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

<!--XBRL Document Created with Wdesk from Workiva-->
<!--Copyright 2022 Workiva-->
<!--r:da1c4284-d55c-45f0-a6eb-8007076173b6,g:baa10d6b-a9ec-46bb-8e50-7a6ef1f55cb8-->
<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://tarsusrx.com/role/CondensedStatementsofOperationsandComprehensiveLossIncome" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#CondensedStatementsofOperationsandComprehensiveLossIncome"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://tarsusrx.com/role/CondensedStatementsofOperationsandComprehensiveLossIncome" xlink:type="extended" id="i12f4382bf48545d6a461e8f0e2fe226a_CondensedStatementsofOperationsandComprehensiveLossIncome">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_01a191aa-7f2f-4e87-bbb6-b4b670d1348d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StatementLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevenuesAbstract_e16baa11-9f45-4067-896f-0b07e4ca66f2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_RevenuesAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_01a191aa-7f2f-4e87-bbb6-b4b670d1348d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevenuesAbstract_e16baa11-9f45-4067-896f-0b07e4ca66f2" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_Revenues_cd3d1e76-7d89-4a65-b485-40941d540dba" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_Revenues"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RevenuesAbstract_e16baa11-9f45-4067-896f-0b07e4ca66f2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_Revenues_cd3d1e76-7d89-4a65-b485-40941d540dba" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OperatingExpensesAbstract_bf5aeeb4-a422-4cdf-97b5-db94214bd32d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_OperatingExpensesAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_01a191aa-7f2f-4e87-bbb6-b4b670d1348d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OperatingExpensesAbstract_bf5aeeb4-a422-4cdf-97b5-db94214bd32d" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CostOfRevenue_4ae8a24d-1a49-4acc-a634-cdbdb5b64378" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CostOfRevenue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_OperatingExpensesAbstract_bf5aeeb4-a422-4cdf-97b5-db94214bd32d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CostOfRevenue_4ae8a24d-1a49-4acc-a634-cdbdb5b64378" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense_b331d7fa-928a-441b-b442-8dcdcdd39c3f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_OperatingExpensesAbstract_bf5aeeb4-a422-4cdf-97b5-db94214bd32d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense_b331d7fa-928a-441b-b442-8dcdcdd39c3f" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense_413538f1-a080-41f5-80ac-38725a71f91a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_OperatingExpensesAbstract_bf5aeeb4-a422-4cdf-97b5-db94214bd32d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense_413538f1-a080-41f5-80ac-38725a71f91a" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OperatingExpenses_507f262a-5b59-4416-9e9d-ba4b574f98f8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_OperatingExpenses"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_OperatingExpensesAbstract_bf5aeeb4-a422-4cdf-97b5-db94214bd32d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OperatingExpenses_507f262a-5b59-4416-9e9d-ba4b574f98f8" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss_110f00dc-8536-4549-8940-42adce4435ba" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_01a191aa-7f2f-4e87-bbb6-b4b670d1348d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss_110f00dc-8536-4549-8940-42adce4435ba" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpenseAbstract_9af21079-a479-44ac-9853-eabcf33d816a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpenseAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_01a191aa-7f2f-4e87-bbb6-b4b670d1348d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpenseAbstract_9af21079-a479-44ac-9853-eabcf33d816a" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InterestIncomeExpenseNonoperatingNet_d28d73de-0d2d-4aa8-97cb-6788ae105f6d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_InterestIncomeExpenseNonoperatingNet"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpenseAbstract_9af21079-a479-44ac-9853-eabcf33d816a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InterestIncomeExpenseNonoperatingNet_d28d73de-0d2d-4aa8-97cb-6788ae105f6d" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense_1ed3c5f5-358b-452e-a828-96df923c10a2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpenseAbstract_9af21079-a479-44ac-9853-eabcf33d816a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense_1ed3c5f5-358b-452e-a828-96df923c10a2" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesFvNiUnrealizedGainLoss_13073547-0cb3-4f6e-8ca1-6470e866dc67" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesFvNiUnrealizedGainLoss"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpenseAbstract_9af21079-a479-44ac-9853-eabcf33d816a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesFvNiUnrealizedGainLoss_13073547-0cb3-4f6e-8ca1-6470e866dc67" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EmbeddedDerivativeGainLossOnEmbeddedDerivativeNet_7d36b72c-87e6-4048-8cb9-30a0929a0dee" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EmbeddedDerivativeGainLossOnEmbeddedDerivativeNet"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpenseAbstract_9af21079-a479-44ac-9853-eabcf33d816a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EmbeddedDerivativeGainLossOnEmbeddedDerivativeNet_7d36b72c-87e6-4048-8cb9-30a0929a0dee" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense_6231e05c-2f11-48fe-8668-3260fd7cfe8e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpenseAbstract_9af21079-a479-44ac-9853-eabcf33d816a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense_6231e05c-2f11-48fe-8668-3260fd7cfe8e" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit_bc27bca4-8d8f-4dad-bf4d-d4f2327694c2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_01a191aa-7f2f-4e87-bbb6-b4b670d1348d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit_bc27bca4-8d8f-4dad-bf4d-d4f2327694c2" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss_ce71e38d-085e-48d2-8ef6-46e3489dbb11" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_01a191aa-7f2f-4e87-bbb6-b4b670d1348d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss_ce71e38d-085e-48d2-8ef6-46e3489dbb11" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax_2aa65dd8-03f6-43eb-b913-eb74e7ce0a58" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_01a191aa-7f2f-4e87-bbb6-b4b670d1348d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax_2aa65dd8-03f6-43eb-b913-eb74e7ce0a58" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EarningsPerShareAbstract_1bb36858-1bd8-4aaa-91fb-460fb8d47d89" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EarningsPerShareAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_01a191aa-7f2f-4e87-bbb6-b4b670d1348d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EarningsPerShareAbstract_1bb36858-1bd8-4aaa-91fb-460fb8d47d89" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic_90514d80-ceff-4899-a123-9324f9a1e84c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EarningsPerShareAbstract_1bb36858-1bd8-4aaa-91fb-460fb8d47d89" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic_90514d80-ceff-4899-a123-9324f9a1e84c" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted_82ef23bb-9315-497c-bf29-d9f25f823e2a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EarningsPerShareAbstract_1bb36858-1bd8-4aaa-91fb-460fb8d47d89" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted_82ef23bb-9315-497c-bf29-d9f25f823e2a" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingAbstract_250910f3-e2a2-4c99-a4f5-522c2e476054" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_01a191aa-7f2f-4e87-bbb6-b4b670d1348d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingAbstract_250910f3-e2a2-4c99-a4f5-522c2e476054" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic_f5ce5ddf-ff1b-46a6-b2ea-0c00b61715eb" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingAbstract_250910f3-e2a2-4c99-a4f5-522c2e476054" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic_f5ce5ddf-ff1b-46a6-b2ea-0c00b61715eb" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding_fa70bd90-6a01-4425-9a37-56adc8420e98" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingAbstract_250910f3-e2a2-4c99-a4f5-522c2e476054" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding_fa70bd90-6a01-4425-9a37-56adc8420e98" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementTable_6aa0b979-f3e7-4639-a4b8-72455272a214" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StatementTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_01a191aa-7f2f-4e87-bbb6-b4b670d1348d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementTable_6aa0b979-f3e7-4639-a4b8-72455272a214" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_601db6af-a135-4bdb-893a-56ebaa8ba4db" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2021/elts/srt-2021-01-31.xsd#srt_ProductOrServiceAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementTable_6aa0b979-f3e7-4639-a4b8-72455272a214" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_601db6af-a135-4bdb-893a-56ebaa8ba4db" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_601db6af-a135-4bdb-893a-56ebaa8ba4db_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2021/elts/srt-2021-01-31.xsd#srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_601db6af-a135-4bdb-893a-56ebaa8ba4db" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_601db6af-a135-4bdb-893a-56ebaa8ba4db_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_55d224d8-6e12-4a44-bd11-22e08324bca8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2021/elts/srt-2021-01-31.xsd#srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_601db6af-a135-4bdb-893a-56ebaa8ba4db" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_55d224d8-6e12-4a44-bd11-22e08324bca8" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tars_LicenseAndCollaborationMember_d868233d-7b0d-4760-9a97-ce73f1dfb727" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#tars_LicenseAndCollaborationMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_55d224d8-6e12-4a44-bd11-22e08324bca8" xlink:to="loc_tars_LicenseAndCollaborationMember_d868233d-7b0d-4760-9a97-ce73f1dfb727" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LicenseAndServiceMember_c382458b-7f15-4d83-9726-2c64d4e95d1e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LicenseAndServiceMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_tars_LicenseAndCollaborationMember_d868233d-7b0d-4760-9a97-ce73f1dfb727" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LicenseAndServiceMember_c382458b-7f15-4d83-9726-2c64d4e95d1e" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tars_CollaborationMember_27c03348-f9c7-4031-b082-f7caef7fa420" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#tars_CollaborationMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_tars_LicenseAndCollaborationMember_d868233d-7b0d-4760-9a97-ce73f1dfb727" xlink:to="loc_tars_CollaborationMember_27c03348-f9c7-4031-b082-f7caef7fa420" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://tarsusrx.com/role/CondensedStatementsofPreferredStockandStockholdersEquity" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#CondensedStatementsofPreferredStockandStockholdersEquity"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://tarsusrx.com/role/CondensedStatementsofPreferredStockandStockholdersEquity" xlink:type="extended" id="i10b658859f394314a759a7fce682a324_CondensedStatementsofPreferredStockandStockholdersEquity">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_07479fd2-48c8-48e8-9313-d64ad6422ba4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StatementLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInTemporaryEquityRollForward_0fbff390-776d-4eb4-8384-bcce4f453b09" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInTemporaryEquityRollForward"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_07479fd2-48c8-48e8-9313-d64ad6422ba4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInTemporaryEquityRollForward_0fbff390-776d-4eb4-8384-bcce4f453b09" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_TemporaryEquitySharesOutstanding_6d291d70-aa93-4c35-b312-6bf127cdb702" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_TemporaryEquitySharesOutstanding"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInTemporaryEquityRollForward_0fbff390-776d-4eb4-8384-bcce4f453b09" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_TemporaryEquitySharesOutstanding_6d291d70-aa93-4c35-b312-6bf127cdb702" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_TemporaryEquityCarryingAmountAttributableToParent_c8f05e96-e3c0-4713-8c22-c87893363120" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_TemporaryEquityCarryingAmountAttributableToParent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInTemporaryEquityRollForward_0fbff390-776d-4eb4-8384-bcce4f453b09" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_TemporaryEquityCarryingAmountAttributableToParent_c8f05e96-e3c0-4713-8c22-c87893363120" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_TemporaryEquitySharesOutstanding_15ede5db-8c4b-44b5-b364-087dee715938" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_TemporaryEquitySharesOutstanding"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_TemporaryEquityCarryingAmountAttributableToParent_17177a68-b5e7-44e5-8e27-734f6108c324" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_TemporaryEquityCarryingAmountAttributableToParent"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_dc87c55d-c219-445e-bbe3-60e812867137" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_07479fd2-48c8-48e8-9313-d64ad6422ba4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_dc87c55d-c219-445e-bbe3-60e812867137" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding_7ee22d84-febe-47fd-8503-6f9bbf284a04" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_dc87c55d-c219-445e-bbe3-60e812867137" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding_7ee22d84-febe-47fd-8503-6f9bbf284a04" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquity_3b4616a9-ddb7-4147-a250-17fed6b7763f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StockholdersEquity"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_dc87c55d-c219-445e-bbe3-60e812867137" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquity_3b4616a9-ddb7-4147-a250-17fed6b7763f" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss_abb3d16d-e59f-4e62-a1c7-457015756f19" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_dc87c55d-c219-445e-bbe3-60e812867137" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss_abb3d16d-e59f-4e62-a1c7-457015756f19" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue_0d43b566-8095-47f4-b2ea-e69ef42f0504" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_dc87c55d-c219-445e-bbe3-60e812867137" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue_0d43b566-8095-47f4-b2ea-e69ef42f0504" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised_a79d4d4f-31d9-4f17-aed5-4fa8c182aafd" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_dc87c55d-c219-445e-bbe3-60e812867137" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised_a79d4d4f-31d9-4f17-aed5-4fa8c182aafd" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueStockOptionsExercised_a87e68ed-bf7b-4e1b-9328-e793d8a32448" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueStockOptionsExercised"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_dc87c55d-c219-445e-bbe3-60e812867137" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueStockOptionsExercised_a87e68ed-bf7b-4e1b-9328-e793d8a32448" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesRestrictedStockAwardGross_3fcb5655-98da-49af-8f4d-0f48b29c3aef" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesRestrictedStockAwardGross"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_dc87c55d-c219-445e-bbe3-60e812867137" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesRestrictedStockAwardGross_3fcb5655-98da-49af-8f4d-0f48b29c3aef" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tars_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesLapseOfRepurchaseRights_23bf2d30-c8b3-4c9b-8008-337c96e81084" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#tars_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesLapseOfRepurchaseRights"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_dc87c55d-c219-445e-bbe3-60e812867137" xlink:to="loc_tars_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesLapseOfRepurchaseRights_23bf2d30-c8b3-4c9b-8008-337c96e81084" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tars_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueLapseOfRepurchaseRights_5515af79-f330-44d6-90f9-d47d936ca59e" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#tars_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueLapseOfRepurchaseRights"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_dc87c55d-c219-445e-bbe3-60e812867137" xlink:to="loc_tars_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueLapseOfRepurchaseRights_5515af79-f330-44d6-90f9-d47d936ca59e" xlink:type="arc" order="9"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesIssuedForServices_1b8bef2b-513c-4d08-b075-c53315f2311a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesIssuedForServices"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_dc87c55d-c219-445e-bbe3-60e812867137" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesIssuedForServices_1b8bef2b-513c-4d08-b075-c53315f2311a" xlink:type="arc" order="10"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueIssuedForServices_f6602790-0973-40e0-8f19-ed6b7cc7ab05" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueIssuedForServices"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_dc87c55d-c219-445e-bbe3-60e812867137" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueIssuedForServices_f6602790-0973-40e0-8f19-ed6b7cc7ab05" xlink:type="arc" order="11"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding_cf68b4ea-443a-4da8-8bbd-557c4ea5c2f6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquity_76188f67-d791-4969-8b3d-3599a03d4962" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StockholdersEquity"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementTable_07f8c586-a210-4f79-a30b-c3eec922cea7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StatementTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_07479fd2-48c8-48e8-9313-d64ad6422ba4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementTable_07f8c586-a210-4f79-a30b-c3eec922cea7" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_17d908e5-e62e-438b-ba49-c2ef1287e341" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementTable_07f8c586-a210-4f79-a30b-c3eec922cea7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_17d908e5-e62e-438b-ba49-c2ef1287e341" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_17d908e5-e62e-438b-ba49-c2ef1287e341_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_17d908e5-e62e-438b-ba49-c2ef1287e341" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_17d908e5-e62e-438b-ba49-c2ef1287e341_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_dd3df24b-f7a7-423e-aa3b-b71ec3525635" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_17d908e5-e62e-438b-ba49-c2ef1287e341" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_dd3df24b-f7a7-423e-aa3b-b71ec3525635" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockMember_d7ed1f82-739d-47b0-b57e-88881f1eb46a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_dd3df24b-f7a7-423e-aa3b-b71ec3525635" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockMember_d7ed1f82-739d-47b0-b57e-88881f1eb46a" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember_b442e7e7-776a-455e-a3dd-97dcb133ec80" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_dd3df24b-f7a7-423e-aa3b-b71ec3525635" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember_b442e7e7-776a-455e-a3dd-97dcb133ec80" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember_a6e2e043-5771-45a5-af4c-adaeb0e43d81" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_dd3df24b-f7a7-423e-aa3b-b71ec3525635" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember_a6e2e043-5771-45a5-af4c-adaeb0e43d81" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://tarsusrx.com/role/DescriptionofBusinessandPresentationofFinancialStatementsDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#DescriptionofBusinessandPresentationofFinancialStatementsDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://tarsusrx.com/role/DescriptionofBusinessandPresentationofFinancialStatementsDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="if4fe84099b304e588acd6c66393377bd_DescriptionofBusinessandPresentationofFinancialStatementsDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_fcdd5bbe-f83f-4222-a164-7568b6913bb6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity_b2bb8d07-8f24-411f-ba97-1bd4219c1c82" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_fcdd5bbe-f83f-4222-a164-7568b6913bb6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity_b2bb8d07-8f24-411f-ba97-1bd4219c1c82" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tars_LineOfCreditFacilityDrawDownIncrements_3a1bdadc-77b2-4a7c-8730-25c8b84599ad" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#tars_LineOfCreditFacilityDrawDownIncrements"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_fcdd5bbe-f83f-4222-a164-7568b6913bb6" xlink:to="loc_tars_LineOfCreditFacilityDrawDownIncrements_3a1bdadc-77b2-4a7c-8730-25c8b84599ad" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ProceedsFromLongTermLinesOfCredit_e9312601-1254-47f3-a182-bfdabd2b4cb7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ProceedsFromLongTermLinesOfCredit"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_fcdd5bbe-f83f-4222-a164-7568b6913bb6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ProceedsFromLongTermLinesOfCredit_e9312601-1254-47f3-a182-bfdabd2b4cb7" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_cf4c93e5-1bb5-40e6-bc25-80ae0dab5629" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_fcdd5bbe-f83f-4222-a164-7568b6913bb6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_cf4c93e5-1bb5-40e6-bc25-80ae0dab5629" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_3703d646-5c41-4106-b813-0b2ae6fddf7a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_cf4c93e5-1bb5-40e6-bc25-80ae0dab5629" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_3703d646-5c41-4106-b813-0b2ae6fddf7a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_3703d646-5c41-4106-b813-0b2ae6fddf7a_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_3703d646-5c41-4106-b813-0b2ae6fddf7a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_3703d646-5c41-4106-b813-0b2ae6fddf7a_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_fdead0c2-6d74-473e-b152-1f2a76601b7a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_3703d646-5c41-4106-b813-0b2ae6fddf7a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_fdead0c2-6d74-473e-b152-1f2a76601b7a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember_668ae7c8-b489-4edc-a022-9219fa348390" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_fdead0c2-6d74-473e-b152-1f2a76601b7a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember_668ae7c8-b489-4edc-a022-9219fa348390" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://tarsusrx.com/role/BalanceSheetAccountDetailPropertyandEquipmentNetofAccumulatedDepreciationDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#BalanceSheetAccountDetailPropertyandEquipmentNetofAccumulatedDepreciationDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://tarsusrx.com/role/BalanceSheetAccountDetailPropertyandEquipmentNetofAccumulatedDepreciationDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i6fe35b2781d047018f6fe00eeaa40279_BalanceSheetAccountDetailPropertyandEquipmentNetofAccumulatedDepreciationDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems_ca050be7-d098-4410-9e3e-c6b5d7356b3e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross_cd468b9f-7843-4e88-ab98-320f1fd96556" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems_ca050be7-d098-4410-9e3e-c6b5d7356b3e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross_cd468b9f-7843-4e88-ab98-320f1fd96556" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment_e9c82274-20f6-4a61-8ed6-e9e0abe84cfb" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems_ca050be7-d098-4410-9e3e-c6b5d7356b3e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment_e9c82274-20f6-4a61-8ed6-e9e0abe84cfb" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet_529b28e9-1d8a-4fc0-9ed0-967ed900d48a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems_ca050be7-d098-4410-9e3e-c6b5d7356b3e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet_529b28e9-1d8a-4fc0-9ed0-967ed900d48a" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_Depreciation_14dacb47-7a8e-4fa0-80b2-ad489a7957d6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_Depreciation"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems_ca050be7-d098-4410-9e3e-c6b5d7356b3e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_Depreciation_14dacb47-7a8e-4fa0-80b2-ad489a7957d6" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentTable_be6f005c-418f-470f-85a7-3e932b469df8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems_ca050be7-d098-4410-9e3e-c6b5d7356b3e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentTable_be6f005c-418f-470f-85a7-3e932b469df8" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis_bc089b56-447c-49b1-8f2f-59bcba287ca2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentTable_be6f005c-418f-470f-85a7-3e932b469df8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis_bc089b56-447c-49b1-8f2f-59bcba287ca2" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain_bc089b56-447c-49b1-8f2f-59bcba287ca2_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis_bc089b56-447c-49b1-8f2f-59bcba287ca2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain_bc089b56-447c-49b1-8f2f-59bcba287ca2_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain_9ea55e48-e7c0-4816-ba8d-d874c1d4ba1f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis_bc089b56-447c-49b1-8f2f-59bcba287ca2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain_9ea55e48-e7c0-4816-ba8d-d874c1d4ba1f" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FurnitureAndFixturesMember_ee9ec0ec-dd5a-4df3-bbc1-da03a83145dd" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FurnitureAndFixturesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain_9ea55e48-e7c0-4816-ba8d-d874c1d4ba1f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FurnitureAndFixturesMember_ee9ec0ec-dd5a-4df3-bbc1-da03a83145dd" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OfficeEquipmentMember_31881701-3663-419b-9ade-a89ab1df0c25" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_OfficeEquipmentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain_9ea55e48-e7c0-4816-ba8d-d874c1d4ba1f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OfficeEquipmentMember_31881701-3663-419b-9ade-a89ab1df0c25" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherMachineryAndEquipmentMember_e5c06228-72b2-43be-9642-00a74c40c84a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_OtherMachineryAndEquipmentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain_9ea55e48-e7c0-4816-ba8d-d874c1d4ba1f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherMachineryAndEquipmentMember_e5c06228-72b2-43be-9642-00a74c40c84a" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LeaseholdImprovementsMember_6ccaf019-2c9f-4585-be87-fc3b21440643" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LeaseholdImprovementsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain_9ea55e48-e7c0-4816-ba8d-d874c1d4ba1f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LeaseholdImprovementsMember_6ccaf019-2c9f-4585-be87-fc3b21440643" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://tarsusrx.com/role/StockholdersEquityandEquityIncentivePlansAdditionalInformationDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#StockholdersEquityandEquityIncentivePlansAdditionalInformationDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://tarsusrx.com/role/StockholdersEquityandEquityIncentivePlansAdditionalInformationDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="iccf4204e835d4beab165929867a1195b_StockholdersEquityandEquityIncentivePlansAdditionalInformationDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_f24f34d8-8b8d-4864-ac6d-6322b901c0a8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding_b8e0752e-5596-4414-83d4-f4b855c4502d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_f24f34d8-8b8d-4864-ac6d-6322b901c0a8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding_b8e0752e-5596-4414-83d4-f4b855c4502d" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued_b6b48f93-c195-44c9-a20a-51696c397e88" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_f24f34d8-8b8d-4864-ac6d-6322b901c0a8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued_b6b48f93-c195-44c9-a20a-51696c397e88" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockCapitalSharesReservedForFutureIssuance_a0dd3fa2-0621-4d42-b914-8f2b5edb6572" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockCapitalSharesReservedForFutureIssuance"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_f24f34d8-8b8d-4864-ac6d-6322b901c0a8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockCapitalSharesReservedForFutureIssuance_a0dd3fa2-0621-4d42-b914-8f2b5edb6572" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tars_CommonStockCapitalSharesReservedForFutureIssuanceAnnualPercentageIncrease_5b9eb94b-cc71-498f-8962-568cc932aca6" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#tars_CommonStockCapitalSharesReservedForFutureIssuanceAnnualPercentageIncrease"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_f24f34d8-8b8d-4864-ac6d-6322b901c0a8" xlink:to="loc_tars_CommonStockCapitalSharesReservedForFutureIssuanceAnnualPercentageIncrease_5b9eb94b-cc71-498f-8962-568cc932aca6" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardRequisiteServicePeriod1_23e07244-09eb-4b81-93df-5d0830f49c96" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardRequisiteServicePeriod1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_f24f34d8-8b8d-4864-ac6d-6322b901c0a8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardRequisiteServicePeriod1_23e07244-09eb-4b81-93df-5d0830f49c96" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardExpirationPeriod_28c698d7-0f58-4e35-865c-479ec8f96fe1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardExpirationPeriod"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_f24f34d8-8b8d-4864-ac6d-6322b901c0a8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardExpirationPeriod_28c698d7-0f58-4e35-865c-479ec8f96fe1" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tars_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardExpirationPeriodAfterDateOfTerminationUponDeath_37c0546c-0b4b-41d8-8dea-caffc8b9ba18" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#tars_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardExpirationPeriodAfterDateOfTerminationUponDeath"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_f24f34d8-8b8d-4864-ac6d-6322b901c0a8" xlink:to="loc_tars_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardExpirationPeriodAfterDateOfTerminationUponDeath_37c0546c-0b4b-41d8-8dea-caffc8b9ba18" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tars_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardExpirationPeriodAfterDateOfTerminationUponDisability_18667367-a4fc-4c34-9e44-8f98734937f2" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#tars_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardExpirationPeriodAfterDateOfTerminationUponDisability"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_f24f34d8-8b8d-4864-ac6d-6322b901c0a8" xlink:to="loc_tars_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardExpirationPeriodAfterDateOfTerminationUponDisability_18667367-a4fc-4c34-9e44-8f98734937f2" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tars_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardExpirationPeriodAfterDateOfTerminationUponAllOtherSeparations_9bb87452-b7ae-4f7a-9ae7-e07ec452053e" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#tars_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardExpirationPeriodAfterDateOfTerminationUponAllOtherSeparations"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_f24f34d8-8b8d-4864-ac6d-6322b901c0a8" xlink:to="loc_tars_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardExpirationPeriodAfterDateOfTerminationUponAllOtherSeparations_9bb87452-b7ae-4f7a-9ae7-e07ec452053e" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DeferredCompensationSharebasedArrangementsLiabilityCurrentAndNoncurrent_9c693608-fec5-416d-9012-269d7b3873e7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DeferredCompensationSharebasedArrangementsLiabilityCurrentAndNoncurrent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_f24f34d8-8b8d-4864-ac6d-6322b901c0a8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DeferredCompensationSharebasedArrangementsLiabilityCurrentAndNoncurrent_9c693608-fec5-416d-9012-269d7b3873e7" xlink:type="arc" order="9"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tars_CommonStockCapitalSharesReservedForFutureIssuanceEmployeeStockPurchasePlan_8c5f4eb3-11b8-4cdd-8a49-a45c18d110ce" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#tars_CommonStockCapitalSharesReservedForFutureIssuanceEmployeeStockPurchasePlan"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_f24f34d8-8b8d-4864-ac6d-6322b901c0a8" xlink:to="loc_tars_CommonStockCapitalSharesReservedForFutureIssuanceEmployeeStockPurchasePlan_8c5f4eb3-11b8-4cdd-8a49-a45c18d110ce" xlink:type="arc" order="10"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tars_CommonStockCapitalSharesReservedForFutureIssuanceAnnualPercentageIncrease_f04ed841-a4a1-477b-b9b4-b80c12803078" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#tars_CommonStockCapitalSharesReservedForFutureIssuanceAnnualPercentageIncrease"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tars_CommonStockCapitalSharesReservedForFutureIssuanceAnnualSharesIncrease_e93e1f68-cbdf-42e3-a83c-60fb59b383f6" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#tars_CommonStockCapitalSharesReservedForFutureIssuanceAnnualSharesIncrease"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_f24f34d8-8b8d-4864-ac6d-6322b901c0a8" xlink:to="loc_tars_CommonStockCapitalSharesReservedForFutureIssuanceAnnualSharesIncrease_e93e1f68-cbdf-42e3-a83c-60fb59b383f6" xlink:type="arc" order="12"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardDiscountFromMarketPricePurchaseDate_8da3cb33-f59d-4357-b8a7-35186ecf307d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardDiscountFromMarketPricePurchaseDate"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_f24f34d8-8b8d-4864-ac6d-6322b901c0a8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardDiscountFromMarketPricePurchaseDate_8da3cb33-f59d-4357-b8a7-35186ecf307d" xlink:type="arc" order="13"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_e78a939e-29be-4fe7-b567-3c5d235d0f98" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_f24f34d8-8b8d-4864-ac6d-6322b901c0a8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_e78a939e-29be-4fe7-b567-3c5d235d0f98" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PlanNameAxis_e0ac6203-9743-46ec-ba08-11f0d4a192bc" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_PlanNameAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_e78a939e-29be-4fe7-b567-3c5d235d0f98" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PlanNameAxis_e0ac6203-9743-46ec-ba08-11f0d4a192bc" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PlanNameDomain_e0ac6203-9743-46ec-ba08-11f0d4a192bc_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_PlanNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PlanNameAxis_e0ac6203-9743-46ec-ba08-11f0d4a192bc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PlanNameDomain_e0ac6203-9743-46ec-ba08-11f0d4a192bc_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PlanNameDomain_f7fc15fd-6398-4775-ab13-5e301663cba4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_PlanNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PlanNameAxis_e0ac6203-9743-46ec-ba08-11f0d4a192bc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PlanNameDomain_f7fc15fd-6398-4775-ab13-5e301663cba4" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tars_EquityIncentivePlan2020Member_c5376a28-e82f-4083-b1f2-fc03b84b8415" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#tars_EquityIncentivePlan2020Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PlanNameDomain_f7fc15fd-6398-4775-ab13-5e301663cba4" xlink:to="loc_tars_EquityIncentivePlan2020Member_c5376a28-e82f-4083-b1f2-fc03b84b8415" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tars_EquityIncentivePlan2016Member_e7d1c02c-6b0e-4fbe-94a5-1649e9fb5fcc" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#tars_EquityIncentivePlan2016Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PlanNameDomain_f7fc15fd-6398-4775-ab13-5e301663cba4" xlink:to="loc_tars_EquityIncentivePlan2016Member_e7d1c02c-6b0e-4fbe-94a5-1649e9fb5fcc" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeAxis_9a8ad204-fda9-4744-abe7-8fd4cceaaa9f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2021/elts/srt-2021-01-31.xsd#srt_RangeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_e78a939e-29be-4fe7-b567-3c5d235d0f98" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeAxis_9a8ad204-fda9-4744-abe7-8fd4cceaaa9f" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeMember_9a8ad204-fda9-4744-abe7-8fd4cceaaa9f_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2021/elts/srt-2021-01-31.xsd#srt_RangeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeAxis_9a8ad204-fda9-4744-abe7-8fd4cceaaa9f" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeMember_9a8ad204-fda9-4744-abe7-8fd4cceaaa9f_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeMember_3ccee613-bbbe-43a4-874f-b79c9c4a4f96" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2021/elts/srt-2021-01-31.xsd#srt_RangeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeAxis_9a8ad204-fda9-4744-abe7-8fd4cceaaa9f" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeMember_3ccee613-bbbe-43a4-874f-b79c9c4a4f96" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_MinimumMember_9a072b0c-9007-4b08-88de-cfccd1ad9e06" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2021/elts/srt-2021-01-31.xsd#srt_MinimumMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeMember_3ccee613-bbbe-43a4-874f-b79c9c4a4f96" xlink:to="loc_srt_MinimumMember_9a072b0c-9007-4b08-88de-cfccd1ad9e06" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_MaximumMember_45a6b20b-ebff-4d1c-8c6a-d27fe5be62d1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2021/elts/srt-2021-01-31.xsd#srt_MaximumMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeMember_3ccee613-bbbe-43a4-874f-b79c9c4a4f96" xlink:to="loc_srt_MaximumMember_45a6b20b-ebff-4d1c-8c6a-d27fe5be62d1" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_29374d35-8d6f-4a0c-bef6-936595c432c2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_e78a939e-29be-4fe7-b567-3c5d235d0f98" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_29374d35-8d6f-4a0c-bef6-936595c432c2" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_29374d35-8d6f-4a0c-bef6-936595c432c2_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_29374d35-8d6f-4a0c-bef6-936595c432c2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_29374d35-8d6f-4a0c-bef6-936595c432c2_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_3516495d-9ac8-44fc-878d-23d42ca97198" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_29374d35-8d6f-4a0c-bef6-936595c432c2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_3516495d-9ac8-44fc-878d-23d42ca97198" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember_fba83040-b6b6-4e19-a8f5-97561e352c51" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_3516495d-9ac8-44fc-878d-23d42ca97198" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember_fba83040-b6b6-4e19-a8f5-97561e352c51" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember_fae46070-7335-4524-b7a4-da6fffe4dbcf" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_3516495d-9ac8-44fc-878d-23d42ca97198" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember_fae46070-7335-4524-b7a4-da6fffe4dbcf" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://tarsusrx.com/role/StockBasedCompensationExpenseDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#StockBasedCompensationExpenseDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://tarsusrx.com/role/StockBasedCompensationExpenseDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i56f5d80bd91c4cb5a0534a59550291d0_StockBasedCompensationExpenseDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsLineItems_b13f8c00-88f2-4221-8dfc-80002929e362" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense_a92237ab-9e2c-4a4c-895b-7c6d7fd70a13" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsLineItems_b13f8c00-88f2-4221-8dfc-80002929e362" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense_a92237ab-9e2c-4a4c-895b-7c6d7fd70a13" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfEmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsTable_540192e4-3158-45b4-9e36-3835032aa291" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfEmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsLineItems_b13f8c00-88f2-4221-8dfc-80002929e362" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfEmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsTable_540192e4-3158-45b4-9e36-3835032aa291" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis_c4f85790-b1d1-46e5-9602-7b3b5e4cd12d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfEmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsTable_540192e4-3158-45b4-9e36-3835032aa291" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis_c4f85790-b1d1-46e5-9602-7b3b5e4cd12d" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationDomain_c4f85790-b1d1-46e5-9602-7b3b5e4cd12d_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis_c4f85790-b1d1-46e5-9602-7b3b5e4cd12d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationDomain_c4f85790-b1d1-46e5-9602-7b3b5e4cd12d_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationDomain_02f017fc-1ecd-4c75-8641-d29564b28fb2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis_c4f85790-b1d1-46e5-9602-7b3b5e4cd12d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationDomain_02f017fc-1ecd-4c75-8641-d29564b28fb2" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpenseMember_6130ca78-148a-41bd-9441-a5cf50f52ebd" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpenseMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationDomain_02f017fc-1ecd-4c75-8641-d29564b28fb2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpenseMember_6130ca78-148a-41bd-9441-a5cf50f52ebd" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpenseMember_6c7a6a04-f190-43cf-8374-5891fc1828ad" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpenseMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationDomain_02f017fc-1ecd-4c75-8641-d29564b28fb2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpenseMember_6c7a6a04-f190-43cf-8374-5891fc1828ad" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://tarsusrx.com/role/NetLossIncomePerShareAntidilutiveSecuritiesDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#NetLossIncomePerShareAntidilutiveSecuritiesDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://tarsusrx.com/role/NetLossIncomePerShareAntidilutiveSecuritiesDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i2b36600a70f3477496faa5ac7e8b1985_NetLossIncomePerShareAntidilutiveSecuritiesDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareLineItems_90aa5f18-94a9-400a-8dfe-5a276eb92471" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount_b641774a-2cb8-4732-9179-283e27c3f489" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareLineItems_90aa5f18-94a9-400a-8dfe-5a276eb92471" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount_b641774a-2cb8-4732-9179-283e27c3f489" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfAntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareTable_dc0275b6-6093-4bbb-bdb8-d0558757fbae" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfAntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareLineItems_90aa5f18-94a9-400a-8dfe-5a276eb92471" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfAntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareTable_dc0275b6-6093-4bbb-bdb8-d0558757fbae" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareByAntidilutiveSecuritiesAxis_95b282f2-cd7d-4b1b-981e-f823190122e6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareByAntidilutiveSecuritiesAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfAntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareTable_dc0275b6-6093-4bbb-bdb8-d0558757fbae" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareByAntidilutiveSecuritiesAxis_95b282f2-cd7d-4b1b-981e-f823190122e6" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesNameDomain_95b282f2-cd7d-4b1b-981e-f823190122e6_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareByAntidilutiveSecuritiesAxis_95b282f2-cd7d-4b1b-981e-f823190122e6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesNameDomain_95b282f2-cd7d-4b1b-981e-f823190122e6_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesNameDomain_9ef3eed2-69fb-4515-b24d-b8d01e3b4371" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareByAntidilutiveSecuritiesAxis_95b282f2-cd7d-4b1b-981e-f823190122e6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesNameDomain_9ef3eed2-69fb-4515-b24d-b8d01e3b4371" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember_6c00ab06-11ea-4ece-b92e-e8a188fc84a1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesNameDomain_9ef3eed2-69fb-4515-b24d-b8d01e3b4371" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember_6c00ab06-11ea-4ece-b92e-e8a188fc84a1" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tars_ShareBasedPaymentArrangementEarlyExercisedOptionMember_50d38d33-9c0e-4cba-a0dd-a9aa6f8b2260" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#tars_ShareBasedPaymentArrangementEarlyExercisedOptionMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesNameDomain_9ef3eed2-69fb-4515-b24d-b8d01e3b4371" xlink:to="loc_tars_ShareBasedPaymentArrangementEarlyExercisedOptionMember_50d38d33-9c0e-4cba-a0dd-a9aa6f8b2260" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tars_ShareBasedPaymentArrangementEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsRestrictedStockUnitsUnvestedMember_82b5c3e3-a4d6-4eca-83f2-9c7dda8d5c7a" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#tars_ShareBasedPaymentArrangementEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsRestrictedStockUnitsUnvestedMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesNameDomain_9ef3eed2-69fb-4515-b24d-b8d01e3b4371" xlink:to="loc_tars_ShareBasedPaymentArrangementEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsRestrictedStockUnitsUnvestedMember_82b5c3e3-a4d6-4eca-83f2-9c7dda8d5c7a" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://tarsusrx.com/role/FairValueMeasurementsFinancialInstrumentsMeasuredatFairValueDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#FairValueMeasurementsFinancialInstrumentsMeasuredatFairValueDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://tarsusrx.com/role/FairValueMeasurementsFinancialInstrumentsMeasuredatFairValueDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i3b40fc69431746d4b80b101e7e0a1f91_FairValueMeasurementsFinancialInstrumentsMeasuredatFairValueDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueBalanceSheetGroupingFinancialStatementCaptionsLineItems_7881bf4d-a58a-488c-93a5-31bbb6b7dce7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueBalanceSheetGroupingFinancialStatementCaptionsLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AssetsAbstract_f2a4f905-059d-46f4-a341-5c81758cb57c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AssetsAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueBalanceSheetGroupingFinancialStatementCaptionsLineItems_7881bf4d-a58a-488c-93a5-31bbb6b7dce7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AssetsAbstract_f2a4f905-059d-46f4-a341-5c81758cb57c" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure_978064eb-366a-40a4-90b1-506914dd705b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetsAbstract_f2a4f905-059d-46f4-a341-5c81758cb57c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure_978064eb-366a-40a4-90b1-506914dd705b" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesFvNiCurrentAndNoncurrent_e8e7affc-9733-455a-a66a-4fa6df8fb35a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesFvNiCurrentAndNoncurrent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetsAbstract_f2a4f905-059d-46f4-a341-5c81758cb57c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesFvNiCurrentAndNoncurrent_e8e7affc-9733-455a-a66a-4fa6df8fb35a" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tars_EquityWarrantsFairValueDisclosure_645fc4f2-c337-424d-8d47-35dfd6ec6a1a" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#tars_EquityWarrantsFairValueDisclosure"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetsAbstract_f2a4f905-059d-46f4-a341-5c81758cb57c" xlink:to="loc_tars_EquityWarrantsFairValueDisclosure_645fc4f2-c337-424d-8d47-35dfd6ec6a1a" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure_67efb69f-92f2-461f-a210-ee355e84af54" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetsAbstract_f2a4f905-059d-46f4-a341-5c81758cb57c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure_67efb69f-92f2-461f-a210-ee355e84af54" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingTable_ee8174b3-c8fd-441a-9798-5a91149e5c0a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueBalanceSheetGroupingFinancialStatementCaptionsLineItems_7881bf4d-a58a-488c-93a5-31bbb6b7dce7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingTable_ee8174b3-c8fd-441a-9798-5a91149e5c0a" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_5d4220bb-c7b1-4a50-9b03-a5827396263a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingTable_ee8174b3-c8fd-441a-9798-5a91149e5c0a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_5d4220bb-c7b1-4a50-9b03-a5827396263a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_5d4220bb-c7b1-4a50-9b03-a5827396263a_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_5d4220bb-c7b1-4a50-9b03-a5827396263a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_5d4220bb-c7b1-4a50-9b03-a5827396263a_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_f132f7ee-4dbd-4de5-b8f1-b5456711253f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_5d4220bb-c7b1-4a50-9b03-a5827396263a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_f132f7ee-4dbd-4de5-b8f1-b5456711253f" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member_de8bf903-ddfa-4efa-afb3-fb2c636117f2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_f132f7ee-4dbd-4de5-b8f1-b5456711253f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member_de8bf903-ddfa-4efa-afb3-fb2c636117f2" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member_31318fc1-9717-4967-92c6-50a67ed3260f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_f132f7ee-4dbd-4de5-b8f1-b5456711253f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member_31318fc1-9717-4967-92c6-50a67ed3260f" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member_fe99ebed-cf55-4f2f-ab51-4bd4f42af708" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_f132f7ee-4dbd-4de5-b8f1-b5456711253f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member_fe99ebed-cf55-4f2f-ab51-4bd4f42af708" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAxis_faedd38e-887a-41f8-a7ea-8443345dbe25" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingTable_ee8174b3-c8fd-441a-9798-5a91149e5c0a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAxis_faedd38e-887a-41f8-a7ea-8443345dbe25" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsMember_faedd38e-887a-41f8-a7ea-8443345dbe25_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAxis_faedd38e-887a-41f8-a7ea-8443345dbe25" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsMember_faedd38e-887a-41f8-a7ea-8443345dbe25_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsMember_2a39ee6b-b9ba-4a0e-bc96-b3c1972ceca3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAxis_faedd38e-887a-41f8-a7ea-8443345dbe25" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsMember_2a39ee6b-b9ba-4a0e-bc96-b3c1972ceca3" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_MoneyMarketFundsMember_5085c35b-bb36-454b-bb0f-d1056482f9fd" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_MoneyMarketFundsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsMember_2a39ee6b-b9ba-4a0e-bc96-b3c1972ceca3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_MoneyMarketFundsMember_5085c35b-bb36-454b-bb0f-d1056482f9fd" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://tarsusrx.com/role/FairValueMeasurementsChangesinFairValueofEquityWarrantsDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#FairValueMeasurementsChangesinFairValueofEquityWarrantsDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://tarsusrx.com/role/FairValueMeasurementsChangesinFairValueofEquityWarrantsDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="ic8043ccd08ae4a5699b7eeda5ddfd7e2_FairValueMeasurementsChangesinFairValueofEquityWarrantsDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputReconciliationLineItems_5c5ebd50-6567-4c2c-8320-9bb0c43cc5cc" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputReconciliationLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputReconciliationCalculationRollForward_144fde80-6dc3-4188-87f0-3bff3aca4c29" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputReconciliationCalculationRollForward"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputReconciliationLineItems_5c5ebd50-6567-4c2c-8320-9bb0c43cc5cc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputReconciliationCalculationRollForward_144fde80-6dc3-4188-87f0-3bff3aca4c29" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetValue_f877647c-ddce-4aa7-af25-373575d04c71" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputReconciliationCalculationRollForward_144fde80-6dc3-4188-87f0-3bff3aca4c29" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetValue_f877647c-ddce-4aa7-af25-373575d04c71" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetGainLossIncludedInEarnings1_5dbc2feb-2e3b-407e-a5a8-ec58fbcadf57" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetGainLossIncludedInEarnings1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputReconciliationCalculationRollForward_144fde80-6dc3-4188-87f0-3bff3aca4c29" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetGainLossIncludedInEarnings1_5dbc2feb-2e3b-407e-a5a8-ec58fbcadf57" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetValue_42ea5e3e-eb89-4da1-927e-5789088fa2ed" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetValue"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputReconciliationTable_04a5646f-70b4-4133-adb4-1b7d1176e71d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputReconciliationTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputReconciliationLineItems_5c5ebd50-6567-4c2c-8320-9bb0c43cc5cc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputReconciliationTable_04a5646f-70b4-4133-adb4-1b7d1176e71d" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis_09e6f2e8-8114-4678-af3b-0b6f90e03846" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputReconciliationTable_04a5646f-70b4-4133-adb4-1b7d1176e71d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis_09e6f2e8-8114-4678-af3b-0b6f90e03846" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationDomain_09e6f2e8-8114-4678-af3b-0b6f90e03846_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis_09e6f2e8-8114-4678-af3b-0b6f90e03846" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationDomain_09e6f2e8-8114-4678-af3b-0b6f90e03846_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationDomain_ea34b2e3-575f-4dbf-8725-7ed1f20a6c6a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis_09e6f2e8-8114-4678-af3b-0b6f90e03846" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationDomain_ea34b2e3-575f-4dbf-8725-7ed1f20a6c6a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SalesMember_1236b6d1-cb16-4344-b084-95d141fb0d79" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_SalesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationDomain_ea34b2e3-575f-4dbf-8725-7ed1f20a6c6a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SalesMember_1236b6d1-cb16-4344-b084-95d141fb0d79" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpenseMember_3943da09-af98-4ae8-ae0e-8468db27559b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpenseMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationDomain_ea34b2e3-575f-4dbf-8725-7ed1f20a6c6a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpenseMember_3943da09-af98-4ae8-ae0e-8468db27559b" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://tarsusrx.com/role/CommitmentContingenciesFacilityLeasesDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#CommitmentContingenciesFacilityLeasesDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://tarsusrx.com/role/CommitmentContingenciesFacilityLeasesDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="ie3b18448ac304761b7c3816e4f18460f_CommitmentContingenciesFacilityLeasesDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LesseeLeaseDescriptionLineItems_9cf4b2aa-0b6a-4f25-8158-d84298d6f06e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LesseeLeaseDescriptionLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tars_LesseeOperatingLeaseNumberOfLeaseContracts_ea926c95-9155-443f-9acd-24c964411304" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#tars_LesseeOperatingLeaseNumberOfLeaseContracts"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LesseeLeaseDescriptionLineItems_9cf4b2aa-0b6a-4f25-8158-d84298d6f06e" xlink:to="loc_tars_LesseeOperatingLeaseNumberOfLeaseContracts_ea926c95-9155-443f-9acd-24c964411304" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LesseeOperatingLeaseTermOfContract_988e6d16-5e23-4305-9dc8-5ce094737512" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LesseeOperatingLeaseTermOfContract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LesseeLeaseDescriptionLineItems_9cf4b2aa-0b6a-4f25-8158-d84298d6f06e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LesseeOperatingLeaseTermOfContract_988e6d16-5e23-4305-9dc8-5ce094737512" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OperatingLeaseRightOfUseAsset_d3a3770a-efe1-4e37-a89a-86963d6ea00e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_OperatingLeaseRightOfUseAsset"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LesseeLeaseDescriptionLineItems_9cf4b2aa-0b6a-4f25-8158-d84298d6f06e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OperatingLeaseRightOfUseAsset_d3a3770a-efe1-4e37-a89a-86963d6ea00e" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageRemainingLeaseTerm1_95b2ca6f-e1ee-404f-9997-dded16ef5c29" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageRemainingLeaseTerm1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LesseeLeaseDescriptionLineItems_9cf4b2aa-0b6a-4f25-8158-d84298d6f06e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageRemainingLeaseTerm1_95b2ca6f-e1ee-404f-9997-dded16ef5c29" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageDiscountRatePercent_7c2bdb50-acda-4467-9a0c-7c027f22481b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageDiscountRatePercent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LesseeLeaseDescriptionLineItems_9cf4b2aa-0b6a-4f25-8158-d84298d6f06e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageDiscountRatePercent_7c2bdb50-acda-4467-9a0c-7c027f22481b" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LesseeLeaseDescriptionTable_6713c5c8-e11a-4c8f-aede-2e2cb41bdb78" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LesseeLeaseDescriptionTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LesseeLeaseDescriptionLineItems_9cf4b2aa-0b6a-4f25-8158-d84298d6f06e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LesseeLeaseDescriptionTable_6713c5c8-e11a-4c8f-aede-2e2cb41bdb78" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LeaseContractualTermAxis_613838ef-82fb-4053-8b94-ea1553ceceeb" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LeaseContractualTermAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LesseeLeaseDescriptionTable_6713c5c8-e11a-4c8f-aede-2e2cb41bdb78" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LeaseContractualTermAxis_613838ef-82fb-4053-8b94-ea1553ceceeb" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LeaseContractualTermDomain_613838ef-82fb-4053-8b94-ea1553ceceeb_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LeaseContractualTermDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LeaseContractualTermAxis_613838ef-82fb-4053-8b94-ea1553ceceeb" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LeaseContractualTermDomain_613838ef-82fb-4053-8b94-ea1553ceceeb_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LeaseContractualTermDomain_10a44896-7a81-42a7-84c8-6fff2cdabb37" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LeaseContractualTermDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LeaseContractualTermAxis_613838ef-82fb-4053-8b94-ea1553ceceeb" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LeaseContractualTermDomain_10a44896-7a81-42a7-84c8-6fff2cdabb37" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tars_IrvineOfficeAndFacilitiesLeaseMember_e64bd277-a5ee-48d5-b52b-c7a1238dc94e" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#tars_IrvineOfficeAndFacilitiesLeaseMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LeaseContractualTermDomain_10a44896-7a81-42a7-84c8-6fff2cdabb37" xlink:to="loc_tars_IrvineOfficeAndFacilitiesLeaseMember_e64bd277-a5ee-48d5-b52b-c7a1238dc94e" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tars_IrvineOfficeAndFacilitiesOfficeSuiteAndSpaceLeaseMember_f10a15fd-3bfb-4e2d-9631-0ecb1ee79d6a" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#tars_IrvineOfficeAndFacilitiesOfficeSuiteAndSpaceLeaseMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LeaseContractualTermDomain_10a44896-7a81-42a7-84c8-6fff2cdabb37" xlink:to="loc_tars_IrvineOfficeAndFacilitiesOfficeSuiteAndSpaceLeaseMember_f10a15fd-3bfb-4e2d-9631-0ecb1ee79d6a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://tarsusrx.com/role/CommitmentContingenciesInLicenseAgreementforLotilanerDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#CommitmentContingenciesInLicenseAgreementforLotilanerDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://tarsusrx.com/role/CommitmentContingenciesInLicenseAgreementforLotilanerDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i582bd7a5ef164a168b2260b01ba847b2_CommitmentContingenciesInLicenseAgreementforLotilanerDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CollaborativeArrangementsAndNoncollaborativeArrangementTransactionsLineItems_1fe570fd-a8a7-4259-ba07-a68a42423839" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CollaborativeArrangementsAndNoncollaborativeArrangementTransactionsLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense_9611cf9f-3c7f-4389-a40e-024dcb9b77af" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CollaborativeArrangementsAndNoncollaborativeArrangementTransactionsLineItems_1fe570fd-a8a7-4259-ba07-a68a42423839" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense_9611cf9f-3c7f-4389-a40e-024dcb9b77af" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tars_CollaborativeArrangementMaximumMilestonePayment_4caab028-406e-48e1-8dc6-0fcb714ff262" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#tars_CollaborativeArrangementMaximumMilestonePayment"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CollaborativeArrangementsAndNoncollaborativeArrangementTransactionsLineItems_1fe570fd-a8a7-4259-ba07-a68a42423839" xlink:to="loc_tars_CollaborativeArrangementMaximumMilestonePayment_4caab028-406e-48e1-8dc6-0fcb714ff262" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tars_UpfrontPayment_c8236e75-6315-470f-bfc8-54656e5b3aaf" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#tars_UpfrontPayment"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CollaborativeArrangementsAndNoncollaborativeArrangementTransactionsLineItems_1fe570fd-a8a7-4259-ba07-a68a42423839" xlink:to="loc_tars_UpfrontPayment_c8236e75-6315-470f-bfc8-54656e5b3aaf" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesIssuedForServices_61339dbf-b1df-4c61-b9ff-ea9fe803fba6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesIssuedForServices"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CollaborativeArrangementsAndNoncollaborativeArrangementTransactionsLineItems_1fe570fd-a8a7-4259-ba07-a68a42423839" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesIssuedForServices_61339dbf-b1df-4c61-b9ff-ea9fe803fba6" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueIssuedForServices_fee75fcd-dc4f-448c-ae9c-17faf6058957" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueIssuedForServices"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CollaborativeArrangementsAndNoncollaborativeArrangementTransactionsLineItems_1fe570fd-a8a7-4259-ba07-a68a42423839" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueIssuedForServices_fee75fcd-dc4f-448c-ae9c-17faf6058957" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SharePrice_af0f83bc-9003-48be-8cc8-343466d31fa9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_SharePrice"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CollaborativeArrangementsAndNoncollaborativeArrangementTransactionsLineItems_1fe570fd-a8a7-4259-ba07-a68a42423839" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SharePrice_af0f83bc-9003-48be-8cc8-343466d31fa9" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tars_AdditionalStockToBeIssuedOnEighteenMonthAgreementAnniversarySharesIssuedForServices_31f686cc-64c8-4236-b404-da4acebb2551" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#tars_AdditionalStockToBeIssuedOnEighteenMonthAgreementAnniversarySharesIssuedForServices"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CollaborativeArrangementsAndNoncollaborativeArrangementTransactionsLineItems_1fe570fd-a8a7-4259-ba07-a68a42423839" xlink:to="loc_tars_AdditionalStockToBeIssuedOnEighteenMonthAgreementAnniversarySharesIssuedForServices_31f686cc-64c8-4236-b404-da4acebb2551" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tars_AdditionalStockToBeIssuedOnEighteenMonthAgreementAnniversaryValueIssuedForServices_d7eed1d1-60ec-4bc8-8cca-dd39e2a62b3f" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#tars_AdditionalStockToBeIssuedOnEighteenMonthAgreementAnniversaryValueIssuedForServices"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CollaborativeArrangementsAndNoncollaborativeArrangementTransactionsLineItems_1fe570fd-a8a7-4259-ba07-a68a42423839" xlink:to="loc_tars_AdditionalStockToBeIssuedOnEighteenMonthAgreementAnniversaryValueIssuedForServices_d7eed1d1-60ec-4bc8-8cca-dd39e2a62b3f" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tars_AdditionalStockToBeIssuedOnEighteenMonthAgreementAnniversarySharePriceIssuedForServices_89b0da3c-9c24-4824-9efc-91a1d347a237" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#tars_AdditionalStockToBeIssuedOnEighteenMonthAgreementAnniversarySharePriceIssuedForServices"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CollaborativeArrangementsAndNoncollaborativeArrangementTransactionsLineItems_1fe570fd-a8a7-4259-ba07-a68a42423839" xlink:to="loc_tars_AdditionalStockToBeIssuedOnEighteenMonthAgreementAnniversarySharePriceIssuedForServices_89b0da3c-9c24-4824-9efc-91a1d347a237" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfCollaborativeArrangementsAndNoncollaborativeArrangementTransactionsTable_113319c7-b6c1-447a-bc57-ac820b1a823f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfCollaborativeArrangementsAndNoncollaborativeArrangementTransactionsTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CollaborativeArrangementsAndNoncollaborativeArrangementTransactionsLineItems_1fe570fd-a8a7-4259-ba07-a68a42423839" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfCollaborativeArrangementsAndNoncollaborativeArrangementTransactionsTable_113319c7-b6c1-447a-bc57-ac820b1a823f" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis_8ce6af7e-f8b6-4421-ba40-c700bd0f7b70" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfCollaborativeArrangementsAndNoncollaborativeArrangementTransactionsTable_113319c7-b6c1-447a-bc57-ac820b1a823f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis_8ce6af7e-f8b6-4421-ba40-c700bd0f7b70" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ArrangementsAndNonarrangementTransactionsMember_8ce6af7e-f8b6-4421-ba40-c700bd0f7b70_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ArrangementsAndNonarrangementTransactionsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis_8ce6af7e-f8b6-4421-ba40-c700bd0f7b70" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ArrangementsAndNonarrangementTransactionsMember_8ce6af7e-f8b6-4421-ba40-c700bd0f7b70_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ArrangementsAndNonarrangementTransactionsMember_6095f5ad-0fa1-4132-bbef-b28c796ac6cb" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ArrangementsAndNonarrangementTransactionsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis_8ce6af7e-f8b6-4421-ba40-c700bd0f7b70" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ArrangementsAndNonarrangementTransactionsMember_6095f5ad-0fa1-4132-bbef-b28c796ac6cb" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CollaborativeArrangementTransactionWithPartyToCollaborativeArrangementMember_fbe976e2-3a04-4903-9e89-0ad646e1a327" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CollaborativeArrangementTransactionWithPartyToCollaborativeArrangementMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ArrangementsAndNonarrangementTransactionsMember_6095f5ad-0fa1-4132-bbef-b28c796ac6cb" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CollaborativeArrangementTransactionWithPartyToCollaborativeArrangementMember_fbe976e2-3a04-4903-9e89-0ad646e1a327" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_c6e519d5-bf76-457b-92ea-2354ee6f4277" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2021/elts/srt-2021-01-31.xsd#srt_ProductOrServiceAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfCollaborativeArrangementsAndNoncollaborativeArrangementTransactionsTable_113319c7-b6c1-447a-bc57-ac820b1a823f" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_c6e519d5-bf76-457b-92ea-2354ee6f4277" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_c6e519d5-bf76-457b-92ea-2354ee6f4277_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2021/elts/srt-2021-01-31.xsd#srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_c6e519d5-bf76-457b-92ea-2354ee6f4277" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_c6e519d5-bf76-457b-92ea-2354ee6f4277_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_f55c9130-3385-4658-ab4a-0495674b65e7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2021/elts/srt-2021-01-31.xsd#srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_c6e519d5-bf76-457b-92ea-2354ee6f4277" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_f55c9130-3385-4658-ab4a-0495674b65e7" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tars_ClinicalMilestonesMember_d3aecad1-c644-4de7-89c9-d6f8b7fb7db0" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#tars_ClinicalMilestonesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_f55c9130-3385-4658-ab4a-0495674b65e7" xlink:to="loc_tars_ClinicalMilestonesMember_d3aecad1-c644-4de7-89c9-d6f8b7fb7db0" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tars_CommercialAndSalesMilestonesMember_bffebaec-018f-4a5b-8133-7b0c5dc94b36" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#tars_CommercialAndSalesMilestonesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_f55c9130-3385-4658-ab4a-0495674b65e7" xlink:to="loc_tars_CommercialAndSalesMilestonesMember_bffebaec-018f-4a5b-8133-7b0c5dc94b36" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_CounterpartyNameAxis_e20b5945-356e-4549-9aa4-f7254a98876b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2021/elts/srt-2021-01-31.xsd#srt_CounterpartyNameAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfCollaborativeArrangementsAndNoncollaborativeArrangementTransactionsTable_113319c7-b6c1-447a-bc57-ac820b1a823f" xlink:to="loc_srt_CounterpartyNameAxis_e20b5945-356e-4549-9aa4-f7254a98876b" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RepurchaseAgreementCounterpartyNameDomain_e20b5945-356e-4549-9aa4-f7254a98876b_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2021/elts/srt-2021-01-31.xsd#srt_RepurchaseAgreementCounterpartyNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_CounterpartyNameAxis_e20b5945-356e-4549-9aa4-f7254a98876b" xlink:to="loc_srt_RepurchaseAgreementCounterpartyNameDomain_e20b5945-356e-4549-9aa4-f7254a98876b_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RepurchaseAgreementCounterpartyNameDomain_cc58758e-d508-422b-a675-94a24ba41d02" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2021/elts/srt-2021-01-31.xsd#srt_RepurchaseAgreementCounterpartyNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_CounterpartyNameAxis_e20b5945-356e-4549-9aa4-f7254a98876b" xlink:to="loc_srt_RepurchaseAgreementCounterpartyNameDomain_cc58758e-d508-422b-a675-94a24ba41d02" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tars_LianBioMember_5493d2b6-9f9a-4f34-81d9-f3f34e2d725a" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#tars_LianBioMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_RepurchaseAgreementCounterpartyNameDomain_cc58758e-d508-422b-a675-94a24ba41d02" xlink:to="loc_tars_LianBioMember_5493d2b6-9f9a-4f34-81d9-f3f34e2d725a" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tars_ElancoMember_bf9936f8-67f3-408c-8083-caf2b9a01477" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#tars_ElancoMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_RepurchaseAgreementCounterpartyNameDomain_cc58758e-d508-422b-a675-94a24ba41d02" xlink:to="loc_tars_ElancoMember_bf9936f8-67f3-408c-8083-caf2b9a01477" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://tarsusrx.com/role/OutLicenseAgreementDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#OutLicenseAgreementDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://tarsusrx.com/role/OutLicenseAgreementDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="if4d99fd9b6b04ee987b4fe51e33e03c8_OutLicenseAgreementDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CollaborativeArrangementsAndNoncollaborativeArrangementTransactionsLineItems_89c6e0c5-4e62-4e70-85bc-73709650a86a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CollaborativeArrangementsAndNoncollaborativeArrangementTransactionsLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tars_UpfrontPayment_3318f2eb-6e11-4f5b-b33d-77023429573f" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#tars_UpfrontPayment"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CollaborativeArrangementsAndNoncollaborativeArrangementTransactionsLineItems_89c6e0c5-4e62-4e70-85bc-73709650a86a" xlink:to="loc_tars_UpfrontPayment_3318f2eb-6e11-4f5b-b33d-77023429573f" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tars_CollaborativeArrangementMilestonePayment_4a3041a2-8402-4896-8d23-04c5b68e1e70" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#tars_CollaborativeArrangementMilestonePayment"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CollaborativeArrangementsAndNoncollaborativeArrangementTransactionsLineItems_89c6e0c5-4e62-4e70-85bc-73709650a86a" xlink:to="loc_tars_CollaborativeArrangementMilestonePayment_4a3041a2-8402-4896-8d23-04c5b68e1e70" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tars_CollaborativeArrangementMaximumMilestonePayment_701692c5-3649-4ea3-a687-13459b4f415f" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#tars_CollaborativeArrangementMaximumMilestonePayment"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CollaborativeArrangementsAndNoncollaborativeArrangementTransactionsLineItems_89c6e0c5-4e62-4e70-85bc-73709650a86a" xlink:to="loc_tars_CollaborativeArrangementMaximumMilestonePayment_701692c5-3649-4ea3-a687-13459b4f415f" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_Revenues_e302b201-1acd-4585-8040-a2c366030b20" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_Revenues"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CollaborativeArrangementsAndNoncollaborativeArrangementTransactionsLineItems_89c6e0c5-4e62-4e70-85bc-73709650a86a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_Revenues_e302b201-1acd-4585-8040-a2c366030b20" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfCollaborativeArrangementsAndNoncollaborativeArrangementTransactionsTable_524892b1-1a52-4521-8f63-755f293928b6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfCollaborativeArrangementsAndNoncollaborativeArrangementTransactionsTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CollaborativeArrangementsAndNoncollaborativeArrangementTransactionsLineItems_89c6e0c5-4e62-4e70-85bc-73709650a86a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfCollaborativeArrangementsAndNoncollaborativeArrangementTransactionsTable_524892b1-1a52-4521-8f63-755f293928b6" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_CounterpartyNameAxis_d7584a77-4849-4179-9817-d593dfe8d116" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2021/elts/srt-2021-01-31.xsd#srt_CounterpartyNameAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfCollaborativeArrangementsAndNoncollaborativeArrangementTransactionsTable_524892b1-1a52-4521-8f63-755f293928b6" xlink:to="loc_srt_CounterpartyNameAxis_d7584a77-4849-4179-9817-d593dfe8d116" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RepurchaseAgreementCounterpartyNameDomain_d7584a77-4849-4179-9817-d593dfe8d116_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2021/elts/srt-2021-01-31.xsd#srt_RepurchaseAgreementCounterpartyNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_CounterpartyNameAxis_d7584a77-4849-4179-9817-d593dfe8d116" xlink:to="loc_srt_RepurchaseAgreementCounterpartyNameDomain_d7584a77-4849-4179-9817-d593dfe8d116_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RepurchaseAgreementCounterpartyNameDomain_19649131-a2fd-4ac1-974e-176dac61e3af" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2021/elts/srt-2021-01-31.xsd#srt_RepurchaseAgreementCounterpartyNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_CounterpartyNameAxis_d7584a77-4849-4179-9817-d593dfe8d116" xlink:to="loc_srt_RepurchaseAgreementCounterpartyNameDomain_19649131-a2fd-4ac1-974e-176dac61e3af" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tars_LianBioMember_ae185db2-f876-437f-83cf-c9c505a20652" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#tars_LianBioMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_RepurchaseAgreementCounterpartyNameDomain_19649131-a2fd-4ac1-974e-176dac61e3af" xlink:to="loc_tars_LianBioMember_ae185db2-f876-437f-83cf-c9c505a20652" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis_5167cf95-09c6-4753-858c-4ca49fb3b060" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfCollaborativeArrangementsAndNoncollaborativeArrangementTransactionsTable_524892b1-1a52-4521-8f63-755f293928b6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis_5167cf95-09c6-4753-858c-4ca49fb3b060" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ArrangementsAndNonarrangementTransactionsMember_5167cf95-09c6-4753-858c-4ca49fb3b060_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ArrangementsAndNonarrangementTransactionsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis_5167cf95-09c6-4753-858c-4ca49fb3b060" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ArrangementsAndNonarrangementTransactionsMember_5167cf95-09c6-4753-858c-4ca49fb3b060_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ArrangementsAndNonarrangementTransactionsMember_39c37a0a-b3ed-4293-b977-7722bd587866" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ArrangementsAndNonarrangementTransactionsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis_5167cf95-09c6-4753-858c-4ca49fb3b060" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ArrangementsAndNonarrangementTransactionsMember_39c37a0a-b3ed-4293-b977-7722bd587866" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CollaborativeArrangementTransactionWithPartyToCollaborativeArrangementMember_6519d56d-2cff-4a3b-bcf3-08ee06ee998a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CollaborativeArrangementTransactionWithPartyToCollaborativeArrangementMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ArrangementsAndNonarrangementTransactionsMember_39c37a0a-b3ed-4293-b977-7722bd587866" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CollaborativeArrangementTransactionWithPartyToCollaborativeArrangementMember_6519d56d-2cff-4a3b-bcf3-08ee06ee998a" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_158120f6-38bc-4c61-817f-bd97c406c0e2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2021/elts/srt-2021-01-31.xsd#srt_ProductOrServiceAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfCollaborativeArrangementsAndNoncollaborativeArrangementTransactionsTable_524892b1-1a52-4521-8f63-755f293928b6" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_158120f6-38bc-4c61-817f-bd97c406c0e2" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_158120f6-38bc-4c61-817f-bd97c406c0e2_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2021/elts/srt-2021-01-31.xsd#srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_158120f6-38bc-4c61-817f-bd97c406c0e2" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_158120f6-38bc-4c61-817f-bd97c406c0e2_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_64dbaca6-eebf-4880-8da2-e6e9a1adb867" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2021/elts/srt-2021-01-31.xsd#srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_158120f6-38bc-4c61-817f-bd97c406c0e2" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_64dbaca6-eebf-4880-8da2-e6e9a1adb867" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tars_ClinicalDevelopmentMilestonesMember_84130221-9722-450a-a918-8fcdbb62d59a" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#tars_ClinicalDevelopmentMilestonesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_64dbaca6-eebf-4880-8da2-e6e9a1adb867" xlink:to="loc_tars_ClinicalDevelopmentMilestonesMember_84130221-9722-450a-a918-8fcdbb62d59a" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tars_DevelopmentAndRegulatoryMilestoneMember_35515d7b-6c32-4674-9274-e14e4cae808f" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#tars_DevelopmentAndRegulatoryMilestoneMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_64dbaca6-eebf-4880-8da2-e6e9a1adb867" xlink:to="loc_tars_DevelopmentAndRegulatoryMilestoneMember_35515d7b-6c32-4674-9274-e14e4cae808f" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tars_DrugSupplyAgreementMilestoneMember_80d75a45-76b8-440d-87eb-f169ca9fb069" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#tars_DrugSupplyAgreementMilestoneMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_64dbaca6-eebf-4880-8da2-e6e9a1adb867" xlink:to="loc_tars_DrugSupplyAgreementMilestoneMember_80d75a45-76b8-440d-87eb-f169ca9fb069" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tars_SalesMilestoneMember_cf8bfd3a-b256-4615-8698-8c98079c962f" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#tars_SalesMilestoneMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_64dbaca6-eebf-4880-8da2-e6e9a1adb867" xlink:to="loc_tars_SalesMilestoneMember_cf8bfd3a-b256-4615-8698-8c98079c962f" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LicenseAndServiceMember_b639da5d-35e0-4d37-b913-bb068dc3c4ce" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LicenseAndServiceMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_64dbaca6-eebf-4880-8da2-e6e9a1adb867" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LicenseAndServiceMember_b639da5d-35e0-4d37-b913-bb068dc3c4ce" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tars_CollaborationMember_f6f29fda-6fb0-4522-83f5-54917211f5cd" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#tars_CollaborationMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_64dbaca6-eebf-4880-8da2-e6e9a1adb867" xlink:to="loc_tars_CollaborationMember_f6f29fda-6fb0-4522-83f5-54917211f5cd" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://tarsusrx.com/role/CreditFacilityAgreementDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#CreditFacilityAgreementDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://tarsusrx.com/role/CreditFacilityAgreementDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i044d7cec5fc24c35bccb7e90c4011f41_CreditFacilityAgreementDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_4c753e2c-4419-4ef3-9c61-4cc6f01dcf68" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity_93258966-e65b-406f-b3a1-d7ac7e97e22e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_4c753e2c-4419-4ef3-9c61-4cc6f01dcf68" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity_93258966-e65b-406f-b3a1-d7ac7e97e22e" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tars_LineOfCreditFacilityDrawDownIncrements_3351da4a-c5e9-4b26-9636-284838c5feac" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#tars_LineOfCreditFacilityDrawDownIncrements"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_4c753e2c-4419-4ef3-9c61-4cc6f01dcf68" xlink:to="loc_tars_LineOfCreditFacilityDrawDownIncrements_3351da4a-c5e9-4b26-9636-284838c5feac" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tars_LineOfCreditFacilityInterestOnlyPeriod_c74eb679-659a-4b5c-a451-7167d9063014" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#tars_LineOfCreditFacilityInterestOnlyPeriod"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_4c753e2c-4419-4ef3-9c61-4cc6f01dcf68" xlink:to="loc_tars_LineOfCreditFacilityInterestOnlyPeriod_c74eb679-659a-4b5c-a451-7167d9063014" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tars_LineOfCreditFacilityInterestOnlyPeriodExtended_28611447-8d84-4043-b1e0-603606ca3101" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#tars_LineOfCreditFacilityInterestOnlyPeriodExtended"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_4c753e2c-4419-4ef3-9c61-4cc6f01dcf68" xlink:to="loc_tars_LineOfCreditFacilityInterestOnlyPeriodExtended_28611447-8d84-4043-b1e0-603606ca3101" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1_f0fcee7b-26d0-4da9-a7dc-ab226757f50b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_4c753e2c-4419-4ef3-9c61-4cc6f01dcf68" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1_f0fcee7b-26d0-4da9-a7dc-ab226757f50b" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityInterestRateDuringPeriod_164aaf17-fa5f-4f35-b6c5-eaa0c8a30321" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityInterestRateDuringPeriod"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_4c753e2c-4419-4ef3-9c61-4cc6f01dcf68" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityInterestRateDuringPeriod_164aaf17-fa5f-4f35-b6c5-eaa0c8a30321" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount_c20a50ff-2c7d-47e3-951a-7fb112325070" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_4c753e2c-4419-4ef3-9c61-4cc6f01dcf68" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount_c20a50ff-2c7d-47e3-951a-7fb112325070" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityPeriodicPaymentInterest_379e0306-e7a7-4c54-a56a-fd50f7b541aa" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityPeriodicPaymentInterest"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_4c753e2c-4419-4ef3-9c61-4cc6f01dcf68" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityPeriodicPaymentInterest_379e0306-e7a7-4c54-a56a-fd50f7b541aa" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tars_LineOfCreditFacilityPeriodicPaymentInterestRate_18373fcf-cfc3-412b-854a-ecc1080cba70" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#tars_LineOfCreditFacilityPeriodicPaymentInterestRate"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_4c753e2c-4419-4ef3-9c61-4cc6f01dcf68" xlink:to="loc_tars_LineOfCreditFacilityPeriodicPaymentInterestRate_18373fcf-cfc3-412b-854a-ecc1080cba70" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtIssuanceCostsLineOfCreditArrangementsNet_2c047a41-8c5b-45d8-a9f6-c5993239a89d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DebtIssuanceCostsLineOfCreditArrangementsNet"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_4c753e2c-4419-4ef3-9c61-4cc6f01dcf68" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtIssuanceCostsLineOfCreditArrangementsNet_2c047a41-8c5b-45d8-a9f6-c5993239a89d" xlink:type="arc" order="9"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityInterestRateAtPeriodEnd_3a468bb6-c047-4c0b-b817-0e3887626721" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityInterestRateAtPeriodEnd"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_4c753e2c-4419-4ef3-9c61-4cc6f01dcf68" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityInterestRateAtPeriodEnd_3a468bb6-c047-4c0b-b817-0e3887626721" xlink:type="arc" order="10"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_3edd65a6-3651-4f97-89df-e2210a43587b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_4c753e2c-4419-4ef3-9c61-4cc6f01dcf68" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_3edd65a6-3651-4f97-89df-e2210a43587b" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_a3b88fbc-3057-4c63-aef5-b9ae79f24910" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_3edd65a6-3651-4f97-89df-e2210a43587b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_a3b88fbc-3057-4c63-aef5-b9ae79f24910" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_a3b88fbc-3057-4c63-aef5-b9ae79f24910_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_a3b88fbc-3057-4c63-aef5-b9ae79f24910" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_a3b88fbc-3057-4c63-aef5-b9ae79f24910_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_20b53ca3-1ff1-4396-af12-bd07876e3c36" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_a3b88fbc-3057-4c63-aef5-b9ae79f24910" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_20b53ca3-1ff1-4396-af12-bd07876e3c36" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember_e8243cfa-cd1c-4892-b699-0a16914e5ae6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_20b53ca3-1ff1-4396-af12-bd07876e3c36" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember_e8243cfa-cd1c-4892-b699-0a16914e5ae6" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_838f7182-6a69-4953-9dd2-45c7f0025bf6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_3edd65a6-3651-4f97-89df-e2210a43587b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_838f7182-6a69-4953-9dd2-45c7f0025bf6" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_838f7182-6a69-4953-9dd2-45c7f0025bf6_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_838f7182-6a69-4953-9dd2-45c7f0025bf6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_838f7182-6a69-4953-9dd2-45c7f0025bf6_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_33f41cb5-90be-48b4-98d9-b1dfad3214c9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_838f7182-6a69-4953-9dd2-45c7f0025bf6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_33f41cb5-90be-48b4-98d9-b1dfad3214c9" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tars_CreditFacilityTrancheOneMember_321302a9-5982-466d-9cb6-7eb458460f18" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#tars_CreditFacilityTrancheOneMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_33f41cb5-90be-48b4-98d9-b1dfad3214c9" xlink:to="loc_tars_CreditFacilityTrancheOneMember_321302a9-5982-466d-9cb6-7eb458460f18" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tars_CreditFacilityTrancheTwoMember_91b26810-77a1-414a-8255-7ae382ed2c95" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#tars_CreditFacilityTrancheTwoMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_33f41cb5-90be-48b4-98d9-b1dfad3214c9" xlink:to="loc_tars_CreditFacilityTrancheTwoMember_91b26810-77a1-414a-8255-7ae382ed2c95" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tars_CreditFacilityTrancheThreeMember_ac732d53-1863-42fd-b379-2cfb5eacb38e" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#tars_CreditFacilityTrancheThreeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_33f41cb5-90be-48b4-98d9-b1dfad3214c9" xlink:to="loc_tars_CreditFacilityTrancheThreeMember_ac732d53-1863-42fd-b379-2cfb5eacb38e" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tars_CreditFacilityTrancheFourMember_a2ac29ee-1ea7-4a3c-9c1b-22bee43c2672" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#tars_CreditFacilityTrancheFourMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_33f41cb5-90be-48b4-98d9-b1dfad3214c9" xlink:to="loc_tars_CreditFacilityTrancheFourMember_a2ac29ee-1ea7-4a3c-9c1b-22bee43c2672" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tars_CreditFacilityTrancheFiveMember_785a74cd-1304-4f28-9f5d-bb27fcc99f18" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#tars_CreditFacilityTrancheFiveMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_33f41cb5-90be-48b4-98d9-b1dfad3214c9" xlink:to="loc_tars_CreditFacilityTrancheFiveMember_785a74cd-1304-4f28-9f5d-bb27fcc99f18" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateAxis_1c3101a7-2afc-492e-a871-8a5524d89eca" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_VariableRateAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_3edd65a6-3651-4f97-89df-e2210a43587b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateAxis_1c3101a7-2afc-492e-a871-8a5524d89eca" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateDomain_1c3101a7-2afc-492e-a871-8a5524d89eca_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_VariableRateDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateAxis_1c3101a7-2afc-492e-a871-8a5524d89eca" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateDomain_1c3101a7-2afc-492e-a871-8a5524d89eca_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateDomain_88bbebb2-6907-4426-b98b-fce278738ffc" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_VariableRateDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateAxis_1c3101a7-2afc-492e-a871-8a5524d89eca" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateDomain_88bbebb2-6907-4426-b98b-fce278738ffc" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PrimeRateMember_d5645273-1ecd-4601-ae75-b8f799a454cc" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_PrimeRateMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateDomain_88bbebb2-6907-4426-b98b-fce278738ffc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PrimeRateMember_d5645273-1ecd-4601-ae75-b8f799a454cc" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis_8959a23a-ceca-4fcf-929f-027c97d10552" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_3edd65a6-3651-4f97-89df-e2210a43587b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis_8959a23a-ceca-4fcf-929f-027c97d10552" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeDomain_8959a23a-ceca-4fcf-929f-027c97d10552_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis_8959a23a-ceca-4fcf-929f-027c97d10552" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeDomain_8959a23a-ceca-4fcf-929f-027c97d10552_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeDomain_f20501d1-e11e-4f01-a2f0-82ba43756793" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis_8959a23a-ceca-4fcf-929f-027c97d10552" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeDomain_f20501d1-e11e-4f01-a2f0-82ba43756793" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember_5689f46c-142b-46ac-936b-228ac4b8a795" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeDomain_f20501d1-e11e-4f01-a2f0-82ba43756793" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember_5689f46c-142b-46ac-936b-228ac4b8a795" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://tarsusrx.com/role/SubsequentEventDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#SubsequentEventDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://tarsusrx.com/role/SubsequentEventDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i353bb0799623424585408a24aa8bcfae_SubsequentEventDetails">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventLineItems_dd3359af-226c-4f0c-bf93-0cb9ecc90f9e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_SubsequentEventLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SaleOfStockNumberOfSharesIssuedInTransaction_b449bddf-c81f-412e-87a8-d2fea593ce5e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_SaleOfStockNumberOfSharesIssuedInTransaction"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventLineItems_dd3359af-226c-4f0c-bf93-0cb9ecc90f9e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SaleOfStockNumberOfSharesIssuedInTransaction_b449bddf-c81f-412e-87a8-d2fea593ce5e" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SaleOfStockPricePerShare_270e149e-8de7-41f9-82c7-dba13a01a11c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_SaleOfStockPricePerShare"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventLineItems_dd3359af-226c-4f0c-bf93-0cb9ecc90f9e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SaleOfStockPricePerShare_270e149e-8de7-41f9-82c7-dba13a01a11c" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tars_SaleOfStockConsiderationReceivedOnTransactionGross_bf3daca5-54e7-4539-bbe1-dcf3a290b184" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#tars_SaleOfStockConsiderationReceivedOnTransactionGross"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventLineItems_dd3359af-226c-4f0c-bf93-0cb9ecc90f9e" xlink:to="loc_tars_SaleOfStockConsiderationReceivedOnTransactionGross_bf3daca5-54e7-4539-bbe1-dcf3a290b184" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SaleOfStockConsiderationReceivedOnTransaction_04921257-e676-47ef-8196-10cd7df45a7a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_SaleOfStockConsiderationReceivedOnTransaction"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventLineItems_dd3359af-226c-4f0c-bf93-0cb9ecc90f9e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SaleOfStockConsiderationReceivedOnTransaction_04921257-e676-47ef-8196-10cd7df45a7a" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTable_253a3bd7-8185-44a8-9d69-48fcb3f25a42" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_SubsequentEventTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventLineItems_dd3359af-226c-4f0c-bf93-0cb9ecc90f9e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTable_253a3bd7-8185-44a8-9d69-48fcb3f25a42" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis_e60e0978-59f4-4d6b-9ae3-e3fc61cd7461" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTable_253a3bd7-8185-44a8-9d69-48fcb3f25a42" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis_e60e0978-59f4-4d6b-9ae3-e3fc61cd7461" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeDomain_e60e0978-59f4-4d6b-9ae3-e3fc61cd7461_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis_e60e0978-59f4-4d6b-9ae3-e3fc61cd7461" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeDomain_e60e0978-59f4-4d6b-9ae3-e3fc61cd7461_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeDomain_65c13ab0-559f-479c-b9cb-f203d0ac4493" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis_e60e0978-59f4-4d6b-9ae3-e3fc61cd7461" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeDomain_65c13ab0-559f-479c-b9cb-f203d0ac4493" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember_5a8fb314-e8e9-4241-a780-6034a8d2cbe2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeDomain_65c13ab0-559f-479c-b9cb-f203d0ac4493" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember_5a8fb314-e8e9-4241-a780-6034a8d2cbe2" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SubsidiarySaleOfStockAxis_f67b6ce9-af6f-41b4-8f30-26a19375de3c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_SubsidiarySaleOfStockAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SubsequentEventTable_253a3bd7-8185-44a8-9d69-48fcb3f25a42" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SubsidiarySaleOfStockAxis_f67b6ce9-af6f-41b4-8f30-26a19375de3c" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SaleOfStockNameOfTransactionDomain_f67b6ce9-af6f-41b4-8f30-26a19375de3c_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_SaleOfStockNameOfTransactionDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SubsidiarySaleOfStockAxis_f67b6ce9-af6f-41b4-8f30-26a19375de3c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SaleOfStockNameOfTransactionDomain_f67b6ce9-af6f-41b4-8f30-26a19375de3c_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SaleOfStockNameOfTransactionDomain_8e416f6c-e20c-48fd-aa52-f0fbae85ef9a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_SaleOfStockNameOfTransactionDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SubsidiarySaleOfStockAxis_f67b6ce9-af6f-41b4-8f30-26a19375de3c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SaleOfStockNameOfTransactionDomain_8e416f6c-e20c-48fd-aa52-f0fbae85ef9a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_tars_PublicStockOfferingMember_b34a5311-0f73-41c8-a555-d7032e111f44" xlink:href="tars-20220331.xsd#tars_PublicStockOfferingMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SaleOfStockNameOfTransactionDomain_8e416f6c-e20c-48fd-aa52-f0fbae85ef9a" xlink:to="loc_tars_PublicStockOfferingMember_b34a5311-0f73-41c8-a555-d7032e111f44" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OverAllotmentOptionMember_e502ef8f-1c8c-4e64-aed2-a5e7b5fdee94" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_OverAllotmentOptionMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SaleOfStockNameOfTransactionDomain_8e416f6c-e20c-48fd-aa52-f0fbae85ef9a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OverAllotmentOptionMember_e502ef8f-1c8c-4e64-aed2-a5e7b5fdee94" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/eedm/ExtensibleEnumerationLists" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-roles-2021-01-31.xsd#eedm"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/eedm/ExtensibleEnumerationLists" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LiabilitiesCurrentAbstract" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LiabilitiesCurrentAbstract"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccountsPayableAndOtherAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AccountsPayableAndOtherAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LiabilitiesCurrentAbstract" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AccountsPayableAndOtherAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
</link:linkbase>
