-6b8648211135" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RetailMember_f5aa8998-a833-4073-b462-ff74897d653b" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_expr_OutletMember_c2221586-bab8-4fe5-bb88-556a9b94adff" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#expr_OutletMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_expr_StoreTypeDomain_f39039e9-1cc9-4d83-a9f3-6b8648211135" xlink:to="loc_expr_OutletMember_c2221586-bab8-4fe5-bb88-556a9b94adff" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.express.com/role/RevenueRecognition" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#RevenueRecognition"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.express.com/role/RevenueRecognition" xlink:type="extended" id="ibc5aaefad7c44e0fbba59502295d46f2_RevenueRecognition"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.express.com/role/RevenueRecognitionTables" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#RevenueRecognitionTables"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.express.com/role/RevenueRecognitionTables" xlink:type="extended" id="ieff286261358435997939c674aeeec68_RevenueRecognitionTables"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.express.com/role/RevenueRecognitionRevenuebyMajorProductCategoriesandSalesChannelsDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#RevenueRecognitionRevenuebyMajorProductCategoriesandSalesChannelsDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.express.com/role/RevenueRecognitionRevenuebyMajorProductCategoriesandSalesChannelsDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="ia5f8b3b751b24e89afe5aebaaa3fc189_RevenueRecognitionRevenuebyMajorProductCategoriesandSalesChannelsDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueLineItems_1ffb7d64-2cc2-4854-b00a-86f43406482d" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax_d3b48ab4-6600-495c-9f3c-90c2ca07fda2" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueLineItems_1ffb7d64-2cc2-4854-b00a-86f43406482d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax_d3b48ab4-6600-495c-9f3c-90c2ca07fda2" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueTable_264a7a58-8518-412e-bbdb-9b4ecdab1e26" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueLineItems_1ffb7d64-2cc2-4854-b00a-86f43406482d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueTable_264a7a58-8518-412e-bbdb-9b4ecdab1e26" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_c108957a-73f1-4750-b59b-9c25dbb626e5" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_ProductOrServiceAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueTable_264a7a58-8518-412e-bbdb-9b4ecdab1e26" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_c108957a-73f1-4750-b59b-9c25dbb626e5" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_c108957a-73f1-4750-b59b-9c25dbb626e5_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_c108957a-73f1-4750-b59b-9c25dbb626e5" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_c108957a-73f1-4750-b59b-9c25dbb626e5_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_7f8d16d6-5785-4aea-ad8f-627c72f2a57d" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_c108957a-73f1-4750-b59b-9c25dbb626e5" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_7f8d16d6-5785-4aea-ad8f-627c72f2a57d" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_expr_ApparelMember_d5fdb4f8-28fa-4831-bfcb-ff15e8fab011" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#expr_ApparelMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_7f8d16d6-5785-4aea-ad8f-627c72f2a57d" xlink:to="loc_expr_ApparelMember_d5fdb4f8-28fa-4831-bfcb-ff15e8fab011" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_expr_AccessoriesAndOtherMember_dbb2e807-6ac5-480b-98e4-4b9d855f1747" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#expr_AccessoriesAndOtherMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_7f8d16d6-5785-4aea-ad8f-627c72f2a57d" xlink:to="loc_expr_AccessoriesAndOtherMember_dbb2e807-6ac5-480b-98e4-4b9d855f1747" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_expr_OtherRevenueMember_c9d83cb6-7b8a-4bdf-947f-60d82ee7f1b1" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#expr_OtherRevenueMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_7f8d16d6-5785-4aea-ad8f-627c72f2a57d" xlink:to="loc_expr_OtherRevenueMember_c9d83cb6-7b8a-4bdf-947f-60d82ee7f1b1" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RetailMember_b4deb655-6dd7-4667-a9fb-4e7cbd6e4e88" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_RetailMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_7f8d16d6-5785-4aea-ad8f-627c72f2a57d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RetailMember_b4deb655-6dd7-4667-a9fb-4e7cbd6e4e88" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_expr_OutletMember_56aa4a5b-8995-40cc-ad50-11453a65cc20" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#expr_OutletMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_7f8d16d6-5785-4aea-ad8f-627c72f2a57d" xlink:to="loc_expr_OutletMember_56aa4a5b-8995-40cc-ad50-11453a65cc20" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.express.com/role/RevenueRecognitionNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#RevenueRecognitionNarrativeDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.express.com/role/RevenueRecognitionNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i0d4cdb3f0d85486baf6e333269b48740_RevenueRecognitionNarrativeDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueLineItems_12e64ce1-cddb-4bcc-ad89-70ed30c238bf" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_expr_ContractWithCustomerRedemptionPeriodForRewardsEarned_7d6777bf-e31b-4bff-9834-c6c09ece1344" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#expr_ContractWithCustomerRedemptionPeriodForRewardsEarned"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueLineItems_12e64ce1-cddb-4bcc-ad89-70ed30c238bf" xlink:to="loc_expr_ContractWithCustomerRedemptionPeriodForRewardsEarned_7d6777bf-e31b-4bff-9834-c6c09ece1344" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerRefundLiability_296cc7de-2845-44c5-9015-4c7138957634" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerRefundLiability"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueLineItems_12e64ce1-cddb-4bcc-ad89-70ed30c238bf" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerRefundLiability_296cc7de-2845-44c5-9015-4c7138957634" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityCurrent_1b9dfcb2-66cc-4493-974c-e925d3fb7810" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityCurrent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueLineItems_12e64ce1-cddb-4bcc-ad89-70ed30c238bf" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityCurrent_1b9dfcb2-66cc-4493-974c-e925d3fb7810" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiability_f76a708f-63f5-4c43-92f8-bac899a92cdd" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiability"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueLineItems_12e64ce1-cddb-4bcc-ad89-70ed30c238bf" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiability_f76a708f-63f5-4c43-92f8-bac899a92cdd" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueTable_8ebacb17-9292-48f2-812f-3f4dd2cff62a" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueLineItems_12e64ce1-cddb-4bcc-ad89-70ed30c238bf" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueTable_8ebacb17-9292-48f2-812f-3f4dd2cff62a" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_CounterpartyNameAxis_2c58216a-2f88-4f35-8127-947fa56b5f1f" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_CounterpartyNameAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueTable_8ebacb17-9292-48f2-812f-3f4dd2cff62a" xlink:to="loc_srt_CounterpartyNameAxis_2c58216a-2f88-4f35-8127-947fa56b5f1f" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RepurchaseAgreementCounterpartyNameDomain_2c58216a-2f88-4f35-8127-947fa56b5f1f_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_RepurchaseAgreementCounterpartyNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_CounterpartyNameAxis_2c58216a-2f88-4f35-8127-947fa56b5f1f" xlink:to="loc_srt_RepurchaseAgreementCounterpartyNameDomain_2c58216a-2f88-4f35-8127-947fa56b5f1f_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RepurchaseAgreementCounterpartyNameDomain_062c4a75-5c50-4c6d-abc2-3a898032806b" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_RepurchaseAgreementCounterpartyNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_CounterpartyNameAxis_2c58216a-2f88-4f35-8127-947fa56b5f1f" xlink:to="loc_srt_RepurchaseAgreementCounterpartyNameDomain_062c4a75-5c50-4c6d-abc2-3a898032806b" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_expr_ComenityBankMember_e1895437-0bad-42b8-85b3-8bdc038e5d30" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#expr_ComenityBankMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_RepurchaseAgreementCounterpartyNameDomain_062c4a75-5c50-4c6d-abc2-3a898032806b" xlink:to="loc_expr_ComenityBankMember_e1895437-0bad-42b8-85b3-8bdc038e5d30" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_fb28f8b6-297e-4932-83d1-234c5b410f49" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_ProductOrServiceAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueTable_8ebacb17-9292-48f2-812f-3f4dd2cff62a" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_fb28f8b6-297e-4932-83d1-234c5b410f49" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_fb28f8b6-297e-4932-83d1-234c5b410f49_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_fb28f8b6-297e-4932-83d1-234c5b410f49" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_fb28f8b6-297e-4932-83d1-234c5b410f49_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_fe87488a-ebbe-4ad6-8860-22c855caa2cc" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_fb28f8b6-297e-4932-83d1-234c5b410f49" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_fe87488a-ebbe-4ad6-8860-22c855caa2cc" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_expr_GiftCardLiabilityMember_417e793d-2e16-46dc-b06c-538afa244d7f" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#expr_GiftCardLiabilityMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_fe87488a-ebbe-4ad6-8860-22c855caa2cc" xlink:to="loc_expr_GiftCardLiabilityMember_417e793d-2e16-46dc-b06c-538afa244d7f" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditCardMember_cca8fbe0-385e-4177-95a6-277a52629a69" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CreditCardMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_fe87488a-ebbe-4ad6-8860-22c855caa2cc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditCardMember_cca8fbe0-385e-4177-95a6-277a52629a69" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.express.com/role/RevenueRecognitionLoyaltyDeferredRevenueDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#RevenueRecognitionLoyaltyDeferredRevenueDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.express.com/role/RevenueRecognitionLoyaltyDeferredRevenueDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i47a3793306194be49e1691049009b9d3_RevenueRecognitionLoyaltyDeferredRevenueDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueLineItems_4755c7bd-546c-4174-a705-b79584876de8" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_expr_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityRollForward_1abef5f0-89e0-4940-87f5-5c1106fbd972" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#expr_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityRollForward"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueLineItems_4755c7bd-546c-4174-a705-b79584876de8" xlink:to="loc_expr_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityRollForward_1abef5f0-89e0-4940-87f5-5c1106fbd972" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityCurrent_c528702f-c0ee-4bc1-ad68-61914db2156c" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityCurrent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_expr_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityRollForward_1abef5f0-89e0-4940-87f5-5c1106fbd972" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityCurrent_c528702f-c0ee-4bc1-ad68-61914db2156c" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityRevenueRecognized_e8861836-2c61-4e6a-b7be-4331ae6f9607" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityRevenueRecognized"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_expr_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityRollForward_1abef5f0-89e0-4940-87f5-5c1106fbd972" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityRevenueRecognized_e8861836-2c61-4e6a-b7be-4331ae6f9607" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityCurrent_33e95bb2-cb2e-4f58-aa39-0e15e34c0f10" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityCurrent"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueTable_92fbb408-44f8-495d-92fe-5aa3b1c29ff4" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueLineItems_4755c7bd-546c-4174-a705-b79584876de8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueTable_92fbb408-44f8-495d-92fe-5aa3b1c29ff4" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_d8e899c0-f3fb-43bb-a51f-28fb2a29d0b4" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_ProductOrServiceAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueTable_92fbb408-44f8-495d-92fe-5aa3b1c29ff4" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_d8e899c0-f3fb-43bb-a51f-28fb2a29d0b4" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_d8e899c0-f3fb-43bb-a51f-28fb2a29d0b4_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_d8e899c0-f3fb-43bb-a51f-28fb2a29d0b4" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_d8e899c0-f3fb-43bb-a51f-28fb2a29d0b4_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_f25b1d82-2906-4076-9117-27f602e0b710" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_d8e899c0-f3fb-43bb-a51f-28fb2a29d0b4" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_f25b1d82-2906-4076-9117-27f602e0b710" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_expr_LoyaltyProgramMember_f701e178-7a7a-4761-962b-6b645ce5e5e6" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#expr_LoyaltyProgramMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_f25b1d82-2906-4076-9117-27f602e0b710" xlink:to="loc_expr_LoyaltyProgramMember_f701e178-7a7a-4761-962b-6b645ce5e5e6" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.express.com/role/RevenueRecognitionGiftCardLiabilityDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#RevenueRecognitionGiftCardLiabilityDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.express.com/role/RevenueRecognitionGiftCardLiabilityDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="ib3109efbbd7f4e599e22ed8b5ac76e83_RevenueRecognitionGiftCardLiabilityDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueLineItems_a899e71f-1491-48b6-9bca-228c42b3a7f2" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_expr_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityRollForward_464065d0-4ef1-427a-b94c-efda061b2695" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#expr_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityRollForward"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueLineItems_a899e71f-1491-48b6-9bca-228c42b3a7f2" xlink:to="loc_expr_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityRollForward_464065d0-4ef1-427a-b94c-efda061b2695" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityCurrent_20e3c47b-9725-40ee-bfd2-0f770a9c1568" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityCurrent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_expr_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityRollForward_464065d0-4ef1-427a-b94c-efda061b2695" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityCurrent_20e3c47b-9725-40ee-bfd2-0f770a9c1568" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInContractWithCustomerLiability_93783e0b-9244-425c-a9b1-3b7bf8212f3d" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInContractWithCustomerLiability"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_expr_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityRollForward_464065d0-4ef1-427a-b94c-efda061b2695" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInContractWithCustomerLiability_93783e0b-9244-425c-a9b1-3b7bf8212f3d" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityCurrent_6cc8d2d6-91c7-471e-8ea3-4677c0a6e1dc" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityCurrent"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueTable_02b3ed45-2680-4eb2-8b5c-52f6155bd66c" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueLineItems_a899e71f-1491-48b6-9bca-228c42b3a7f2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueTable_02b3ed45-2680-4eb2-8b5c-52f6155bd66c" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_469b82c4-1fe9-4d54-a932-25be00dcb74b" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_ProductOrServiceAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueTable_02b3ed45-2680-4eb2-8b5c-52f6155bd66c" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_469b82c4-1fe9-4d54-a932-25be00dcb74b" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_469b82c4-1fe9-4d54-a932-25be00dcb74b_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_469b82c4-1fe9-4d54-a932-25be00dcb74b" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_469b82c4-1fe9-4d54-a932-25be00dcb74b_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_9a4cee15-6924-4c70-ab48-f03ac8ff3a4b" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_469b82c4-1fe9-4d54-a932-25be00dcb74b" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_9a4cee15-6924-4c70-ab48-f03ac8ff3a4b" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_expr_GiftCardLiabilityMember_53b875fd-ef77-4c70-96a8-d7198aca4369" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#expr_GiftCardLiabilityMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_9a4cee15-6924-4c70-ab48-f03ac8ff3a4b" xlink:to="loc_expr_GiftCardLiabilityMember_53b875fd-ef77-4c70-96a8-d7198aca4369" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_expr_GiftCardIssuancesMember_ede963c2-ed97-4e96-bb51-298324b9a6d6" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#expr_GiftCardIssuancesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_expr_GiftCardLiabilityMember_53b875fd-ef77-4c70-96a8-d7198aca4369" xlink:to="loc_expr_GiftCardIssuancesMember_ede963c2-ed97-4e96-bb51-298324b9a6d6" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_expr_GiftCardRedemptionsMember_ffb59d0a-2cab-4e49-a3c8-33ecb465aca3" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#expr_GiftCardRedemptionsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_expr_GiftCardLiabilityMember_53b875fd-ef77-4c70-96a8-d7198aca4369" xlink:to="loc_expr_GiftCardRedemptionsMember_ffb59d0a-2cab-4e49-a3c8-33ecb465aca3" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_expr_GiftCardBreakageMember_6603f8aa-3500-4889-acec-6ae59da20f3c" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#expr_GiftCardBreakageMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_expr_GiftCardLiabilityMember_53b875fd-ef77-4c70-96a8-d7198aca4369" xlink:to="loc_expr_GiftCardBreakageMember_6603f8aa-3500-4889-acec-6ae59da20f3c" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.express.com/role/RevenueRecognitionRefundablePaymentLiabilityDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#RevenueRecognitionRefundablePaymentLiabilityDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.express.com/role/RevenueRecognitionRefundablePaymentLiabilityDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i2ba135b0afcb45c1a0f16341dc99375e_RevenueRecognitionRefundablePaymentLiabilityDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueLineItems_48665b5e-67bb-49c0-959a-b95de67d43e1" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_expr_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityRollForward_1bf06f4e-26ea-4e2e-a391-4b488768652c" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#expr_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityRollForward"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueLineItems_48665b5e-67bb-49c0-959a-b95de67d43e1" xlink:to="loc_expr_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityRollForward_1bf06f4e-26ea-4e2e-a391-4b488768652c" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiability_fd1a2bff-a81c-49e0-b27f-b77667d641c8" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiability"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_expr_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityRollForward_1bf06f4e-26ea-4e2e-a391-4b488768652c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiability_fd1a2bff-a81c-49e0-b27f-b77667d641c8" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityRevenueRecognized_b5834403-e721-4b3f-9708-48d35f87d69c" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityRevenueRecognized"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_expr_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityRollForward_1bf06f4e-26ea-4e2e-a391-4b488768652c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityRevenueRecognized_b5834403-e721-4b3f-9708-48d35f87d69c" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiability_8d5fc560-ae8b-40b3-a154-7b16ab304cc7" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiability"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueTable_aa258bd6-c91b-4141-b487-2da2f70d9406" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueLineItems_48665b5e-67bb-49c0-959a-b95de67d43e1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueTable_aa258bd6-c91b-4141-b487-2da2f70d9406" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_CounterpartyNameAxis_9c5bb816-c06c-4a1b-a240-01009cf24070" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_CounterpartyNameAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueTable_aa258bd6-c91b-4141-b487-2da2f70d9406" xlink:to="loc_srt_CounterpartyNameAxis_9c5bb816-c06c-4a1b-a240-01009cf24070" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RepurchaseAgreementCounterpartyNameDomain_9c5bb816-c06c-4a1b-a240-01009cf24070_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_RepurchaseAgreementCounterpartyNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_CounterpartyNameAxis_9c5bb816-c06c-4a1b-a240-01009cf24070" xlink:to="loc_srt_RepurchaseAgreementCounterpartyNameDomain_9c5bb816-c06c-4a1b-a240-01009cf24070_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RepurchaseAgreementCounterpartyNameDomain_002e0d4b-efff-4d96-af14-1378120bb0c2" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_RepurchaseAgreementCounterpartyNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_CounterpartyNameAxis_9c5bb816-c06c-4a1b-a240-01009cf24070" xlink:to="loc_srt_RepurchaseAgreementCounterpartyNameDomain_002e0d4b-efff-4d96-af14-1378120bb0c2" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_expr_ComenityBankMember_ac294977-80a2-4a5c-93ed-eb19c22a62d4" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#expr_ComenityBankMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_RepurchaseAgreementCounterpartyNameDomain_002e0d4b-efff-4d96-af14-1378120bb0c2" xlink:to="loc_expr_ComenityBankMember_ac294977-80a2-4a5c-93ed-eb19c22a62d4" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.express.com/role/EarningsPerShare" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#EarningsPerShare"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.express.com/role/EarningsPerShare" xlink:type="extended" id="i487131fcff8541eb943e6b96f2b738d3_EarningsPerShare"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.express.com/role/EarningsPerShareTables" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#EarningsPerShareTables"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.express.com/role/EarningsPerShareTables" xlink:type="extended" id="i058ede1f6a11488b9af492753edf58b9_EarningsPerShareTables"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.express.com/role/EarningsPerShareDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#EarningsPerShareDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.express.com/role/EarningsPerShareDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i5e3f801c30574a8f9592e87392189a12_EarningsPerShareDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareLineItems_314ea183-4201-4995-a014-f0d33e0df7a9" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount_630eb318-0754-42df-b233-65b0d3202092" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareLineItems_314ea183-4201-4995-a014-f0d33e0df7a9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount_630eb318-0754-42df-b233-65b0d3202092" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfAntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareTable_5b326189-459d-43e7-97aa-b2904110d872" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfAntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareLineItems_314ea183-4201-4995-a014-f0d33e0df7a9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfAntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareTable_5b326189-459d-43e7-97aa-b2904110d872" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareByAntidilutiveSecuritiesAxis_2b7ca022-3067-47b6-8e08-f402d6051ca2" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareByAntidilutiveSecuritiesAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfAntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareTable_5b326189-459d-43e7-97aa-b2904110d872" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareByAntidilutiveSecuritiesAxis_2b7ca022-3067-47b6-8e08-f402d6051ca2" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesNameDomain_2b7ca022-3067-47b6-8e08-f402d6051ca2_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareByAntidilutiveSecuritiesAxis_2b7ca022-3067-47b6-8e08-f402d6051ca2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesNameDomain_2b7ca022-3067-47b6-8e08-f402d6051ca2_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesNameDomain_ce994d44-5674-406f-a81f-30eaf34ded6c" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareByAntidilutiveSecuritiesAxis_2b7ca022-3067-47b6-8e08-f402d6051ca2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesNameDomain_ce994d44-5674-406f-a81f-30eaf34ded6c" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember_6f16c60c-5d49-4ff4-b3b1-b9fa10ad548c" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesNameDomain_ce994d44-5674-406f-a81f-30eaf34ded6c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember_6f16c60c-5d49-4ff4-b3b1-b9fa10ad548c" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.express.com/role/FairValueMeasurements" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#FairValueMeasurements"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.express.com/role/FairValueMeasurements" xlink:type="extended" id="i46d27d3c1cae47108527345e355f0405_FairValueMeasurements"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.express.com/role/FairValueMeasurementsTables" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#FairValueMeasurementsTables"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.express.com/role/FairValueMeasurementsTables" xlink:type="extended" id="i3f744fe0c4764eccb4bdf2563f1f1b1f_FairValueMeasurementsTables"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.express.com/role/FairValueMeasurementsDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#FairValueMeasurementsDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.express.com/role/FairValueMeasurementsDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="ib4d143b0e438418aa2a07956c914c269_FairValueMeasurementsDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_85bb1bb0-7774-4834-b1ec-734c5d26fdac" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure_7391f56d-9cf2-4dcc-b71a-4a4ccff44fb5" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_85bb1bb0-7774-4834-b1ec-734c5d26fdac" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure_7391f56d-9cf2-4dcc-b71a-4a4ccff44fb5" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForUse_30e9e986-08a9-4ae4-95f1-8d8acb49bc1e" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForUse"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_85bb1bb0-7774-4834-b1ec-734c5d26fdac" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForUse_30e9e986-08a9-4ae4-95f1-8d8acb49bc1e" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_9d5e9ac7-f10e-417a-a29e-0d66ea7b1378" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_85bb1bb0-7774-4834-b1ec-734c5d26fdac" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_9d5e9ac7-f10e-417a-a29e-0d66ea7b1378" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis_ff7be99f-97a5-483c-9c8c-ebe8f278a2e1" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_9d5e9ac7-f10e-417a-a29e-0d66ea7b1378" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis_ff7be99f-97a5-483c-9c8c-ebe8f278a2e1" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementFrequencyDomain_ff7be99f-97a5-483c-9c8c-ebe8f278a2e1_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementFrequencyDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis_ff7be99f-97a5-483c-9c8c-ebe8f278a2e1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementFrequencyDomain_ff7be99f-97a5-483c-9c8c-ebe8f278a2e1_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementFrequencyDomain_1dbc92ca-3684-4b02-b13b-07e2f1dfee40" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementFrequencyDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis_ff7be99f-97a5-483c-9c8c-ebe8f278a2e1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementFrequencyDomain_1dbc92ca-3684-4b02-b13b-07e2f1dfee40" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember_25b2b10c-5c7d-44ef-8eb4-26d9146b6cbe" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementFrequencyDomain_1dbc92ca-3684-4b02-b13b-07e2f1dfee40" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember_25b2b10c-5c7d-44ef-8eb4-26d9146b6cbe" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_f7f598f7-0f69-4cb2-876a-2e7fd1e44838" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_9d5e9ac7-f10e-417a-a29e-0d66ea7b1378" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_f7f598f7-0f69-4cb2-876a-2e7fd1e44838" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_f7f598f7-0f69-4cb2-876a-2e7fd1e44838_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_f7f598f7-0f69-4cb2-876a-2e7fd1e44838" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_f7f598f7-0f69-4cb2-876a-2e7fd1e44838_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_37b39984-c7b9-4b6c-82d0-55f1e83d8365" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_f7f598f7-0f69-4cb2-876a-2e7fd1e44838" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_37b39984-c7b9-4b6c-82d0-55f1e83d8365" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member_08b06f5f-ef87-42a2-a904-5eb68c6bd4d2" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_37b39984-c7b9-4b6c-82d0-55f1e83d8365" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member_08b06f5f-ef87-42a2-a904-5eb68c6bd4d2" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member_1208c51c-5641-497a-a748-7b5ffb11d6a6" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_37b39984-c7b9-4b6c-82d0-55f1e83d8365" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member_1208c51c-5641-497a-a748-7b5ffb11d6a6" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member_35e0d508-d215-4f0a-84bf-87d89d015087" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_37b39984-c7b9-4b6c-82d0-55f1e83d8365" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member_35e0d508-d215-4f0a-84bf-87d89d015087" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis_69f1e1e0-f0ca-47ea-b403-a6d295fa4ed1" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_9d5e9ac7-f10e-417a-a29e-0d66ea7b1378" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis_69f1e1e0-f0ca-47ea-b403-a6d295fa4ed1" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain_69f1e1e0-f0ca-47ea-b403-a6d295fa4ed1_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis_69f1e1e0-f0ca-47ea-b403-a6d295fa4ed1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain_69f1e1e0-f0ca-47ea-b403-a6d295fa4ed1_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain_520e01f1-1f98-4e64-957b-13cde5c43850" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis_69f1e1e0-f0ca-47ea-b403-a6d295fa4ed1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain_520e01f1-1f98-4e64-957b-13cde5c43850" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_MoneyMarketFundsMember_2c77806b-6da4-4d04-a78b-1d0429ec1661" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_MoneyMarketFundsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain_520e01f1-1f98-4e64-957b-13cde5c43850" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_MoneyMarketFundsMember_2c77806b-6da4-4d04-a78b-1d0429ec1661" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.express.com/role/IncomeTaxes" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#IncomeTaxes"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.express.com/role/IncomeTaxes" xlink:type="extended" id="i7ded06057cf845649ebf7963fc461924_IncomeTaxes"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.express.com/role/IncomeTaxesDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#IncomeTaxesDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.express.com/role/IncomeTaxesDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i45ce3ae1e5874607b2f67ce6cd396de6_IncomeTaxesDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceLineItems_7dd7d6bc-8da6-429f-91bb-4e2f1ebfa760" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations_93b1f0c9-f2c9-4ccf-b03e-e32e7ada46b5" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceLineItems_7dd7d6bc-8da6-429f-91bb-4e2f1ebfa760" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations_93b1f0c9-f2c9-4ccf-b03e-e32e7ada46b5" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance_07cd3b6b-f996-4bef-a929-97b82a62ddd4" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceLineItems_7dd7d6bc-8da6-429f-91bb-4e2f1ebfa760" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance_07cd3b6b-f996-4bef-a929-97b82a62ddd4" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseShareBasedCompensationCost_cc2c27e4-93c7-4c7c-aeb4-5bb9210d3205" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseShareBasedCompensationCost"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceLineItems_7dd7d6bc-8da6-429f-91bb-4e2f1ebfa760" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseShareBasedCompensationCost_cc2c27e4-93c7-4c7c-aeb4-5bb9210d3205" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments_6c3ce77b-16ba-4d6a-8d14-574f4929d05a" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceLineItems_7dd7d6bc-8da6-429f-91bb-4e2f1ebfa760" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments_6c3ce77b-16ba-4d6a-8d14-574f4929d05a" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxesReceivable_f18fcddc-6b4f-49b4-926d-6f940d63f515" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeTaxesReceivable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceLineItems_7dd7d6bc-8da6-429f-91bb-4e2f1ebfa760" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxesReceivable_f18fcddc-6b4f-49b4-926d-6f940d63f515" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxesReceivableNoncurrent_694e9e3f-096a-46d8-824f-1243c65d2bf6" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeTaxesReceivableNoncurrent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceLineItems_7dd7d6bc-8da6-429f-91bb-4e2f1ebfa760" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxesReceivableNoncurrent_694e9e3f-096a-46d8-824f-1243c65d2bf6" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceTable_6c53339a-0118-4aa1-85ce-27ad9359f258" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceLineItems_7dd7d6bc-8da6-429f-91bb-4e2f1ebfa760" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceTable_6c53339a-0118-4aa1-85ce-27ad9359f258" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceByDeferredTaxAssetAxis_915d93d7-8d59-4ab8-bc4a-6420e6bd60c0" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceByDeferredTaxAssetAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceTable_6c53339a-0118-4aa1-85ce-27ad9359f258" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceByDeferredTaxAssetAxis_915d93d7-8d59-4ab8-bc4a-6420e6bd60c0" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetDomain_915d93d7-8d59-4ab8-bc4a-6420e6bd60c0_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceByDeferredTaxAssetAxis_915d93d7-8d59-4ab8-bc4a-6420e6bd60c0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetDomain_915d93d7-8d59-4ab8-bc4a-6420e6bd60c0_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetDomain_4477de4f-f334-4e60-8b03-483b573fb46e" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceByDeferredTaxAssetAxis_915d93d7-8d59-4ab8-bc4a-6420e6bd60c0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetDomain_4477de4f-f334-4e60-8b03-483b573fb46e" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_expr_PreviouslyRecognizedDeferredTaxAssetsMember_0b1dae34-5725-44ca-b1e7-3dc5f38c7ea4" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#expr_PreviouslyRecognizedDeferredTaxAssetsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetDomain_4477de4f-f334-4e60-8b03-483b573fb46e" xlink:to="loc_expr_PreviouslyRecognizedDeferredTaxAssetsMember_0b1dae34-5725-44ca-b1e7-3dc5f38c7ea4" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_expr_StateAndLocalIncomeTaxesAndOtherTaxCreditsMember_01508ea9-00b8-4932-a5e5-4d44c87868e4" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#expr_StateAndLocalIncomeTaxesAndOtherTaxCreditsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetDomain_4477de4f-f334-4e60-8b03-483b573fb46e" xlink:to="loc_expr_StateAndLocalIncomeTaxesAndOtherTaxCreditsMember_01508ea9-00b8-4932-a5e5-4d44c87868e4" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.express.com/role/Leases" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#Leases"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.express.com/role/Leases" xlink:type="extended" id="i3da4e4d527824939a15c5587e05ba135_Leases"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.express.com/role/LeasesTables" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#LeasesTables"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.express.com/role/LeasesTables" xlink:type="extended" id="ie6e056c8a0574c2cac6af26939729639_LeasesTables"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.express.com/role/LeasesNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#LeasesNarrativeDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.express.com/role/LeasesNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="ib8b8263115044a90b4f8a3f4d0e06b5f_LeasesNarrativeDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LesseeLeaseDescriptionLineItems_e12c857b-6f51-422d-987b-5e14a105c52e" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LesseeLeaseDescriptionLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LesseeOperatingLeaseTermOfContract_a2addfc3-a3d6-4b07-9134-628730246e46" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LesseeOperatingLeaseTermOfContract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LesseeLeaseDescriptionLineItems_e12c857b-6f51-422d-987b-5e14a105c52e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LesseeOperatingLeaseTermOfContract_a2addfc3-a3d6-4b07-9134-628730246e46" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_expr_LesseeOperatingLeaseNumberOfRenewalOptions_4dcc6696-c20f-42a1-b269-670b96f8d48d" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#expr_LesseeOperatingLeaseNumberOfRenewalOptions"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LesseeLeaseDescriptionLineItems_e12c857b-6f51-422d-987b-5e14a105c52e" xlink:to="loc_expr_LesseeOperatingLeaseNumberOfRenewalOptions_4dcc6696-c20f-42a1-b269-670b96f8d48d" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LesseeOperatingLeaseRenewalTerm_c92f7514-04cc-4a34-a53a-fd29c1356591" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LesseeOperatingLeaseRenewalTerm"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LesseeLeaseDescriptionLineItems_e12c857b-6f51-422d-987b-5e14a105c52e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LesseeOperatingLeaseRenewalTerm_c92f7514-04cc-4a34-a53a-fd29c1356591" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccruedRentCurrent_4c7e2ab8-4527-4838-a8c8-9bbf3dde6c9a" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AccruedRentCurrent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LesseeLeaseDescriptionLineItems_e12c857b-6f51-422d-987b-5e14a105c52e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AccruedRentCurrent_4c7e2ab8-4527-4838-a8c8-9bbf3dde6c9a" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LesseeLeaseDescriptionTable_32df3640-d3d5-4d9d-b69c-2e5192279ce4" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LesseeLeaseDescriptionTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LesseeLeaseDescriptionLineItems_e12c857b-6f51-422d-987b-5e14a105c52e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LesseeLeaseDescriptionTable_32df3640-d3d5-4d9d-b69c-2e5192279ce4" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeAxis_882de7cc-abce-48eb-881c-926fbcf39646" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_RangeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LesseeLeaseDescriptionTable_32df3640-d3d5-4d9d-b69c-2e5192279ce4" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeAxis_882de7cc-abce-48eb-881c-926fbcf39646" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeMember_882de7cc-abce-48eb-881c-926fbcf39646_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_RangeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeAxis_882de7cc-abce-48eb-881c-926fbcf39646" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeMember_882de7cc-abce-48eb-881c-926fbcf39646_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeMember_5d2fa09b-c0ed-4bde-bb01-acf31c98f43a" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_RangeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeAxis_882de7cc-abce-48eb-881c-926fbcf39646" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeMember_5d2fa09b-c0ed-4bde-bb01-acf31c98f43a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_MinimumMember_5050da3c-7ea9-4669-866c-6bed9e48ea34" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_MinimumMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeMember_5d2fa09b-c0ed-4bde-bb01-acf31c98f43a" xlink:to="loc_srt_MinimumMember_5050da3c-7ea9-4669-866c-6bed9e48ea34" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_MaximumMember_ee953197-c570-4f3a-9696-2f507cd5f382" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_MaximumMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeMember_5d2fa09b-c0ed-4bde-bb01-acf31c98f43a" xlink:to="loc_srt_MaximumMember_ee953197-c570-4f3a-9696-2f507cd5f382" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis_bad6136c-0ce4-446c-80a1-f6decadf1348" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LesseeLeaseDescriptionTable_32df3640-d3d5-4d9d-b69c-2e5192279ce4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis_bad6136c-0ce4-446c-80a1-f6decadf1348" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain_bad6136c-0ce4-446c-80a1-f6decadf1348_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis_bad6136c-0ce4-446c-80a1-f6decadf1348" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain_bad6136c-0ce4-446c-80a1-f6decadf1348_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain_8f8a4915-5323-4209-ad04-a2b298aab063" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis_bad6136c-0ce4-446c-80a1-f6decadf1348" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain_8f8a4915-5323-4209-ad04-a2b298aab063" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_expr_StoresMember_00dd1bde-777b-410f-be6f-69e178903279" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#expr_StoresMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain_8f8a4915-5323-4209-ad04-a2b298aab063" xlink:to="loc_expr_StoresMember_00dd1bde-777b-410f-be6f-69e178903279" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_OfficeBuildingMember_94077438-ac38-421f-8741-653fb7d01fe5" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_OfficeBuildingMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain_8f8a4915-5323-4209-ad04-a2b298aab063" xlink:to="loc_srt_OfficeBuildingMember_94077438-ac38-421f-8741-653fb7d01fe5" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_expr_EquipmentAndOtherAssetsMember_0a64044d-1f8b-4b77-a8e6-5596d1b32215" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#expr_EquipmentAndOtherAssetsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain_8f8a4915-5323-4209-ad04-a2b298aab063" xlink:to="loc_expr_EquipmentAndOtherAssetsMember_0a64044d-1f8b-4b77-a8e6-5596d1b32215" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.express.com/role/LeasesSupplementalCashFlowInformationDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#LeasesSupplementalCashFlowInformationDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.express.com/role/LeasesSupplementalCashFlowInformationDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="ie3d69296850d45c8831880bdeca616ef_LeasesSupplementalCashFlowInformationDetails"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.express.com/role/Debt" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#Debt"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.express.com/role/Debt" xlink:type="extended" id="iec09c1040d91479a856e8b3ac7a79733_Debt"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.express.com/role/DebtDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#DebtDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.express.com/role/DebtDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="ifa0bd25ec44f4ee39e8d19e6a6a1eb61_DebtDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_66aaf657-fd1b-476d-861b-2f4a83bfc5ec" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity_f9c881d1-8f5d-4d44-8aa8-0638bb0b267e" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_66aaf657-fd1b-476d-861b-2f4a83bfc5ec" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity_f9c881d1-8f5d-4d44-8aa8-0638bb0b267e" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ProceedsFromLongTermLinesOfCredit_7832ee0d-7e01-4bba-8cf8-ad374c177d80" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ProceedsFromLongTermLinesOfCredit"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_66aaf657-fd1b-476d-861b-2f4a83bfc5ec" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ProceedsFromLongTermLinesOfCredit_7832ee0d-7e01-4bba-8cf8-ad374c177d80" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCredit_fd2f7f14-e3e8-4777-9a7b-994445e44769" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCredit"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_66aaf657-fd1b-476d-861b-2f4a83bfc5ec" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCredit_fd2f7f14-e3e8-4777-9a7b-994445e44769" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityRemainingBorrowingCapacity_8b245cdd-a671-48ed-9f15-171f75a7d7f0" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityRemainingBorrowingCapacity"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_66aaf657-fd1b-476d-861b-2f4a83bfc5ec" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityRemainingBorrowingCapacity_8b245cdd-a671-48ed-9f15-171f75a7d7f0" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount_9441ccfa-f215-4a27-8e3c-c1075a649348" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_66aaf657-fd1b-476d-861b-2f4a83bfc5ec" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount_9441ccfa-f215-4a27-8e3c-c1075a649348" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_expr_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRateFloor_5989454d-d501-4ef6-bad0-b2913e49b902" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#expr_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRateFloor"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_66aaf657-fd1b-476d-861b-2f4a83bfc5ec" xlink:to="loc_expr_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRateFloor_5989454d-d501-4ef6-bad0-b2913e49b902" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_expr_PercentPerAnnumAboveFederalFundsRate_28fcc41d-53ba-41b6-a399-236f3eaa37b1" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#expr_PercentPerAnnumAboveFederalFundsRate"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_66aaf657-fd1b-476d-861b-2f4a83bfc5ec" xlink:to="loc_expr_PercentPerAnnumAboveFederalFundsRate_28fcc41d-53ba-41b6-a399-236f3eaa37b1" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_expr_PercentAboveEurodollarRate_3edbe667-98aa-4f49-99f9-164f0902c8c8" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#expr_PercentAboveEurodollarRate"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_66aaf657-fd1b-476d-861b-2f4a83bfc5ec" xlink:to="loc_expr_PercentAboveEurodollarRate_3edbe667-98aa-4f49-99f9-164f0902c8c8" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_expr_MinimumMarginForEurodollarRateBasedAdvances_09bb2d0d-ad85-4c16-867e-fd0593f7f989" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#expr_MinimumMarginForEurodollarRateBasedAdvances"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_66aaf657-fd1b-476d-861b-2f4a83bfc5ec" xlink:to="loc_expr_MinimumMarginForEurodollarRateBasedAdvances_09bb2d0d-ad85-4c16-867e-fd0593f7f989" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_expr_MaximumMarginForEurodollarRateBasedAdvances_038895fd-9c3f-46ce-8fb3-4510f3446611" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#expr_MaximumMarginForEurodollarRateBasedAdvances"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_66aaf657-fd1b-476d-861b-2f4a83bfc5ec" xlink:to="loc_expr_MaximumMarginForEurodollarRateBasedAdvances_038895fd-9c3f-46ce-8fb3-4510f3446611" xlink:type="arc" order="9"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_expr_MinimumMarginForBaseRateBasedAdvances_99dc55f6-bcb7-4595-a9bb-2692e6af2603" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#expr_MinimumMarginForBaseRateBasedAdvances"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_66aaf657-fd1b-476d-861b-2f4a83bfc5ec" xlink:to="loc_expr_MinimumMarginForBaseRateBasedAdvances_99dc55f6-bcb7-4595-a9bb-2692e6af2603" xlink:type="arc" order="10"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_expr_MaximumMarginForBaseRateBasedAdvances_6bc55456-edc2-4eda-87b9-b2300153e786" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#expr_MaximumMarginForBaseRateBasedAdvances"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_66aaf657-fd1b-476d-861b-2f4a83bfc5ec" xlink:to="loc_expr_MaximumMarginForBaseRateBasedAdvances_6bc55456-edc2-4eda-87b9-b2300153e786" xlink:type="arc" order="11"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_expr_DebtInstrumentBasisOfSpreadOnVariableRateInEventOfDefault_4971b01a-cfde-44ef-8195-87b938fc3a6e" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#expr_DebtInstrumentBasisOfSpreadOnVariableRateInEventOfDefault"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_66aaf657-fd1b-476d-861b-2f4a83bfc5ec" xlink:to="loc_expr_DebtInstrumentBasisOfSpreadOnVariableRateInEventOfDefault_4971b01a-cfde-44ef-8195-87b938fc3a6e" xlink:type="arc" order="12"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_expr_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRateOverdueInterest_8a0b3573-e46f-4cdf-85c3-81fa232e3409" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#expr_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRateOverdueInterest"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_66aaf657-fd1b-476d-861b-2f4a83bfc5ec" xlink:to="loc_expr_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRateOverdueInterest_8a0b3573-e46f-4cdf-85c3-81fa232e3409" xlink:type="arc" order="13"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage_1427baae-a6c4-481f-ae91-7aa938722e7d" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_66aaf657-fd1b-476d-861b-2f4a83bfc5ec" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage_1427baae-a6c4-481f-ae91-7aa938722e7d" xlink:type="arc" order="14"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_expr_FixedChargeRatioNumerator_a81b7263-37d2-4e69-b0ba-bb762193fef5" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#expr_FixedChargeRatioNumerator"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_66aaf657-fd1b-476d-861b-2f4a83bfc5ec" xlink:to="loc_expr_FixedChargeRatioNumerator_a81b7263-37d2-4e69-b0ba-bb762193fef5" xlink:type="arc" order="15"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_expr_FixedChargeRatioDenominator_e208b487-1494-4f94-91e4-c383bf0c8e97" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#expr_FixedChargeRatioDenominator"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_66aaf657-fd1b-476d-861b-2f4a83bfc5ec" xlink:to="loc_expr_FixedChargeRatioDenominator_e208b487-1494-4f94-91e4-c383bf0c8e97" xlink:type="arc" order="16"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_expr_PercentOfBorrowingBaseInFixedChargeCoverageRatioRestriction_e4adb0d9-e951-46e4-8db6-e680cd16c2a0" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#expr_PercentOfBorrowingBaseInFixedChargeCoverageRatioRestriction"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_66aaf657-fd1b-476d-861b-2f4a83bfc5ec" xlink:to="loc_expr_PercentOfBorrowingBaseInFixedChargeCoverageRatioRestriction_e4adb0d9-e951-46e4-8db6-e680cd16c2a0" xlink:type="arc" order="17"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_expr_NumberOfDaysInFixedChargeCoverageRatioRestriction_28613023-48b5-4072-9ee5-e77a9ba33878" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#expr_NumberOfDaysInFixedChargeCoverageRatioRestriction"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_66aaf657-fd1b-476d-861b-2f4a83bfc5ec" xlink:to="loc_expr_NumberOfDaysInFixedChargeCoverageRatioRestriction_28613023-48b5-4072-9ee5-e77a9ba33878" xlink:type="arc" order="18"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_expr_LineOfCreditFacilityExcessAvailabilityPercentage_82cf999f-8ff7-4267-ab39-0713383fcf07" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#expr_LineOfCreditFacilityExcessAvailabilityPercentage"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_66aaf657-fd1b-476d-861b-2f4a83bfc5ec" xlink:to="loc_expr_LineOfCreditFacilityExcessAvailabilityPercentage_82cf999f-8ff7-4267-ab39-0713383fcf07" xlink:type="arc" order="19"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_222bd126-4fb3-4c94-96b2-28de0c67dd0a" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_66aaf657-fd1b-476d-861b-2f4a83bfc5ec" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_222bd126-4fb3-4c94-96b2-28de0c67dd0a" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateAxis_bdac7515-cf45-461a-8e97-fc61b5996a73" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_VariableRateAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_222bd126-4fb3-4c94-96b2-28de0c67dd0a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateAxis_bdac7515-cf45-461a-8e97-fc61b5996a73" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateDomain_bdac7515-cf45-461a-8e97-fc61b5996a73_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_VariableRateDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateAxis_bdac7515-cf45-461a-8e97-fc61b5996a73" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateDomain_bdac7515-cf45-461a-8e97-fc61b5996a73_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateDomain_6dde80dd-e042-40f7-ae3c-50b0fceaba0f" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_VariableRateDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateAxis_bdac7515-cf45-461a-8e97-fc61b5996a73" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateDomain_6dde80dd-e042-40f7-ae3c-50b0fceaba0f" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EurodollarMember_0fb1496b-a950-4f66-a382-aaffd289df4a" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EurodollarMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateDomain_6dde80dd-e042-40f7-ae3c-50b0fceaba0f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EurodollarMember_0fb1496b-a950-4f66-a382-aaffd289df4a" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PrimeRateMember_290079c6-d63b-4237-91e6-5e7304a3120c" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_PrimeRateMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateDomain_6dde80dd-e042-40f7-ae3c-50b0fceaba0f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PrimeRateMember_290079c6-d63b-4237-91e6-5e7304a3120c" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FederalFundsEffectiveSwapRateMember_28fe180a-73b7-41fd-8082-38fcf4e87567" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FederalFundsEffectiveSwapRateMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateDomain_6dde80dd-e042-40f7-ae3c-50b0fceaba0f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FederalFundsEffectiveSwapRateMember_28fe180a-73b7-41fd-8082-38fcf4e87567" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_d344c846-c25f-4e02-8606-704fd87c6030" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_222bd126-4fb3-4c94-96b2-28de0c67dd0a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_d344c846-c25f-4e02-8606-704fd87c6030" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_d344c846-c25f-4e02-8606-704fd87c6030_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_d344c846-c25f-4e02-8606-704fd87c6030" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_d344c846-c25f-4e02-8606-704fd87c6030_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_84159d32-5fb7-4882-b9c9-a30ee6876356" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_d344c846-c25f-4e02-8606-704fd87c6030" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_84159d32-5fb7-4882-b9c9-a30ee6876356" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember_5cfe5b42-d991-4158-8f25-d08829936279" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_84159d32-5fb7-4882-b9c9-a30ee6876356" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember_5cfe5b42-d991-4158-8f25-d08829936279" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LetterOfCreditMember_ae49f6b1-0530-4c25-b76f-1d6be4e6c15d" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LetterOfCreditMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_84159d32-5fb7-4882-b9c9-a30ee6876356" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LetterOfCreditMember_ae49f6b1-0530-4c25-b76f-1d6be4e6c15d" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_e345fb77-a462-4c76-bed0-1389d02b5ffd" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_222bd126-4fb3-4c94-96b2-28de0c67dd0a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_e345fb77-a462-4c76-bed0-1389d02b5ffd" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_e345fb77-a462-4c76-bed0-1389d02b5ffd_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_e345fb77-a462-4c76-bed0-1389d02b5ffd" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_e345fb77-a462-4c76-bed0-1389d02b5ffd_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_3f5681ec-6f81-4fff-ab89-05020bc9aa2e" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_e345fb77-a462-4c76-bed0-1389d02b5ffd" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_3f5681ec-6f81-4fff-ab89-05020bc9aa2e" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember_9c77692d-4c0f-44aa-b05b-767f599c596c" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_3f5681ec-6f81-4fff-ab89-05020bc9aa2e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember_9c77692d-4c0f-44aa-b05b-767f599c596c" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LetterOfCreditMember_4c7ace11-0aa1-4407-85d9-91b0e099ccb9" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LetterOfCreditMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_3f5681ec-6f81-4fff-ab89-05020bc9aa2e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LetterOfCreditMember_4c7ace11-0aa1-4407-85d9-91b0e099ccb9" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_26778b63-383e-4c53-ba0a-d2b0d906b0be" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_222bd126-4fb3-4c94-96b2-28de0c67dd0a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_26778b63-383e-4c53-ba0a-d2b0d906b0be" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_26778b63-383e-4c53-ba0a-d2b0d906b0be_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_26778b63-383e-4c53-ba0a-d2b0d906b0be" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_26778b63-383e-4c53-ba0a-d2b0d906b0be_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_715a2689-8c5c-4002-9bb4-03c7ae969771" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_26778b63-383e-4c53-ba0a-d2b0d906b0be" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_715a2689-8c5c-4002-9bb4-03c7ae969771" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_expr_FirstAmendmentToTheSecondAmendedAndRestatedAssetBasedLoanCreditAgreementMember_6148b960-afe5-4f86-9c70-8913934d10a2" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#expr_FirstAmendmentToTheSecondAmendedAndRestatedAssetBasedLoanCreditAgreementMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_715a2689-8c5c-4002-9bb4-03c7ae969771" xlink:to="loc_expr_FirstAmendmentToTheSecondAmendedAndRestatedAssetBasedLoanCreditAgreementMember_6148b960-afe5-4f86-9c70-8913934d10a2" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.express.com/role/ShareBasedCompensation" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#ShareBasedCompensation"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.express.com/role/ShareBasedCompensation" xlink:type="extended" id="i24bfd25250244ec8b56fa433d7866a3b_ShareBasedCompensation"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.express.com/role/ShareBasedCompensationTables" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#ShareBasedCompensationTables"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.express.com/role/ShareBasedCompensationTables" xlink:type="extended" id="i4fc8bee0e26646cc8328c9f33334de02_ShareBasedCompensationTables"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.express.com/role/ShareBasedCompensationCostbyAwardTypeDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#ShareBasedCompensationCostbyAwardTypeDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.express.com/role/ShareBasedCompensationCostbyAwardTypeDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="ia887655530a1418e99239cc213dccfa4_ShareBasedCompensationCostbyAwardTypeDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsLineItems_27949766-93b9-43aa-863b-a3216f50ebde" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfAdditionalSharesAuthorized_162431ee-8c64-4365-8926-696397937974" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfAdditionalSharesAuthorized"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsLineItems_27949766-93b9-43aa-863b-a3216f50ebde" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfAdditionalSharesAuthorized_162431ee-8c64-4365-8926-696397937974" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation_a69444aa-7248-4fe7-bd4f-d183d0f73f28" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsLineItems_27949766-93b9-43aa-863b-a3216f50ebde" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation_a69444aa-7248-4fe7-bd4f-d183d0f73f28" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense_9a5fbc7a-8b7f-448b-bc79-77cce2584de7" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsLineItems_27949766-93b9-43aa-863b-a3216f50ebde" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense_9a5fbc7a-8b7f-448b-bc79-77cce2584de7" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfEmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsTable_f7b7af36-ea6c-4225-b69d-0ceebd58017c" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfEmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsLineItems_27949766-93b9-43aa-863b-a3216f50ebde" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfEmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsTable_f7b7af36-ea6c-4225-b69d-0ceebd58017c" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_53afb24b-79dd-4b69-8810-3c9776e53341" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfEmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsTable_f7b7af36-ea6c-4225-b69d-0ceebd58017c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_53afb24b-79dd-4b69-8810-3c9776e53341" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_53afb24b-79dd-4b69-8810-3c9776e53341_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_53afb24b-79dd-4b69-8810-3c9776e53341" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_53afb24b-79dd-4b69-8810-3c9776e53341_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_df13e4d0-2adc-44a9-8c7c-0659b352cb40" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_53afb24b-79dd-4b69-8810-3c9776e53341" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_df13e4d0-2adc-44a9-8c7c-0659b352cb40" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember_3784ddee-d155-4bf4-9b59-a9e1f964bba3" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_df13e4d0-2adc-44a9-8c7c-0659b352cb40" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember_3784ddee-d155-4bf4-9b59-a9e1f964bba3" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember_b0232f60-548e-402c-8b0d-8b9125fec809" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_df13e4d0-2adc-44a9-8c7c-0659b352cb40" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember_b0232f60-548e-402c-8b0d-8b9125fec809" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_expr_PerformanceSharesRestrictedStockUnitsMember_4575f7f5-2f34-469e-9ae0-c4b0f7b0b991" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#expr_PerformanceSharesRestrictedStockUnitsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_df13e4d0-2adc-44a9-8c7c-0659b352cb40" xlink:to="loc_expr_PerformanceSharesRestrictedStockUnitsMember_4575f7f5-2f34-469e-9ae0-c4b0f7b0b991" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.express.com/role/ShareBasedCompensationScheduleofRestrictedStockUnitsIncludingAwardswithPerformanceConditionsDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#ShareBasedCompensationScheduleofRestrictedStockUnitsIncludingAwardswithPerformanceConditionsDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.express.com/role/ShareBasedCompensationScheduleofRestrictedStockUnitsIncludingAwardswithPerformanceConditionsDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="ibc4b0c4e2fac41338dc6185bc801b761_ShareBasedCompensationScheduleofRestrictedStockUnitsIncludingAwardswithPerformanceConditionsDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_2c637d46-8e6e-43ce-aae1-0e64beecc9ce" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingPeriod1_a826725c-0acf-4270-bddb-f7df5a0a0f14" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingPeriod1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_2c637d46-8e6e-43ce-aae1-0e64beecc9ce" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingPeriod1_a826725c-0acf-4270-bddb-f7df5a0a0f14" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedRollForward_bf44ba97-d144-4f32-8631-923ab1ace624" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedRollForward"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_2c637d46-8e6e-43ce-aae1-0e64beecc9ce" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedRollForward_bf44ba97-d144-4f32-8631-923ab1ace624" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber_5d45b081-0803-4c56-8da0-6133a5f9dac0" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedRollForward_bf44ba97-d144-4f32-8631-923ab1ace624" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber_5d45b081-0803-4c56-8da0-6133a5f9dac0" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod_e57be2e1-2ee4-446b-b73b-aeac8cab25f1" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedRollForward_bf44ba97-d144-4f32-8631-923ab1ace624" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod_e57be2e1-2ee4-446b-b73b-aeac8cab25f1" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod_960690b9-383a-4449-a0f2-02a65461cbec" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedRollForward_bf44ba97-d144-4f32-8631-923ab1ace624" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod_960690b9-383a-4449-a0f2-02a65461cbec" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeitedInPeriod_76dd4b96-6081-402e-a980-ccca6e0e6251" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeitedInPeriod"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedRollForward_bf44ba97-d144-4f32-8631-923ab1ace624" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeitedInPeriod_76dd4b96-6081-402e-a980-ccca6e0e6251" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber_9dabd5e3-9bf6-4671-8f6a-3acd77bc3f2a" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValueRollForward_eb37e585-90f2-4703-b6a5-6545b932a0a8" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValueRollForward"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_2c637d46-8e6e-43ce-aae1-0e64beecc9ce" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValueRollForward_eb37e585-90f2-4703-b6a5-6545b932a0a8" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue_de562de1-a3ab-4888-b30d-6c67578e7307" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValueRollForward_eb37e585-90f2-4703-b6a5-6545b932a0a8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue_de562de1-a3ab-4888-b30d-6c67578e7307" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue_f51def28-7838-4e2a-adf9-d634ce17fc7b" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValueRollForward_eb37e585-90f2-4703-b6a5-6545b932a0a8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue_f51def28-7838-4e2a-adf9-d634ce17fc7b" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue_f150322b-0c1d-47ee-970b-226663257654" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValueRollForward_eb37e585-90f2-4703-b6a5-6545b932a0a8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue_f150322b-0c1d-47ee-970b-226663257654" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeituresWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue_2705006f-50d7-4646-a80a-807206f7c153" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeituresWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValueRollForward_eb37e585-90f2-4703-b6a5-6545b932a0a8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeituresWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue_2705006f-50d7-4646-a80a-807206f7c153" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue_498aa91a-f996-4ec1-ad90-451b322e08ae" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodTotalFairValue_904155fd-b21c-43a6-a7fe-d098e1535dd3" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodTotalFairValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_2c637d46-8e6e-43ce-aae1-0e64beecc9ce" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodTotalFairValue_904155fd-b21c-43a6-a7fe-d098e1535dd3" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_e597cfee-1cc3-4451-b3d3-feb19aa63eeb" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_2c637d46-8e6e-43ce-aae1-0e64beecc9ce" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_e597cfee-1cc3-4451-b3d3-feb19aa63eeb" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_a6c1ee8b-69d5-4c7a-ab06-7fbe958ea9bd" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_e597cfee-1cc3-4451-b3d3-feb19aa63eeb" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_a6c1ee8b-69d5-4c7a-ab06-7fbe958ea9bd" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_a6c1ee8b-69d5-4c7a-ab06-7fbe958ea9bd_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_a6c1ee8b-69d5-4c7a-ab06-7fbe958ea9bd" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_a6c1ee8b-69d5-4c7a-ab06-7fbe958ea9bd_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_5febf0b8-9ce8-4273-aba0-bb88f70ff81c" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_a6c1ee8b-69d5-4c7a-ab06-7fbe958ea9bd" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_5febf0b8-9ce8-4273-aba0-bb88f70ff81c" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember_575b720a-2b5b-40b0-b76f-0749cf1b9402" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_5febf0b8-9ce8-4273-aba0-bb88f70ff81c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember_575b720a-2b5b-40b0-b76f-0749cf1b9402" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.express.com/role/ShareBasedCompensationUnrecognizedCompensationExpenseandPeriodforRecognitionDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#ShareBasedCompensationUnrecognizedCompensationExpenseandPeriodforRecognitionDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.express.com/role/ShareBasedCompensationUnrecognizedCompensationExpenseandPeriodforRecognitionDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i29a64ea6cbca472b93ed57e99464325a_ShareBasedCompensationUnrecognizedCompensationExpenseandPeriodforRecognitionDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_8fe9b1f7-68b2-4ee4-ab33-f3ec3ca4ff16" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedShareBasedAwardsOtherThanOptions_0d4bea85-e4c6-480e-a282-12d410758d23" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedShareBasedAwardsOtherThanOptions"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_8fe9b1f7-68b2-4ee4-ab33-f3ec3ca4ff16" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedShareBasedAwardsOtherThanOptions_0d4bea85-e4c6-480e-a282-12d410758d23" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedStockOptions_7ff5e043-6cd3-441d-ac4e-0fda997748d4" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedStockOptions"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_8fe9b1f7-68b2-4ee4-ab33-f3ec3ca4ff16" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedStockOptions_7ff5e043-6cd3-441d-ac4e-0fda997748d4" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedPeriodForRecognition1_f2de8b72-78f6-4be0-ace9-d3805ada7058" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedPeriodForRecognition1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_8fe9b1f7-68b2-4ee4-ab33-f3ec3ca4ff16" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedPeriodForRecognition1_f2de8b72-78f6-4be0-ace9-d3805ada7058" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_a54bd6b1-22d4-4b1e-b7b2-bf95f16d3d20" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_8fe9b1f7-68b2-4ee4-ab33-f3ec3ca4ff16" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_a54bd6b1-22d4-4b1e-b7b2-bf95f16d3d20" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_09c665f8-18d0-44df-af9f-dce6a78ecca7" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_a54bd6b1-22d4-4b1e-b7b2-bf95f16d3d20" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_09c665f8-18d0-44df-af9f-dce6a78ecca7" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_09c665f8-18d0-44df-af9f-dce6a78ecca7_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_09c665f8-18d0-44df-af9f-dce6a78ecca7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_09c665f8-18d0-44df-af9f-dce6a78ecca7_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_17c176cc-cf1e-4656-8bd0-0e9254e1aea5" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_09c665f8-18d0-44df-af9f-dce6a78ecca7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_17c176cc-cf1e-4656-8bd0-0e9254e1aea5" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember_da5d3f78-87f4-4335-90e3-e2c59153722c" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_17c176cc-cf1e-4656-8bd0-0e9254e1aea5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember_da5d3f78-87f4-4335-90e3-e2c59153722c" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember_d4346af0-68ea-4deb-82d9-ea38c007b01f" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_17c176cc-cf1e-4656-8bd0-0e9254e1aea5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember_d4346af0-68ea-4deb-82d9-ea38c007b01f" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.express.com/role/ShareBasedCompensationScheduleofStockOptionsActivityDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#ShareBasedCompensationScheduleofStockOptionsActivityDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.express.com/role/ShareBasedCompensationScheduleofStockOptionsActivityDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i1d2008eb33f547598b312e9fccee2c1f_ShareBasedCompensationScheduleofStockOptionsActivityDetails"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.express.com/role/ShareBasedCompensationPerformancebasedRestrictedStockUnitsandCashSettledAwardsDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#ShareBasedCompensationPerformancebasedRestrictedStockUnitsandCashSettledAwardsDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.express.com/role/ShareBasedCompensationPerformancebasedRestrictedStockUnitsandCashSettledAwardsDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="iadddfc1734354fceb185a7c21fd64e35_ShareBasedCompensationPerformancebasedRestrictedStockUnitsandCashSettledAwardsDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_2445f626-36ee-450b-8953-38ce2759f2c6" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_expr_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsTargetPercentage_b6788964-a6f9-4980-903b-3ab7da7cbf4c" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#expr_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsTargetPercentage"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_2445f626-36ee-450b-8953-38ce2759f2c6" xlink:to="loc_expr_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsTargetPercentage_b6788964-a6f9-4980-903b-3ab7da7cbf4c" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingPeriod1_066b727b-918d-4307-a11a-f98a1b361c39" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingPeriod1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_2445f626-36ee-450b-8953-38ce2759f2c6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingPeriod1_066b727b-918d-4307-a11a-f98a1b361c39" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNonOptionEquityInstrumentsOutstandingNumber_e333c5a9-2a94-40b2-ba68-a7707d9027e6" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNonOptionEquityInstrumentsOutstandingNumber"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_2445f626-36ee-450b-8953-38ce2759f2c6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNonOptionEquityInstrumentsOutstandingNumber_e333c5a9-2a94-40b2-ba68-a7707d9027e6" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedShareBasedAwardsOtherThanOptions_021e5ebd-0c5f-4246-8f2f-7ed8f903eec3" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedShareBasedAwardsOtherThanOptions"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_2445f626-36ee-450b-8953-38ce2759f2c6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedShareBasedAwardsOtherThanOptions_021e5ebd-0c5f-4246-8f2f-7ed8f903eec3" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedPeriodForRecognition1_3ab15074-89f5-4ac6-a5c4-59af0d865a4a" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedPeriodForRecognition1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_2445f626-36ee-450b-8953-38ce2759f2c6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedPeriodForRecognition1_3ab15074-89f5-4ac6-a5c4-59af0d865a4a" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_ce4d1df3-7605-4c80-baac-44ed5a851c1c" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_2445f626-36ee-450b-8953-38ce2759f2c6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_ce4d1df3-7605-4c80-baac-44ed5a851c1c" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_132f0646-e65f-4e99-91aa-3bfa82f53c60" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_ce4d1df3-7605-4c80-baac-44ed5a851c1c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_132f0646-e65f-4e99-91aa-3bfa82f53c60" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_132f0646-e65f-4e99-91aa-3bfa82f53c60_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_132f0646-e65f-4e99-91aa-3bfa82f53c60" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_132f0646-e65f-4e99-91aa-3bfa82f53c60_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_efacc5a8-5844-49bb-b168-52d72c3682ff" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_132f0646-e65f-4e99-91aa-3bfa82f53c60" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_efacc5a8-5844-49bb-b168-52d72c3682ff" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_expr_PerformanceSharesRestrictedStockUnitsMember_bcf42241-5782-4c72-bbf3-c78b0e8a8804" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#expr_PerformanceSharesRestrictedStockUnitsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_efacc5a8-5844-49bb-b168-52d72c3682ff" xlink:to="loc_expr_PerformanceSharesRestrictedStockUnitsMember_bcf42241-5782-4c72-bbf3-c78b0e8a8804" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_expr_TimeBasedCashSettledAwardsMember_d44d1f86-6af4-4592-b1c4-5223843a746c" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#expr_TimeBasedCashSettledAwardsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_efacc5a8-5844-49bb-b168-52d72c3682ff" xlink:to="loc_expr_TimeBasedCashSettledAwardsMember_d44d1f86-6af4-4592-b1c4-5223843a746c" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_expr_PerformanceBasedCashSettledAwardsMember_bdaa0180-1ae9-42de-a3f5-ccf005502417" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#expr_PerformanceBasedCashSettledAwardsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_efacc5a8-5844-49bb-b168-52d72c3682ff" xlink:to="loc_expr_PerformanceBasedCashSettledAwardsMember_bdaa0180-1ae9-42de-a3f5-ccf005502417" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeAxis_21c76439-e332-458a-bfe4-5e95d73e6423" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_RangeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_ce4d1df3-7605-4c80-baac-44ed5a851c1c" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeAxis_21c76439-e332-458a-bfe4-5e95d73e6423" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeMember_21c76439-e332-458a-bfe4-5e95d73e6423_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_RangeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeAxis_21c76439-e332-458a-bfe4-5e95d73e6423" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeMember_21c76439-e332-458a-bfe4-5e95d73e6423_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeMember_d17eacb6-afa6-4486-8489-357d21704378" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_RangeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeAxis_21c76439-e332-458a-bfe4-5e95d73e6423" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeMember_d17eacb6-afa6-4486-8489-357d21704378" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_MinimumMember_d9cf7407-a3a7-43fb-b51d-33fef27af12b" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_MinimumMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeMember_d17eacb6-afa6-4486-8489-357d21704378" xlink:to="loc_srt_MinimumMember_d9cf7407-a3a7-43fb-b51d-33fef27af12b" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_MaximumMember_d179476f-4741-40ee-8f1d-9a791100ed83" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_MaximumMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeMember_d17eacb6-afa6-4486-8489-357d21704378" xlink:to="loc_srt_MaximumMember_d179476f-4741-40ee-8f1d-9a791100ed83" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.express.com/role/CommitmentsandContingencies" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#CommitmentsandContingencies"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.express.com/role/CommitmentsandContingencies" xlink:type="extended" id="ie10f5ce72bf4499588e5a594f13ce7d3_CommitmentsandContingencies"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.express.com/role/InvestmentinEquityInterests" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#InvestmentinEquityInterests"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.express.com/role/InvestmentinEquityInterests" xlink:type="extended" id="i48903bd98e294872a31ff73db81c9fcf_InvestmentinEquityInterests"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.express.com/role/InvestmentinEquityInterestsEquityMethodInvestmentsDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#InvestmentinEquityInterestsEquityMethodInvestmentsDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.express.com/role/InvestmentinEquityInterestsEquityMethodInvestmentsDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i20606a58f83f4fb2b32d5392ac47eb8a_InvestmentinEquityInterestsEquityMethodInvestmentsDetails"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.express.com/role/StockholdersEquity" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#StockholdersEquity"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.express.com/role/StockholdersEquity" xlink:type="extended" id="i2906a3bb084f4845b4260e3bde5aa70c_StockholdersEquity"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.express.com/role/StockholdersEquityDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#StockholdersEquityDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.express.com/role/StockholdersEquityDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="ia4fee11e8fea47df868adc1c03779e36_StockholdersEquityDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockLineItems_d2bfc97f-3d68-4284-921d-234c0d789bc6" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ClassOfStockLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramAuthorizedAmount1_b1fb4e12-2cff-4fa7-b946-71b7f4475c97" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramAuthorizedAmount1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockLineItems_d2bfc97f-3d68-4284-921d-234c0d789bc6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramAuthorizedAmount1_b1fb4e12-2cff-4fa7-b946-71b7f4475c97" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired_a201fc12-9804-4e29-8f9a-b309d403156f" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockLineItems_d2bfc97f-3d68-4284-921d-234c0d789bc6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired_a201fc12-9804-4e29-8f9a-b309d403156f" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod_1d766166-32db-4635-b243-0204d397d57a" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockLineItems_d2bfc97f-3d68-4284-921d-234c0d789bc6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod_1d766166-32db-4635-b243-0204d397d57a" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1_f22b8e28-9870-42e6-a85e-6cd74b7a000b" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockLineItems_d2bfc97f-3d68-4284-921d-234c0d789bc6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1_f22b8e28-9870-42e6-a85e-6cd74b7a000b" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare_ddb48ba4-4477-42ce-b73e-0875619bc890" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockLineItems_d2bfc97f-3d68-4284-921d-234c0d789bc6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare_ddb48ba4-4477-42ce-b73e-0875619bc890" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_expr_ClassOfWarrantOrRightNumberOfRightsIssuedPerSecurity_b884f800-d638-40b4-95d8-018c0f75ad64" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#expr_ClassOfWarrantOrRightNumberOfRightsIssuedPerSecurity"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockLineItems_d2bfc97f-3d68-4284-921d-234c0d789bc6" xlink:to="loc_expr_ClassOfWarrantOrRightNumberOfRightsIssuedPerSecurity_b884f800-d638-40b4-95d8-018c0f75ad64" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_expr_ClassOfWarrantOrRightExercisableMinimumOwnershipPercentage_ab475218-376a-4ac5-97af-e430efaba229" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#expr_ClassOfWarrantOrRightExercisableMinimumOwnershipPercentage"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockLineItems_d2bfc97f-3d68-4284-921d-234c0d789bc6" xlink:to="loc_expr_ClassOfWarrantOrRightExercisableMinimumOwnershipPercentage_ab475218-376a-4ac5-97af-e430efaba229" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_expr_ClassOfWarrantOrRightExercisableCertainPassiveInvestorsMinimumOwnershipPercentage_a769ef8d-b360-4a6d-a7c8-39fe3c95993e" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#expr_ClassOfWarrantOrRightExercisableCertainPassiveInvestorsMinimumOwnershipPercentage"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockLineItems_d2bfc97f-3d68-4284-921d-234c0d789bc6" xlink:to="loc_expr_ClassOfWarrantOrRightExercisableCertainPassiveInvestorsMinimumOwnershipPercentage_a769ef8d-b360-4a6d-a7c8-39fe3c95993e" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_expr_ClassOfWarrantOrRightExerciseDiscountPercentage_79605217-b50b-4fbb-b36d-608bcbcde797" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#expr_ClassOfWarrantOrRightExerciseDiscountPercentage"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockLineItems_d2bfc97f-3d68-4284-921d-234c0d789bc6" xlink:to="loc_expr_ClassOfWarrantOrRightExerciseDiscountPercentage_79605217-b50b-4fbb-b36d-608bcbcde797" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_expr_ClassOfWarrantOrRightMinimumOwnershipPercentageGrandfatheredFromTriggeringEvent_330c42e7-2197-49f5-96d7-e0883e4cb292" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#expr_ClassOfWarrantOrRightMinimumOwnershipPercentageGrandfatheredFromTriggeringEvent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockLineItems_d2bfc97f-3d68-4284-921d-234c0d789bc6" xlink:to="loc_expr_ClassOfWarrantOrRightMinimumOwnershipPercentageGrandfatheredFromTriggeringEvent_330c42e7-2197-49f5-96d7-e0883e4cb292" xlink:type="arc" order="9"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfStockByClassTable_80df6165-d937-43f9-a977-955e62bb1104" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfStockByClassTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockLineItems_d2bfc97f-3d68-4284-921d-234c0d789bc6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfStockByClassTable_80df6165-d937-43f9-a977-955e62bb1104" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis_1177943d-9356-4bf2-817c-a8dbfb30c34d" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfStockByClassTable_80df6165-d937-43f9-a977-955e62bb1104" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis_1177943d-9356-4bf2-817c-a8dbfb30c34d" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramDomain_1177943d-9356-4bf2-817c-a8dbfb30c34d_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis_1177943d-9356-4bf2-817c-a8dbfb30c34d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramDomain_1177943d-9356-4bf2-817c-a8dbfb30c34d_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramDomain_1b4b3393-db8d-4626-97ed-d763d102e6bb" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis_1177943d-9356-4bf2-817c-a8dbfb30c34d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramDomain_1b4b3393-db8d-4626-97ed-d763d102e6bb" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_expr_ShareRepurchaseProgram2017Member_a23f6290-fc70-4be0-a0d6-b2bd1fe58f80" xlink:href="expr-20200502.xsd#expr_ShareRepurchaseProgram2017Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramDomain_1b4b3393-db8d-4626-97ed-d763d102e6bb" xlink:to="loc_expr_ShareRepurchaseProgram2017Member_a23f6290-fc70-4be0-a0d6-b2bd1fe58f80" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
</link:linkbase>
