SEC Info℠  
    Home      Search      My Interests      Help      Sign In      Please Sign In

Sherwin Williams Co. – ‘10-Q’ for 3/31/21 – ‘EX-101.DEF’

On:  Wednesday, 4/28/21, at 2:07pm ET   ·   For:  3/31/21   ·   Accession #:  89800-21-16   ·   File #:  1-04851

Previous ‘10-Q’:  ‘10-Q’ on 10/27/20 for 9/30/20   ·   Next:  ‘10-Q’ on 7/27/21 for 6/30/21   ·   Latest:  ‘10-Q’ on 10/24/23 for 9/30/23   ·   3 References:   

Find Words in Filings emoji
 		  in    Show  and   ↓Hints

  As Of               Filer                 Filing    For·On·As Docs:Size

 4/28/21  Sherwin Williams Co.              10-Q        3/31/21   78:6.3M

Quarterly Report   —   Form 10-Q
Filing Table of Contents

Document/Exhibit                   Description                      Pages   Size 

 1: 10-Q        Quarterly Report                                    HTML    685K 
 2: EX-10.1     Material Contract                                   HTML     20K 
 3: EX-31.A     Certification -- §302 - SOA'02                      HTML     25K 
 4: EX-31.B     Certification -- §302 - SOA'02                      HTML     25K 
 5: EX-32.A     Certification -- §906 - SOA'02                      HTML     22K 
 6: EX-32.B     Certification -- §906 - SOA'02                      HTML     22K 
13: R1          Cover Page                                          HTML     71K 
14: R2          Statements of Consolidated Income (Unaudited)       HTML     86K 
15: R3          Statements of Consolidated Comprehensive Income     HTML     50K 
                (Unaudited)                                                      
16: R4          Statements of Consolidated Comprehensive Income     HTML     32K 
                (Unaudited) (Parenthetical)                                      
17: R5          Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)             HTML    111K 
18: R6          Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)             HTML     24K 
                (Parenthetical)                                                  
19: R7          Condensed Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows     HTML    119K 
                (Unaudited)                                                      
20: R8          Statements of Consolidated??Shareholders' Equity    HTML     69K 
                (Unaudited)                                                      
21: R9          Statements of Consolidated??Shareholders' Equity    HTML     22K 
                (Parenthetical)                                                  
22: R10         Basis of Presentation                               HTML     25K 
23: R11         Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements           HTML     29K 
24: R12         Acquisitions and Divestitures                       HTML     23K 
25: R13         Inventories                                         HTML     30K 
26: R14         Goodwill, Intangible and Long-Lived Assets          HTML     39K 
27: R15         Debt                                                HTML     23K 
28: R16         Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits           HTML     58K 
29: R17         Other Long-Term Liabilities                         HTML     37K 
30: R18         Litigation                                          HTML     49K 
31: R19         Shareholders' Equity                                HTML     23K 
32: R20         Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income       HTML     45K 
33: R21         Derivatives and Hedging                             HTML     31K 
34: R22         Fair Value Measurements                             HTML     68K 
35: R23         Revenue                                             HTML     47K 
36: R24         Other                                               HTML     45K 
37: R25         Income Taxes                                        HTML     26K 
38: R26         Net Income Per Share                                HTML     40K 
39: R27         Reportable Segment Information                      HTML     84K 
40: R28         Non-Traded Investments                              HTML     29K 
41: R29         Basis of Presentation (Policies)                    HTML     27K 
42: R30         Inventories (Tables)                                HTML     31K 
43: R31         Goodwill, Intangible and Long-Lived Assets          HTML     36K 
                (Tables)                                                         
44: R32         Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits (Tables)  HTML     57K 
45: R33         Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income       HTML     44K 
                (Tables)                                                         
46: R34         Derivatives and Hedging (Tables)                    HTML     29K 
47: R35         Fair Value Measurements (Tables)                    HTML     65K 
48: R36         Revenue (Tables)                                    HTML     39K 
49: R37         Other (Tables)                                      HTML     45K 
50: R38         Net Income Per Share (Tables)                       HTML     40K 
51: R39         Reportable Segment Information (Tables)             HTML     68K 
52: R40         Non-Traded Investments (Tables)                     HTML     32K 
53: R41         Basis of Presentation (Details)                     HTML     22K 
54: R42         Acquisitions and Divestitures (Details)             HTML     31K 
55: R43         Inventories (Details)                               HTML     27K 
56: R44         Goodwill, Intangible and Long-Lived Assets          HTML     37K 
                (Details)                                                        
57: R45         Debt (Details)                                      HTML     44K 
58: R46         Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits           HTML     55K 
                (Details)                                                        
59: R47         Other Long-Term Liabilities (Details)               HTML     53K 
60: R48         Litigation (Details)                                HTML     84K 
61: R49         Shareholders' Equity (Details)                      HTML     40K 
62: R50         Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income       HTML     40K 
                (Details)                                                        
63: R51         Derivatives and Hedging (Details)                   HTML     50K 
64: R52         Fair Value Measurements (Details)                   HTML     65K 
65: R53         REVENUE - Narrative (Details)                       HTML     22K 
66: R54         Revenue (Details)                                   HTML     62K 
67: R55         OTHER - Other General Expense - Net (Details)       HTML     29K 
68: R56         OTHER - Other (Income) Expense - Net (Details)      HTML     37K 
69: R57         OTHER - Narrative (Details)                         HTML     23K 
70: R58         Income Taxes (Details)                              HTML     31K 
71: R59         Net Income Per Share (Details)                      HTML     59K 
72: R60         REPORTABLE SEGMENT INFORMATION - Narrative          HTML     36K 
                (Details)                                                        
73: R61         REPORTABLE SEGMENT INFORMATION - Reportable         HTML     60K 
                Segment Information (Details)                                    
74: R62         Non-Traded Investments (Details)                    HTML     30K 
76: XML         IDEA XML File -- Filing Summary                      XML    135K 
12: XML         XBRL Instance -- shw-20210331_htm                    XML   1.52M 
75: EXCEL       IDEA Workbook of Financial Reports                  XLSX     87K 
 8: EX-101.CAL  XBRL Calculations -- shw-20210331_cal                XML    209K 
 9: EX-101.DEF  XBRL Definitions -- shw-20210331_def                 XML    411K 
10: EX-101.LAB  XBRL Labels -- shw-20210331_lab                      XML   1.33M 
11: EX-101.PRE  XBRL Presentations -- shw-20210331_pre               XML    723K 
 7: EX-101.SCH  XBRL Schema -- shw-20210331                          XSD    137K 
77: JSON        XBRL Instance as JSON Data -- MetaLinks              368±   501K 
78: ZIP         XBRL Zipped Folder -- 0000089800-21-000016-xbrl      Zip    240K

‘EX-101.DEF’   —   XBRL Definitions — shw-20210331_def

This Exhibit is an XBRL XML File.

                                                                                                                                                                                
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="windows-1252"?>
<!-- XBRL Document Created with Wdesk from Workiva -->
<!-- Copyright 2021 Workiva -->
<!-- r:fa09e661-71a7-426f-95ae-d95c31bcbad7,g:bfec8715-9f03-4063-ab3a-f3a97c2d59fd -->
<link:linkbase xmlns:link="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:xbrldt="http://xbrl.org/2005/xbrldt" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase http://www.xbrl.org/2003/xbrl-linkbase-2003-12-31.xsd">
<link:arcroleRef arcroleURI="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/2005/xbrldt-2005.xsd#all"/>
<link:arcroleRef arcroleURI="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/2005/xbrldt-2005.xsd#hypercube-dimension"/>
<link:arcroleRef arcroleURI="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/2005/xbrldt-2005.xsd#dimension-default"/>
<link:arcroleRef arcroleURI="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/2005/xbrldt-2005.xsd#dimension-domain"/>
<link:arcroleRef arcroleURI="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/2005/xbrldt-2005.xsd#domain-member"/>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/CoverPage" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#CoverPage"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/CoverPage" xlink:type="extended" id="i506212c76cbf49a8b61745ca2cb92512_CoverPage"/>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/STATEMENTSOFCONSOLIDATEDINCOMEUNAUDITED" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#STATEMENTSOFCONSOLIDATEDINCOMEUNAUDITED"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/STATEMENTSOFCONSOLIDATEDINCOMEUNAUDITED" xlink:type="extended" id="i64a251f854c34bb4b339e3b9d5ed23cf_STATEMENTSOFCONSOLIDATEDINCOMEUNAUDITED"/>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/STATEMENTSOFCONSOLIDATEDCOMPREHENSIVEINCOMEUNAUDITED" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#STATEMENTSOFCONSOLIDATEDCOMPREHENSIVEINCOMEUNAUDITED"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/STATEMENTSOFCONSOLIDATEDCOMPREHENSIVEINCOMEUNAUDITED" xlink:type="extended" id="iceaea756213f4679ab0f58843d5094d4_STATEMENTSOFCONSOLIDATEDCOMPREHENSIVEINCOMEUNAUDITED"/>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/STATEMENTSOFCONSOLIDATEDCOMPREHENSIVEINCOMEUNAUDITEDParenthetical" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#STATEMENTSOFCONSOLIDATEDCOMPREHENSIVEINCOMEUNAUDITEDParenthetical"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/STATEMENTSOFCONSOLIDATEDCOMPREHENSIVEINCOMEUNAUDITEDParenthetical" xlink:type="extended" id="ic7e28b6c89454ab9b42ac2e1d32be89a_STATEMENTSOFCONSOLIDATEDCOMPREHENSIVEINCOMEUNAUDITEDParenthetical">
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_f1552fe7-bac1-4035-8387-374142237ca0" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StatementLineItems"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax_47f68fa9-ea13-4e56-bcdc-d4d62cec6b69" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_f1552fe7-bac1-4035-8387-374142237ca0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax_47f68fa9-ea13-4e56-bcdc-d4d62cec6b69" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentTax_25ff6587-ad9e-4160-b009-ea7425283dd3" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentTax"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_f1552fe7-bac1-4035-8387-374142237ca0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentTax_25ff6587-ad9e-4160-b009-ea7425283dd3" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansTax_b16643f2-70a7-4a31-9466-4832acd5e810" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansTax"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_f1552fe7-bac1-4035-8387-374142237ca0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansTax_b16643f2-70a7-4a31-9466-4832acd5e810" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCashFlowHedgeGainLossReclassificationTax_86d77d99-2e81-4a4b-aa32-7bcd7b77048a" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCashFlowHedgeGainLossReclassificationTax"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_f1552fe7-bac1-4035-8387-374142237ca0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCashFlowHedgeGainLossReclassificationTax_86d77d99-2e81-4a4b-aa32-7bcd7b77048a" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementTable_c4cfed86-54fe-4c9a-bde0-7f4f962c19aa" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StatementTable"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_f1552fe7-bac1-4035-8387-374142237ca0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementTable_c4cfed86-54fe-4c9a-bde0-7f4f962c19aa" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis_1363b616-59cb-4126-9310-2dc117eaa87e" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementTable_c4cfed86-54fe-4c9a-bde0-7f4f962c19aa" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis_1363b616-59cb-4126-9310-2dc117eaa87e" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_HedgingRelationshipDomain_1363b616-59cb-4126-9310-2dc117eaa87e_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_HedgingRelationshipDomain"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis_1363b616-59cb-4126-9310-2dc117eaa87e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_HedgingRelationshipDomain_1363b616-59cb-4126-9310-2dc117eaa87e_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_HedgingRelationshipDomain_5e63df72-9e32-4e99-a2a4-31d3b47d972a" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_HedgingRelationshipDomain"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis_1363b616-59cb-4126-9310-2dc117eaa87e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_HedgingRelationshipDomain_5e63df72-9e32-4e99-a2a4-31d3b47d972a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember_534a3459-26ec-42fd-b806-3dd5979ce1ad" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_HedgingRelationshipDomain_5e63df72-9e32-4e99-a2a4-31d3b47d972a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember_534a3459-26ec-42fd-b806-3dd5979ce1ad" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
</link:definitionLink>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/CONSOLIDATEDBALANCESHEETSUNAUDITED" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#CONSOLIDATEDBALANCESHEETSUNAUDITED"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/CONSOLIDATEDBALANCESHEETSUNAUDITED" xlink:type="extended" id="i4323144fab5f4e8e92a926b81b94770a_CONSOLIDATEDBALANCESHEETSUNAUDITED"/>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/CONSOLIDATEDBALANCESHEETSUNAUDITEDParenthetical" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#CONSOLIDATEDBALANCESHEETSUNAUDITEDParenthetical"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/CONSOLIDATEDBALANCESHEETSUNAUDITEDParenthetical" xlink:type="extended" id="i32c1cf2a0ecc4cbd9b97071238eeb32f_CONSOLIDATEDBALANCESHEETSUNAUDITEDParenthetical"/>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/CONDENSEDSTATEMENTSOFCONSOLIDATEDCASHFLOWSUNAUDITED" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#CONDENSEDSTATEMENTSOFCONSOLIDATEDCASHFLOWSUNAUDITED"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/CONDENSEDSTATEMENTSOFCONSOLIDATEDCASHFLOWSUNAUDITED" xlink:type="extended" id="ifc50906ddb11410084c477ba8843310b_CONDENSEDSTATEMENTSOFCONSOLIDATEDCASHFLOWSUNAUDITED"/>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/STATEMENTSOFCONSOLIDATEDSHAREHOLDERSEQUITYUNAUDITED" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#STATEMENTSOFCONSOLIDATEDSHAREHOLDERSEQUITYUNAUDITED"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/STATEMENTSOFCONSOLIDATEDSHAREHOLDERSEQUITYUNAUDITED" xlink:type="extended" id="ic0e140e7e0a2459592dfefb28ce3f3f6_STATEMENTSOFCONSOLIDATEDSHAREHOLDERSEQUITYUNAUDITED">
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_46d67fd8-0073-4aa9-a1e9-212b2d1149e0" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StatementLineItems"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_20d3f0da-7190-47ab-93bf-36a7bfb924e2" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_46d67fd8-0073-4aa9-a1e9-212b2d1149e0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_20d3f0da-7190-47ab-93bf-36a7bfb924e2" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquity_1c81349d-f5bc-4a6e-a1a4-530601210b84" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StockholdersEquity"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_20d3f0da-7190-47ab-93bf-36a7bfb924e2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquity_1c81349d-f5bc-4a6e-a1a4-530601210b84" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss_f89f3dc3-d1a1-460c-abc7-920e6293fb4e" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_20d3f0da-7190-47ab-93bf-36a7bfb924e2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss_f89f3dc3-d1a1-460c-abc7-920e6293fb4e" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent_0e1d2870-9deb-47e8-8ff8-baf580cfbac8" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_20d3f0da-7190-47ab-93bf-36a7bfb924e2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent_0e1d2870-9deb-47e8-8ff8-baf580cfbac8" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_TreasuryStockValueAcquiredParValueMethod_a6c5d984-7a8c-4a69-827e-e94f55a07c81" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_TreasuryStockValueAcquiredParValueMethod"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_20d3f0da-7190-47ab-93bf-36a7bfb924e2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_TreasuryStockValueAcquiredParValueMethod_a6c5d984-7a8c-4a69-827e-e94f55a07c81" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueTreasuryStockReissued_d9cd3288-ba5d-40de-8993-b93d2437fe12" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueTreasuryStockReissued"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_20d3f0da-7190-47ab-93bf-36a7bfb924e2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueTreasuryStockReissued_d9cd3288-ba5d-40de-8993-b93d2437fe12" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensation_f51f1b67-e580-4c63-a716-99200bbc9a89" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensation"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_20d3f0da-7190-47ab-93bf-36a7bfb924e2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensation_f51f1b67-e580-4c63-a716-99200bbc9a89" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquityOther_46dc3f56-faa2-4c71-a991-5d1a753ec8e9" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StockholdersEquityOther"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_20d3f0da-7190-47ab-93bf-36a7bfb924e2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquityOther_46dc3f56-faa2-4c71-a991-5d1a753ec8e9" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DividendsCash_416fe3a9-124c-440c-bf52-5f51441d2795" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DividendsCash"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_20d3f0da-7190-47ab-93bf-36a7bfb924e2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DividendsCash_416fe3a9-124c-440c-bf52-5f51441d2795" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquity_701e1d1e-0dc9-42aa-8a7b-84b1db658ca0" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StockholdersEquity"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccountingStandardsUpdateExtensibleList_5e93d348-c82b-47f5-982c-268a112aaa80" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AccountingStandardsUpdateExtensibleList"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_46d67fd8-0073-4aa9-a1e9-212b2d1149e0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AccountingStandardsUpdateExtensibleList_5e93d348-c82b-47f5-982c-268a112aaa80" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementTable_e5e86936-8e7f-4bd9-903c-3f379b431126" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StatementTable"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_46d67fd8-0073-4aa9-a1e9-212b2d1149e0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementTable_e5e86936-8e7f-4bd9-903c-3f379b431126" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_8233cf7f-77c5-431a-aeb7-d8163da50f0f" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementTable_e5e86936-8e7f-4bd9-903c-3f379b431126" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_8233cf7f-77c5-431a-aeb7-d8163da50f0f" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_8233cf7f-77c5-431a-aeb7-d8163da50f0f_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_8233cf7f-77c5-431a-aeb7-d8163da50f0f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_8233cf7f-77c5-431a-aeb7-d8163da50f0f_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_c98cbcd4-27d5-40f8-873c-8b9a7657a1f1" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_8233cf7f-77c5-431a-aeb7-d8163da50f0f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_c98cbcd4-27d5-40f8-873c-8b9a7657a1f1" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockMember_f92c70ff-3ee7-4cc0-bb5e-aeeb54b7bbaa" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockMember"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_c98cbcd4-27d5-40f8-873c-8b9a7657a1f1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockMember_f92c70ff-3ee7-4cc0-bb5e-aeeb54b7bbaa" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherAdditionalCapitalMember_e86a0bb5-c6d5-4763-8c93-8c4110944f74" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_OtherAdditionalCapitalMember"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_c98cbcd4-27d5-40f8-873c-8b9a7657a1f1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherAdditionalCapitalMember_e86a0bb5-c6d5-4763-8c93-8c4110944f74" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember_7a3e760a-b682-482e-b755-407ebcd494b0" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_c98cbcd4-27d5-40f8-873c-8b9a7657a1f1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember_7a3e760a-b682-482e-b755-407ebcd494b0" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember_84029926-029a-49fb-89d9-7f6172332a5d" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_c98cbcd4-27d5-40f8-873c-8b9a7657a1f1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember_84029926-029a-49fb-89d9-7f6172332a5d" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember_b910d34f-753c-49cb-981b-4487374a21f0" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_c98cbcd4-27d5-40f8-873c-8b9a7657a1f1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember_b910d34f-753c-49cb-981b-4487374a21f0" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAxis_94e7444a-04b6-44dd-98cb-345d80724a7a" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAxis"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementTable_e5e86936-8e7f-4bd9-903c-3f379b431126" xlink:to="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAxis_94e7444a-04b6-44dd-98cb-345d80724a7a" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionDomain_94e7444a-04b6-44dd-98cb-345d80724a7a_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionDomain"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAxis_94e7444a-04b6-44dd-98cb-345d80724a7a" xlink:to="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionDomain_94e7444a-04b6-44dd-98cb-345d80724a7a_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionDomain_65d2b488-0b6e-4551-b342-62fa90206d66" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionDomain"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAxis_94e7444a-04b6-44dd-98cb-345d80724a7a" xlink:to="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionDomain_65d2b488-0b6e-4551-b342-62fa90206d66" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAdjustmentMember_fe4eb88d-adcc-4112-9b67-dcb257a73315" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAdjustmentMember"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionDomain_65d2b488-0b6e-4551-b342-62fa90206d66" xlink:to="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAdjustmentMember_fe4eb88d-adcc-4112-9b67-dcb257a73315" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
</link:definitionLink>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/STATEMENTSOFCONSOLIDATEDSHAREHOLDERSEQUITYParenthetical" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#STATEMENTSOFCONSOLIDATEDSHAREHOLDERSEQUITYParenthetical"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/STATEMENTSOFCONSOLIDATEDSHAREHOLDERSEQUITYParenthetical" xlink:type="extended" id="iaa3f8adce6354af9b49c0d4f24dc8dbf_STATEMENTSOFCONSOLIDATEDSHAREHOLDERSEQUITYParenthetical"/>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/BASISOFPRESENTATION" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#BASISOFPRESENTATION"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/BASISOFPRESENTATION" xlink:type="extended" id="i83f1f87b164d42aea902a61ad9b6b2f5_BASISOFPRESENTATION"/>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/BASISOFPRESENTATIONPolicies" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#BASISOFPRESENTATIONPolicies"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/BASISOFPRESENTATIONPolicies" xlink:type="extended" id="i02b0075c390745168c35634eb2bbe316_BASISOFPRESENTATIONPolicies"/>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/BASISOFPRESENTATIONDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#BASISOFPRESENTATIONDetails"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/BASISOFPRESENTATIONDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i10d6b76fdca84c93b59cc2d831d64373_BASISOFPRESENTATIONDetails"/>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/RECENTLYISSUEDACCOUNTINGPRONOUNCEMENTS" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#RECENTLYISSUEDACCOUNTINGPRONOUNCEMENTS"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/RECENTLYISSUEDACCOUNTINGPRONOUNCEMENTS" xlink:type="extended" id="ie3838c92c80f4d17ab98beb4e3d3b853_RECENTLYISSUEDACCOUNTINGPRONOUNCEMENTS"/>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/ACQUISITIONSANDDIVESTITURES" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#ACQUISITIONSANDDIVESTITURES"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/ACQUISITIONSANDDIVESTITURES" xlink:type="extended" id="i920f1ec939cb4ec59518531f103fe95b_ACQUISITIONSANDDIVESTITURES"/>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/ACQUISITIONSANDDIVESTITURESDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#ACQUISITIONSANDDIVESTITURESDetails"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/ACQUISITIONSANDDIVESTITURESDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="if78907cfcec54ae0981b30979fb5c154_ACQUISITIONSANDDIVESTITURESDetails">
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_433e9755-ac6b-432a-af19-c942b1394c32" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1_39c4760b-004f-4d2a-9efb-714d22056055" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_433e9755-ac6b-432a-af19-c942b1394c32" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1_39c4760b-004f-4d2a-9efb-714d22056055" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationRevenue_ee72e2fb-bd3b-4c13-b1cc-0ffdda619a89" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationRevenue"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_433e9755-ac6b-432a-af19-c942b1394c32" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationRevenue_ee72e2fb-bd3b-4c13-b1cc-0ffdda619a89" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfBusiness_2fa33dec-b7aa-41e6-9bc4-99306719c3e5" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfBusiness"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_433e9755-ac6b-432a-af19-c942b1394c32" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfBusiness_2fa33dec-b7aa-41e6-9bc4-99306719c3e5" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfBusinessAcquisitionsByAcquisitionTable_bf81a127-ef4f-42e9-99ea-28a38e3b50ac" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfBusinessAcquisitionsByAcquisitionTable"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems_433e9755-ac6b-432a-af19-c942b1394c32" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfBusinessAcquisitionsByAcquisitionTable_bf81a127-ef4f-42e9-99ea-28a38e3b50ac" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis_5de4f5c8-a8dc-4304-b4e6-247c9c79dee7" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfBusinessAcquisitionsByAcquisitionTable_bf81a127-ef4f-42e9-99ea-28a38e3b50ac" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis_5de4f5c8-a8dc-4304-b4e6-247c9c79dee7" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain_5de4f5c8-a8dc-4304-b4e6-247c9c79dee7_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis_5de4f5c8-a8dc-4304-b4e6-247c9c79dee7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain_5de4f5c8-a8dc-4304-b4e6-247c9c79dee7_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain_eb217550-c9e4-4108-90a0-b56bba373c57" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis_5de4f5c8-a8dc-4304-b4e6-247c9c79dee7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain_eb217550-c9e4-4108-90a0-b56bba373c57" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_shw_TennantCoatingCompaniesMember_8653a64e-bf42-491d-91cb-c11051fb4bdc" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#shw_TennantCoatingCompaniesMember"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeDomain_eb217550-c9e4-4108-90a0-b56bba373c57" xlink:to="loc_shw_TennantCoatingCompaniesMember_8653a64e-bf42-491d-91cb-c11051fb4bdc" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis_b03cf081-ad38-4c10-8329-add5c9528247" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfBusinessAcquisitionsByAcquisitionTable_bf81a127-ef4f-42e9-99ea-28a38e3b50ac" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis_b03cf081-ad38-4c10-8329-add5c9528247" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsNameDomain_b03cf081-ad38-4c10-8329-add5c9528247_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsNameDomain"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis_b03cf081-ad38-4c10-8329-add5c9528247" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsNameDomain_b03cf081-ad38-4c10-8329-add5c9528247_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsNameDomain_e8d96b23-baae-4b01-b193-954d07dc19bb" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsNameDomain"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis_b03cf081-ad38-4c10-8329-add5c9528247" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsNameDomain_e8d96b23-baae-4b01-b193-954d07dc19bb" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_shw_WattylMember_85db22a5-e1fd-407c-b42b-1a36ba22c189" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#shw_WattylMember"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsNameDomain_e8d96b23-baae-4b01-b193-954d07dc19bb" xlink:to="loc_shw_WattylMember_85db22a5-e1fd-407c-b42b-1a36ba22c189" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
</link:definitionLink>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/INVENTORIES" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#INVENTORIES"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/INVENTORIES" xlink:type="extended" id="if9ca73e1ce6c4a6190ea578909522a5a_INVENTORIES"/>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/INVENTORIESTables" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#INVENTORIESTables"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/INVENTORIESTables" xlink:type="extended" id="if8d8667e94c64c609567818bcd96b8e0_INVENTORIESTables"/>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/INVENTORIESDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#INVENTORIESDetails"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/INVENTORIESDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="if0d2a4b1fcf349f483681acbbb659446_INVENTORIESDetails"/>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/GOODWILLINTANGIBLEANDLONGLIVEDASSETS" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#GOODWILLINTANGIBLEANDLONGLIVEDASSETS"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/GOODWILLINTANGIBLEANDLONGLIVEDASSETS" xlink:type="extended" id="i3a3e5729dc5f41c6986db9b0cc5bb1ae_GOODWILLINTANGIBLEANDLONGLIVEDASSETS"/>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/GOODWILLINTANGIBLEANDLONGLIVEDASSETSTables" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#GOODWILLINTANGIBLEANDLONGLIVEDASSETSTables"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/GOODWILLINTANGIBLEANDLONGLIVEDASSETSTables" xlink:type="extended" id="ib3c235665f464c3eb140da02e1ffa51e_GOODWILLINTANGIBLEANDLONGLIVEDASSETSTables"/>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/GOODWILLINTANGIBLEANDLONGLIVEDASSETSDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#GOODWILLINTANGIBLEANDLONGLIVEDASSETSDetails"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/GOODWILLINTANGIBLEANDLONGLIVEDASSETSDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="ib8d542e56dce40eaa126d09911642b6c_GOODWILLINTANGIBLEANDLONGLIVEDASSETSDetails">
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems_cccfa86a-8bc4-4596-a35c-21bd479529bd" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross_e673e4c9-69ef-40a9-b9a1-6fa4a384c6db" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems_cccfa86a-8bc4-4596-a35c-21bd479529bd" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross_e673e4c9-69ef-40a9-b9a1-6fa4a384c6db" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment_c26aad89-c778-4767-946a-e08f2ba1e34a" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems_cccfa86a-8bc4-4596-a35c-21bd479529bd" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment_c26aad89-c778-4767-946a-e08f2ba1e34a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet_64167076-63e2-4aa6-9ebd-552fb52f74c3" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems_cccfa86a-8bc4-4596-a35c-21bd479529bd" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet_64167076-63e2-4aa6-9ebd-552fb52f74c3" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentTable_ff79e17a-ebd7-46f7-b850-7705f6a81a38" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentTable"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems_cccfa86a-8bc4-4596-a35c-21bd479529bd" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentTable_ff79e17a-ebd7-46f7-b850-7705f6a81a38" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis_3551f9f6-0a9e-4033-af8e-8c8f948f71f2" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentTable_ff79e17a-ebd7-46f7-b850-7705f6a81a38" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis_3551f9f6-0a9e-4033-af8e-8c8f948f71f2" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain_3551f9f6-0a9e-4033-af8e-8c8f948f71f2_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis_3551f9f6-0a9e-4033-af8e-8c8f948f71f2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain_3551f9f6-0a9e-4033-af8e-8c8f948f71f2_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain_f9c7df4c-a92e-474b-a9b7-34e5f639f765" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis_3551f9f6-0a9e-4033-af8e-8c8f948f71f2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain_f9c7df4c-a92e-474b-a9b7-34e5f639f765" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LandMember_62eb5fef-a27a-4bb7-80a0-185e03bd4159" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LandMember"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain_f9c7df4c-a92e-474b-a9b7-34e5f639f765" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LandMember_62eb5fef-a27a-4bb7-80a0-185e03bd4159" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BuildingMember_b02d78eb-08c4-4a3c-a71c-a2f3ad37db34" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_BuildingMember"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain_f9c7df4c-a92e-474b-a9b7-34e5f639f765" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BuildingMember_b02d78eb-08c4-4a3c-a71c-a2f3ad37db34" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_MachineryAndEquipmentMember_1a2f2034-d789-4a20-893a-7a5398c877e0" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_MachineryAndEquipmentMember"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain_f9c7df4c-a92e-474b-a9b7-34e5f639f765" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_MachineryAndEquipmentMember_1a2f2034-d789-4a20-893a-7a5398c877e0" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ConstructionInProgressMember_6a4bb917-3e03-444e-a3e3-cecb7418358d" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ConstructionInProgressMember"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTypeDomain_f9c7df4c-a92e-474b-a9b7-34e5f639f765" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ConstructionInProgressMember_6a4bb917-3e03-444e-a3e3-cecb7418358d" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
</link:definitionLink>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/DEBT" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#DEBT"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/DEBT" xlink:type="extended" id="i9ce3892f763f44e382f84afffa90e234_DEBT"/>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/DEBTDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#DEBTDetails"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/DEBTDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="if5fc2c3c0eeb4d4db8f41deeea377614_DEBTDetails">
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_3a0ff436-2fa4-483c-a797-ad5ae14f105d" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTerm_4cc36412-ee41-4ad5-9df8-826729d92419" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTerm"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_3a0ff436-2fa4-483c-a797-ad5ae14f105d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTerm_4cc36412-ee41-4ad5-9df8-826729d92419" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity_798dc821-ac83-41a6-9e61-71395a515e9d" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_3a0ff436-2fa4-483c-a797-ad5ae14f105d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity_798dc821-ac83-41a6-9e61-71395a515e9d" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount_3d01fdf5-d614-44ee-9828-d680cc1682da" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_3a0ff436-2fa4-483c-a797-ad5ae14f105d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount_3d01fdf5-d614-44ee-9828-d680cc1682da" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage_fb0c6df1-7b7a-4d76-8fa3-448c0b5abe75" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_3a0ff436-2fa4-483c-a797-ad5ae14f105d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage_fb0c6df1-7b7a-4d76-8fa3-448c0b5abe75" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt_af72eee8-31e3-437c-9e69-50ba80b646e8" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_3a0ff436-2fa4-483c-a797-ad5ae14f105d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt_af72eee8-31e3-437c-9e69-50ba80b646e8" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_f056fae6-841f-493a-9b30-44d54b40dcad" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_3a0ff436-2fa4-483c-a797-ad5ae14f105d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_f056fae6-841f-493a-9b30-44d54b40dcad" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_1252839b-4621-48be-b973-e8c4eb459a22" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_f056fae6-841f-493a-9b30-44d54b40dcad" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_1252839b-4621-48be-b973-e8c4eb459a22" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_1252839b-4621-48be-b973-e8c4eb459a22_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_1252839b-4621-48be-b973-e8c4eb459a22" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_1252839b-4621-48be-b973-e8c4eb459a22_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_76758662-be6f-4502-9ffb-c4a9a19e146e" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_1252839b-4621-48be-b973-e8c4eb459a22" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_76758662-be6f-4502-9ffb-c4a9a19e146e" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember_8c2473d6-0f13-4099-b935-d151c6194ff4" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_76758662-be6f-4502-9ffb-c4a9a19e146e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember_8c2473d6-0f13-4099-b935-d151c6194ff4" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember_12077e1a-7db4-4bd1-a988-5d09c78fdb11" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_76758662-be6f-4502-9ffb-c4a9a19e146e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember_12077e1a-7db4-4bd1-a988-5d09c78fdb11" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_04a0970e-97b9-49ec-ac29-cdfa408b8d91" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_f056fae6-841f-493a-9b30-44d54b40dcad" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_04a0970e-97b9-49ec-ac29-cdfa408b8d91" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_04a0970e-97b9-49ec-ac29-cdfa408b8d91_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_04a0970e-97b9-49ec-ac29-cdfa408b8d91" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_04a0970e-97b9-49ec-ac29-cdfa408b8d91_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_cdbc7d25-1c17-46f2-a144-d15442e96c4b" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_04a0970e-97b9-49ec-ac29-cdfa408b8d91" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_cdbc7d25-1c17-46f2-a144-d15442e96c4b" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_shw_AmendedMay2016FiveYearCreditAgreementMember_9960df01-8b8d-421b-b56b-c3c145641ec5" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#shw_AmendedMay2016FiveYearCreditAgreementMember"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_cdbc7d25-1c17-46f2-a144-d15442e96c4b" xlink:to="loc_shw_AmendedMay2016FiveYearCreditAgreementMember_9960df01-8b8d-421b-b56b-c3c145641ec5" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_shw_SeniorNotes2.30PercentDueMay2030Member_66c7d5a4-f76e-45ee-918b-9b570db7bbeb" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#shw_SeniorNotes2.30PercentDueMay2030Member"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_cdbc7d25-1c17-46f2-a144-d15442e96c4b" xlink:to="loc_shw_SeniorNotes2.30PercentDueMay2030Member_66c7d5a4-f76e-45ee-918b-9b570db7bbeb" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_shw_SeniorNotes3.30PercentDueMay2050Member_6dfacee8-3100-4a98-a3f2-97a0849265fc" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#shw_SeniorNotes3.30PercentDueMay2050Member"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_cdbc7d25-1c17-46f2-a144-d15442e96c4b" xlink:to="loc_shw_SeniorNotes3.30PercentDueMay2050Member_6dfacee8-3100-4a98-a3f2-97a0849265fc" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_shw_SeniorNotes2.75DueJune2022Member_bc454771-e8b7-42a6-9731-51164d0303e3" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#shw_SeniorNotes2.75DueJune2022Member"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_cdbc7d25-1c17-46f2-a144-d15442e96c4b" xlink:to="loc_shw_SeniorNotes2.75DueJune2022Member_bc454771-e8b7-42a6-9731-51164d0303e3" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_shw_A2.25SeniorNotesDueMay2020Member_e3a52c25-d650-4c83-bcd0-6e02c9c6b210" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#shw_A2.25SeniorNotesDueMay2020Member"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_cdbc7d25-1c17-46f2-a144-d15442e96c4b" xlink:to="loc_shw_A2.25SeniorNotesDueMay2020Member_e3a52c25-d650-4c83-bcd0-6e02c9c6b210" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
</link:definitionLink>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/PENSIONANDOTHERPOSTRETIREMENTBENEFITS" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#PENSIONANDOTHERPOSTRETIREMENTBENEFITS"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/PENSIONANDOTHERPOSTRETIREMENTBENEFITS" xlink:type="extended" id="if85de06473794a74aae42505b6301b7b_PENSIONANDOTHERPOSTRETIREMENTBENEFITS"/>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/PENSIONANDOTHERPOSTRETIREMENTBENEFITSTables" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#PENSIONANDOTHERPOSTRETIREMENTBENEFITSTables"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/PENSIONANDOTHERPOSTRETIREMENTBENEFITSTables" xlink:type="extended" id="i1cfea0a6441b423a84d85ad051cc8965_PENSIONANDOTHERPOSTRETIREMENTBENEFITSTables"/>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/PENSIONANDOTHERPOSTRETIREMENTBENEFITSDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#PENSIONANDOTHERPOSTRETIREMENTBENEFITSDetails"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/PENSIONANDOTHERPOSTRETIREMENTBENEFITSDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i1b9da37c09074c2fa1a5f84d7f6574e3_PENSIONANDOTHERPOSTRETIREMENTBENEFITSDetails">
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanDisclosureLineItems_b5276a82-be59-4668-a26e-d024c48bf6bf" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanDisclosureLineItems"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitExpenseAbstract_9618946c-c33f-4219-8688-094fd8bfd07e" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_PensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitExpenseAbstract"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanDisclosureLineItems_b5276a82-be59-4668-a26e-d024c48bf6bf" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitExpenseAbstract_9618946c-c33f-4219-8688-094fd8bfd07e" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCostAbstract_83f5e60f-efdb-42f7-9a60-f7148f1b3af4" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCostAbstract"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitExpenseAbstract_9618946c-c33f-4219-8688-094fd8bfd07e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCostAbstract_83f5e60f-efdb-42f7-9a60-f7148f1b3af4" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanServiceCost_9f7a91aa-aa05-4542-ba01-3237e4713a7a" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanServiceCost"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCostAbstract_83f5e60f-efdb-42f7-9a60-f7148f1b3af4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanServiceCost_9f7a91aa-aa05-4542-ba01-3237e4713a7a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanInterestCost_35971456-be24-4736-ab8f-47d8c1736efd" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanInterestCost"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCostAbstract_83f5e60f-efdb-42f7-9a60-f7148f1b3af4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanInterestCost_35971456-be24-4736-ab8f-47d8c1736efd" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedReturnOnPlanAssets_d963b3f2-fe68-4343-b26a-a975f2c72bdf" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedReturnOnPlanAssets"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCostAbstract_83f5e60f-efdb-42f7-9a60-f7148f1b3af4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedReturnOnPlanAssets_d963b3f2-fe68-4343-b26a-a975f2c72bdf" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AmortizationOfDeferredChargesAbstract_fc99e572-59e0-4cbb-96a3-484ccdaf60aa" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AmortizationOfDeferredChargesAbstract"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCostAbstract_83f5e60f-efdb-42f7-9a60-f7148f1b3af4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AmortizationOfDeferredChargesAbstract_fc99e572-59e0-4cbb-96a3-484ccdaf60aa" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAmortizationOfPriorServiceCostCredit_857ca8ce-7b85-480f-8614-7c76ff92b31c" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAmortizationOfPriorServiceCostCredit"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AmortizationOfDeferredChargesAbstract_fc99e572-59e0-4cbb-96a3-484ccdaf60aa" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAmortizationOfPriorServiceCostCredit_857ca8ce-7b85-480f-8614-7c76ff92b31c" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAmortizationOfGainsLosses_92cb147c-33ad-4355-899c-1296977355b0" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAmortizationOfGainsLosses"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AmortizationOfDeferredChargesAbstract_fc99e572-59e0-4cbb-96a3-484ccdaf60aa" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAmortizationOfGainsLosses_92cb147c-33ad-4355-899c-1296977355b0" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_shw_DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCostCreditBeforeOneTimeAdjustment_2f0b1fc6-230d-46b2-8f5d-7a10da201b88" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#shw_DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCostCreditBeforeOneTimeAdjustment"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCostAbstract_83f5e60f-efdb-42f7-9a60-f7148f1b3af4" xlink:to="loc_shw_DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCostCreditBeforeOneTimeAdjustment_2f0b1fc6-230d-46b2-8f5d-7a10da201b88" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanOtherCosts_6705ead6-4a6d-4dd4-8051-404b9b5e0727" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanOtherCosts"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCostAbstract_83f5e60f-efdb-42f7-9a60-f7148f1b3af4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanOtherCosts_6705ead6-4a6d-4dd4-8051-404b9b5e0727" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCost_fe8e7560-e59f-4569-b215-ba025ffd4ef1" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCost"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCostAbstract_83f5e60f-efdb-42f7-9a60-f7148f1b3af4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCost_fe8e7560-e59f-4569-b215-ba025ffd4ef1" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfDefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresTable_60166de1-2906-4ad7-9849-a34b635f1f30" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfDefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresTable"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanDisclosureLineItems_b5276a82-be59-4668-a26e-d024c48bf6bf" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfDefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresTable_60166de1-2906-4ad7-9849-a34b635f1f30" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RetirementPlanSponsorLocationAxis_904637a9-9381-463d-a403-9fd050a36d64" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_RetirementPlanSponsorLocationAxis"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfDefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresTable_60166de1-2906-4ad7-9849-a34b635f1f30" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RetirementPlanSponsorLocationAxis_904637a9-9381-463d-a403-9fd050a36d64" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RetirementPlanSponsorLocationDomain_904637a9-9381-463d-a403-9fd050a36d64_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_RetirementPlanSponsorLocationDomain"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RetirementPlanSponsorLocationAxis_904637a9-9381-463d-a403-9fd050a36d64" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RetirementPlanSponsorLocationDomain_904637a9-9381-463d-a403-9fd050a36d64_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RetirementPlanSponsorLocationDomain_0e3d940a-3e58-4ffd-8708-f76be269c1fb" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_RetirementPlanSponsorLocationDomain"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RetirementPlanSponsorLocationAxis_904637a9-9381-463d-a403-9fd050a36d64" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RetirementPlanSponsorLocationDomain_0e3d940a-3e58-4ffd-8708-f76be269c1fb" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_country_US_f4241dbc-f673-402e-859e-e2301370ec9a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/country/2020/country-2020-01-31.xsd#country_US"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RetirementPlanSponsorLocationDomain_0e3d940a-3e58-4ffd-8708-f76be269c1fb" xlink:to="loc_country_US_f4241dbc-f673-402e-859e-e2301370ec9a" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ForeignPlanMember_918a49e5-d6f9-49e0-ac6a-e2f3e3083359" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ForeignPlanMember"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RetirementPlanSponsorLocationDomain_0e3d940a-3e58-4ffd-8708-f76be269c1fb" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ForeignPlanMember_918a49e5-d6f9-49e0-ac6a-e2f3e3083359" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RetirementPlanTypeAxis_56a0dc8e-3190-442a-b48e-080c965c1ae9" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_RetirementPlanTypeAxis"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfDefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresTable_60166de1-2906-4ad7-9849-a34b635f1f30" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RetirementPlanTypeAxis_56a0dc8e-3190-442a-b48e-080c965c1ae9" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RetirementPlanTypeDomain_56a0dc8e-3190-442a-b48e-080c965c1ae9_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_RetirementPlanTypeDomain"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RetirementPlanTypeAxis_56a0dc8e-3190-442a-b48e-080c965c1ae9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RetirementPlanTypeDomain_56a0dc8e-3190-442a-b48e-080c965c1ae9_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RetirementPlanTypeDomain_c360c034-3401-42f9-8d6e-facaf9dc35f5" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_RetirementPlanTypeDomain"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RetirementPlanTypeAxis_56a0dc8e-3190-442a-b48e-080c965c1ae9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RetirementPlanTypeDomain_c360c034-3401-42f9-8d6e-facaf9dc35f5" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember_7e8ee879-c2dc-41d5-9211-1f14b3d8c7bd" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RetirementPlanTypeDomain_c360c034-3401-42f9-8d6e-facaf9dc35f5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember_7e8ee879-c2dc-41d5-9211-1f14b3d8c7bd" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember_55899bb6-a0dc-4ac9-b758-16d1c7d2d9e1" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RetirementPlanTypeDomain_c360c034-3401-42f9-8d6e-facaf9dc35f5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember_55899bb6-a0dc-4ac9-b758-16d1c7d2d9e1" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
</link:definitionLink>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/OTHERLONGTERMLIABILITIES" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#OTHERLONGTERMLIABILITIES"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/OTHERLONGTERMLIABILITIES" xlink:type="extended" id="if9009467ec6c4b529590972fb511e2ef_OTHERLONGTERMLIABILITIES"/>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/OTHERLONGTERMLIABILITIESDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#OTHERLONGTERMLIABILITIESDetails"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/OTHERLONGTERMLIABILITIESDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i71523ed5c6c948deb028d5e1b57b130e_OTHERLONGTERMLIABILITIESDetails">
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems_e2b11ffe-c518-49f2-a165-c98e9a45e973" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccruedEnvironmentalLossContingenciesNoncurrent_9aa52154-f88b-401e-b475-292e015d76b9" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AccruedEnvironmentalLossContingenciesNoncurrent"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems_e2b11ffe-c518-49f2-a165-c98e9a45e973" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AccruedEnvironmentalLossContingenciesNoncurrent_9aa52154-f88b-401e-b475-292e015d76b9" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccruedEnvironmentalLossContingenciesCurrent_2a518d8f-afa4-472a-9d6a-d98259b3e2e5" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AccruedEnvironmentalLossContingenciesCurrent"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems_e2b11ffe-c518-49f2-a165-c98e9a45e973" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AccruedEnvironmentalLossContingenciesCurrent_2a518d8f-afa4-472a-9d6a-d98259b3e2e5" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LossContingencyRangeOfPossibleLossPortionNotAccrued_02cdf624-4dc9-40f0-836e-6efd58134d28" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LossContingencyRangeOfPossibleLossPortionNotAccrued"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems_e2b11ffe-c518-49f2-a165-c98e9a45e973" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LossContingencyRangeOfPossibleLossPortionNotAccrued_02cdf624-4dc9-40f0-836e-6efd58134d28" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_shw_NumberOfManufacturingSitesAccountingForMajorityOfAccrualForEnvironmentalRelatedActivities_cc3bee6d-c976-4012-8651-a2280b42d8a5" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#shw_NumberOfManufacturingSitesAccountingForMajorityOfAccrualForEnvironmentalRelatedActivities"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems_e2b11ffe-c518-49f2-a165-c98e9a45e973" xlink:to="loc_shw_NumberOfManufacturingSitesAccountingForMajorityOfAccrualForEnvironmentalRelatedActivities_cc3bee6d-c976-4012-8651-a2280b42d8a5" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_shw_AccrualsForEnvironmentalRelatedActivitiesOfSitesAccountingForMajorityOfAccrualForEnvironmentalRelatedActivities_0fb20dcc-8e9c-4ad6-9293-e155a2b15b8c" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#shw_AccrualsForEnvironmentalRelatedActivitiesOfSitesAccountingForMajorityOfAccrualForEnvironmentalRelatedActivities"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems_e2b11ffe-c518-49f2-a165-c98e9a45e973" xlink:to="loc_shw_AccrualsForEnvironmentalRelatedActivitiesOfSitesAccountingForMajorityOfAccrualForEnvironmentalRelatedActivities_0fb20dcc-8e9c-4ad6-9293-e155a2b15b8c" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_shw_AccrualsForEnvironmentalRelatedActivitiesInPercentage_de62e130-1ec7-44e8-a70d-c58d1db2bc53" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#shw_AccrualsForEnvironmentalRelatedActivitiesInPercentage"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems_e2b11ffe-c518-49f2-a165-c98e9a45e973" xlink:to="loc_shw_AccrualsForEnvironmentalRelatedActivitiesInPercentage_de62e130-1ec7-44e8-a70d-c58d1db2bc53" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingenciesComponentAmount_add20f41-eadc-4584-aa25-cfc8704e9a84" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingenciesComponentAmount"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems_e2b11ffe-c518-49f2-a165-c98e9a45e973" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingenciesComponentAmount_add20f41-eadc-4584-aa25-cfc8704e9a84" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_shw_PercentageOfAggregateUnaccruedMaximumRelatedToSitesAccountingForMajorityOfAccrualForEnvironmentalRelatedActivities_45ffbe5d-0e34-40ef-be8b-ea4e5429856b" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#shw_PercentageOfAggregateUnaccruedMaximumRelatedToSitesAccountingForMajorityOfAccrualForEnvironmentalRelatedActivities"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems_e2b11ffe-c518-49f2-a165-c98e9a45e973" xlink:to="loc_shw_PercentageOfAggregateUnaccruedMaximumRelatedToSitesAccountingForMajorityOfAccrualForEnvironmentalRelatedActivities_45ffbe5d-0e34-40ef-be8b-ea4e5429856b" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_shw_PercentageOfTotalRemainingReserve_2c3d4996-3558-44ce-bf86-8738cb9e4972" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#shw_PercentageOfTotalRemainingReserve"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems_e2b11ffe-c518-49f2-a165-c98e9a45e973" xlink:to="loc_shw_PercentageOfTotalRemainingReserve_2c3d4996-3558-44ce-bf86-8738cb9e4972" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_shw_NumberOfOperableUnits_7679e8fb-f65f-402a-98e8-0d21cd9f5c87" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#shw_NumberOfOperableUnits"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems_e2b11ffe-c518-49f2-a165-c98e9a45e973" xlink:to="loc_shw_NumberOfOperableUnits_7679e8fb-f65f-402a-98e8-0d21cd9f5c87" xlink:type="arc" order="9"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_shw_RemainingNumberOfManufacturingSitesAccountingForMajorityOfAccrualForEnvironmentalRelatedActivities_047e7266-9b0d-49e8-89b7-59d4822c3fb3" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#shw_RemainingNumberOfManufacturingSitesAccountingForMajorityOfAccrualForEnvironmentalRelatedActivities"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems_e2b11ffe-c518-49f2-a165-c98e9a45e973" xlink:to="loc_shw_RemainingNumberOfManufacturingSitesAccountingForMajorityOfAccrualForEnvironmentalRelatedActivities_047e7266-9b0d-49e8-89b7-59d4822c3fb3" xlink:type="arc" order="10"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesTable_42d41892-d50a-40d2-90a0-0b331a483838" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LossContingenciesTable"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems_e2b11ffe-c518-49f2-a165-c98e9a45e973" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesTable_42d41892-d50a-40d2-90a0-0b331a483838" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis_b53085e2-62cc-4754-9245-de161dfd1292" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesTable_42d41892-d50a-40d2-90a0-0b331a483838" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis_b53085e2-62cc-4754-9245-de161dfd1292" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LossContingencyNatureDomain_b53085e2-62cc-4754-9245-de161dfd1292_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LossContingencyNatureDomain"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis_b53085e2-62cc-4754-9245-de161dfd1292" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LossContingencyNatureDomain_b53085e2-62cc-4754-9245-de161dfd1292_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LossContingencyNatureDomain_2cfd0356-a829-4f61-92eb-690d438a1e2a" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LossContingencyNatureDomain"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis_b53085e2-62cc-4754-9245-de161dfd1292" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LossContingencyNatureDomain_2cfd0356-a829-4f61-92eb-690d438a1e2a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_shw_EnvironmentalCostsRemedyImplementationMember_e5d513ff-9bd6-42d2-a709-be8a9c0d46ee" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#shw_EnvironmentalCostsRemedyImplementationMember"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LossContingencyNatureDomain_2cfd0356-a829-4f61-92eb-690d438a1e2a" xlink:to="loc_shw_EnvironmentalCostsRemedyImplementationMember_e5d513ff-9bd6-42d2-a709-be8a9c0d46ee" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_shw_EnvironmentalCostsRegulatoryAgencyInteractionMember_0fcb5f1f-85c0-4701-83b1-705a0d4e5ad9" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#shw_EnvironmentalCostsRegulatoryAgencyInteractionMember"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LossContingencyNatureDomain_2cfd0356-a829-4f61-92eb-690d438a1e2a" xlink:to="loc_shw_EnvironmentalCostsRegulatoryAgencyInteractionMember_0fcb5f1f-85c0-4701-83b1-705a0d4e5ad9" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_shw_EnvironmentalCostsProjectManagementAndOtherCostsMember_51af8d7c-8250-48fc-b643-32325c2f92c5" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#shw_EnvironmentalCostsProjectManagementAndOtherCostsMember"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LossContingencyNatureDomain_2cfd0356-a829-4f61-92eb-690d438a1e2a" xlink:to="loc_shw_EnvironmentalCostsProjectManagementAndOtherCostsMember_51af8d7c-8250-48fc-b643-32325c2f92c5" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_StatementGeographicalAxis_57b20f3d-3450-4a4c-9221-26bc5eaa9eaa" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_StatementGeographicalAxis"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesTable_42d41892-d50a-40d2-90a0-0b331a483838" xlink:to="loc_srt_StatementGeographicalAxis_57b20f3d-3450-4a4c-9221-26bc5eaa9eaa" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain_57b20f3d-3450-4a4c-9221-26bc5eaa9eaa_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_StatementGeographicalAxis_57b20f3d-3450-4a4c-9221-26bc5eaa9eaa" xlink:to="loc_srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain_57b20f3d-3450-4a4c-9221-26bc5eaa9eaa_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain_f4ebe4ec-9d34-42ad-b0a7-e94ef48a3ca5" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_StatementGeographicalAxis_57b20f3d-3450-4a4c-9221-26bc5eaa9eaa" xlink:to="loc_srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain_f4ebe4ec-9d34-42ad-b0a7-e94ef48a3ca5" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_stpr_NJ_2fe7552a-2b1a-468e-82b5-056caaf8db5d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/stpr/2018/stpr-2018-01-31.xsd#stpr_NJ"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain_f4ebe4ec-9d34-42ad-b0a7-e94ef48a3ca5" xlink:to="loc_stpr_NJ_2fe7552a-2b1a-468e-82b5-056caaf8db5d" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
</link:definitionLink>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/LITIGATION" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#LITIGATION"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/LITIGATION" xlink:type="extended" id="i4727f864ae834b32bc1d4024d44a9b15_LITIGATION"/>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/LITIGATIONDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#LITIGATIONDetails"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/LITIGATIONDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i57462b365ebc47599b091c56db141c23_LITIGATIONDetails">
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems_d0dc3783-56c0-4a7f-b5d8-8ef53bfafc5b" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_shw_LossContingencyNumberOfAdditionalDefendants_3e339ee0-387e-4b48-9f01-94915f5b52f0" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#shw_LossContingencyNumberOfAdditionalDefendants"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems_d0dc3783-56c0-4a7f-b5d8-8ef53bfafc5b" xlink:to="loc_shw_LossContingencyNumberOfAdditionalDefendants_3e339ee0-387e-4b48-9f01-94915f5b52f0" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LitigationSettlementAmountAwardedToOtherParty_c91c491a-1fd2-44b7-8699-1303bbb439ae" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LitigationSettlementAmountAwardedToOtherParty"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems_d0dc3783-56c0-4a7f-b5d8-8ef53bfafc5b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LitigationSettlementAmountAwardedToOtherParty_c91c491a-1fd2-44b7-8699-1303bbb439ae" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_shw_LitigationSettlementAmountAwardedToOtherPartyAmountToBePaidPerDefendant_bc53851d-9358-4867-a506-2010e98d82a4" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#shw_LitigationSettlementAmountAwardedToOtherPartyAmountToBePaidPerDefendant"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems_d0dc3783-56c0-4a7f-b5d8-8ef53bfafc5b" xlink:to="loc_shw_LitigationSettlementAmountAwardedToOtherPartyAmountToBePaidPerDefendant_bc53851d-9358-4867-a506-2010e98d82a4" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_shw_LitigationSettlementAmountAwardedToOtherPartyInitialPayment_6bea4ce4-dff9-4420-957b-914669f1ee92" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#shw_LitigationSettlementAmountAwardedToOtherPartyInitialPayment"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems_d0dc3783-56c0-4a7f-b5d8-8ef53bfafc5b" xlink:to="loc_shw_LitigationSettlementAmountAwardedToOtherPartyInitialPayment_6bea4ce4-dff9-4420-957b-914669f1ee92" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_shw_LitigationSettlementAmountAwardedToOtherPartyOrderAndJudgmentPeriod_28c9f490-1b72-4adc-99a1-8dd4dcbe694d" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#shw_LitigationSettlementAmountAwardedToOtherPartyOrderAndJudgmentPeriod"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems_d0dc3783-56c0-4a7f-b5d8-8ef53bfafc5b" xlink:to="loc_shw_LitigationSettlementAmountAwardedToOtherPartyOrderAndJudgmentPeriod_28c9f490-1b72-4adc-99a1-8dd4dcbe694d" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_shw_LitigationSettlementAmountAwardedToOtherPartySubsequentAnnualPaymentAmount_122059c9-e592-4931-9a1f-cf029ef6edb6" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#shw_LitigationSettlementAmountAwardedToOtherPartySubsequentAnnualPaymentAmount"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems_d0dc3783-56c0-4a7f-b5d8-8ef53bfafc5b" xlink:to="loc_shw_LitigationSettlementAmountAwardedToOtherPartySubsequentAnnualPaymentAmount_122059c9-e592-4931-9a1f-cf029ef6edb6" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_shw_LitigationSettlementAmountAwardedToOtherPartyTermOfSubsequentAnnualPayments_f7c6ce59-3d0a-419f-8932-684da787f5c3" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#shw_LitigationSettlementAmountAwardedToOtherPartyTermOfSubsequentAnnualPayments"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems_d0dc3783-56c0-4a7f-b5d8-8ef53bfafc5b" xlink:to="loc_shw_LitigationSettlementAmountAwardedToOtherPartyTermOfSubsequentAnnualPayments_f7c6ce59-3d0a-419f-8932-684da787f5c3" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_shw_LitigationSettlementAmountAwardedToOtherPartyFinalPayment_0943f196-2c2e-46bc-9ea2-069dc2700560" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#shw_LitigationSettlementAmountAwardedToOtherPartyFinalPayment"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems_d0dc3783-56c0-4a7f-b5d8-8ef53bfafc5b" xlink:to="loc_shw_LitigationSettlementAmountAwardedToOtherPartyFinalPayment_0943f196-2c2e-46bc-9ea2-069dc2700560" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_shw_LitigationSettlementAmountAwardedToOtherPartyMaximumLiableAmountInEventOfDefaultOfOtherDefendant_d0a1c87e-e403-438d-812c-c85df4f015d7" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#shw_LitigationSettlementAmountAwardedToOtherPartyMaximumLiableAmountInEventOfDefaultOfOtherDefendant"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems_d0dc3783-56c0-4a7f-b5d8-8ef53bfafc5b" xlink:to="loc_shw_LitigationSettlementAmountAwardedToOtherPartyMaximumLiableAmountInEventOfDefaultOfOtherDefendant_d0a1c87e-e403-438d-812c-c85df4f015d7" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualAtCarryingValue_40ab34f0-6e3a-49fd-99aa-13de94f4a108" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualAtCarryingValue"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems_d0dc3783-56c0-4a7f-b5d8-8ef53bfafc5b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualAtCarryingValue_40ab34f0-6e3a-49fd-99aa-13de94f4a108" xlink:type="arc" order="9"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualCarryingValueCurrent_778ac978-b214-47b7-9ef5-204df811b3ad" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualCarryingValueCurrent"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems_d0dc3783-56c0-4a7f-b5d8-8ef53bfafc5b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualCarryingValueCurrent_778ac978-b214-47b7-9ef5-204df811b3ad" xlink:type="arc" order="10"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualCarryingValueNoncurrent_b6db47e8-58f9-4c68-80df-86cdbc73fba4" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualCarryingValueNoncurrent"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems_d0dc3783-56c0-4a7f-b5d8-8ef53bfafc5b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualCarryingValueNoncurrent_b6db47e8-58f9-4c68-80df-86cdbc73fba4" xlink:type="arc" order="11"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LossContingencyNewClaimsFiledNumber_14a92b4d-174c-4b11-b133-f4a58abc842b" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LossContingencyNewClaimsFiledNumber"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems_d0dc3783-56c0-4a7f-b5d8-8ef53bfafc5b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LossContingencyNewClaimsFiledNumber_14a92b4d-174c-4b11-b133-f4a58abc842b" xlink:type="arc" order="12"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LossContingencyPendingClaimsNumber_0d193350-6d83-4e50-928b-c86ee83153bd" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LossContingencyPendingClaimsNumber"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems_d0dc3783-56c0-4a7f-b5d8-8ef53bfafc5b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LossContingencyPendingClaimsNumber_0d193350-6d83-4e50-928b-c86ee83153bd" xlink:type="arc" order="13"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LossContingencyNumberOfPlaintiffs_c3a78884-c15d-4722-a573-1f305f08b990" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LossContingencyNumberOfPlaintiffs"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems_d0dc3783-56c0-4a7f-b5d8-8ef53bfafc5b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LossContingencyNumberOfPlaintiffs_c3a78884-c15d-4722-a573-1f305f08b990" xlink:type="arc" order="14"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_shw_LitigationSettlementAmountAwardedToOtherPartyPerPlaintiff_bc0fe68c-9b5d-4251-89bc-efd342b4d19a" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#shw_LitigationSettlementAmountAwardedToOtherPartyPerPlaintiff"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems_d0dc3783-56c0-4a7f-b5d8-8ef53bfafc5b" xlink:to="loc_shw_LitigationSettlementAmountAwardedToOtherPartyPerPlaintiff_bc0fe68c-9b5d-4251-89bc-efd342b4d19a" xlink:type="arc" order="15"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LossContingencyDamagesSoughtValue_f47c9be6-b836-4493-9f36-28628199fda2" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LossContingencyDamagesSoughtValue"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems_d0dc3783-56c0-4a7f-b5d8-8ef53bfafc5b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LossContingencyDamagesSoughtValue_f47c9be6-b836-4493-9f36-28628199fda2" xlink:type="arc" order="16"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_shw_LossContingencyNumberofPlaintiffsSelectedForDiscovery_49172b7a-c380-4ad4-81ba-97e0e4be36a1" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#shw_LossContingencyNumberofPlaintiffsSelectedForDiscovery"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems_d0dc3783-56c0-4a7f-b5d8-8ef53bfafc5b" xlink:to="loc_shw_LossContingencyNumberofPlaintiffsSelectedForDiscovery_49172b7a-c380-4ad4-81ba-97e0e4be36a1" xlink:type="arc" order="17"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_shw_LossContingencyNumberOfPlaintiffsConsolidatedWithAnotherCase_ccabbdb5-b9be-46d4-9450-a4b05d97c95b" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#shw_LossContingencyNumberOfPlaintiffsConsolidatedWithAnotherCase"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems_d0dc3783-56c0-4a7f-b5d8-8ef53bfafc5b" xlink:to="loc_shw_LossContingencyNumberOfPlaintiffsConsolidatedWithAnotherCase_ccabbdb5-b9be-46d4-9450-a4b05d97c95b" xlink:type="arc" order="18"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_shw_LossContingencyNumberOfCasesSelectedForDiscovery_03a8347b-20cc-4e66-82b3-98eeac3132f9" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#shw_LossContingencyNumberOfCasesSelectedForDiscovery"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems_d0dc3783-56c0-4a7f-b5d8-8ef53bfafc5b" xlink:to="loc_shw_LossContingencyNumberOfCasesSelectedForDiscovery_03a8347b-20cc-4e66-82b3-98eeac3132f9" xlink:type="arc" order="19"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LossContingencyNumberOfDefendants_b0b7ed96-0510-4c44-aa11-f6212f13d19a" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LossContingencyNumberOfDefendants"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems_d0dc3783-56c0-4a7f-b5d8-8ef53bfafc5b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LossContingencyNumberOfDefendants_b0b7ed96-0510-4c44-aa11-f6212f13d19a" xlink:type="arc" order="20"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_shw_LossContingencyNumberOfPlaintiffsWhoseClaimsWerePaidByPrivateInsuranceOrMedicaid_7f9e9815-3432-4442-a6b8-9299f800b084" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#shw_LossContingencyNumberOfPlaintiffsWhoseClaimsWerePaidByPrivateInsuranceOrMedicaid"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems_d0dc3783-56c0-4a7f-b5d8-8ef53bfafc5b" xlink:to="loc_shw_LossContingencyNumberOfPlaintiffsWhoseClaimsWerePaidByPrivateInsuranceOrMedicaid_7f9e9815-3432-4442-a6b8-9299f800b084" xlink:type="arc" order="21"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_shw_LossContingencyNumberOfPlaintiffsWhoseClaimsWerePaidByMedicaid_170d9cb7-4aaf-4368-b114-96d02b6d2b91" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#shw_LossContingencyNumberOfPlaintiffsWhoseClaimsWerePaidByMedicaid"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems_d0dc3783-56c0-4a7f-b5d8-8ef53bfafc5b" xlink:to="loc_shw_LossContingencyNumberOfPlaintiffsWhoseClaimsWerePaidByMedicaid_170d9cb7-4aaf-4368-b114-96d02b6d2b91" xlink:type="arc" order="22"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesTable_0aab08be-55d2-4606-b682-b223dabde675" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LossContingenciesTable"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems_d0dc3783-56c0-4a7f-b5d8-8ef53bfafc5b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesTable_0aab08be-55d2-4606-b682-b223dabde675" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_LitigationCaseAxis_e032329d-355c-40de-88f3-8b96f5fa84ed" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_LitigationCaseAxis"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LossContingenciesTable_0aab08be-55d2-4606-b682-b223dabde675" xlink:to="loc_srt_LitigationCaseAxis_e032329d-355c-40de-88f3-8b96f5fa84ed" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_LitigationCaseTypeDomain_e032329d-355c-40de-88f3-8b96f5fa84ed_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_LitigationCaseTypeDomain"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_LitigationCaseAxis_e032329d-355c-40de-88f3-8b96f5fa84ed" xlink:to="loc_srt_LitigationCaseTypeDomain_e032329d-355c-40de-88f3-8b96f5fa84ed_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_LitigationCaseTypeDomain_dc2b2c66-fc15-448a-9cce-efc112b5aca4" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_LitigationCaseTypeDomain"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_LitigationCaseAxis_e032329d-355c-40de-88f3-8b96f5fa84ed" xlink:to="loc_srt_LitigationCaseTypeDomain_dc2b2c66-fc15-448a-9cce-efc112b5aca4" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_shw_SantaClaraCountyCaliforniaProceedingMember_ef9c0eae-2314-4df8-b996-6f975c4b8d16" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#shw_SantaClaraCountyCaliforniaProceedingMember"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_LitigationCaseTypeDomain_dc2b2c66-fc15-448a-9cce-efc112b5aca4" xlink:to="loc_shw_SantaClaraCountyCaliforniaProceedingMember_ef9c0eae-2314-4df8-b996-6f975c4b8d16" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_shw_PennsylvaniaProceedingsMember_33a4bfe0-a7b5-4b76-b126-e20d467fa191" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#shw_PennsylvaniaProceedingsMember"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_LitigationCaseTypeDomain_dc2b2c66-fc15-448a-9cce-efc112b5aca4" xlink:to="loc_shw_PennsylvaniaProceedingsMember_33a4bfe0-a7b5-4b76-b126-e20d467fa191" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_shw_RavonOwensV.AmericanCyanamidEtAl.CesarSifuentesV.AmericanCyanamidEtAl.AndGlennBurtonJr.V.AmericanCyanamidEtAl.Member_1cd39a1c-f784-4658-8293-a8caf3301404" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#shw_RavonOwensV.AmericanCyanamidEtAl.CesarSifuentesV.AmericanCyanamidEtAl.AndGlennBurtonJr.V.AmericanCyanamidEtAl.Member"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_LitigationCaseTypeDomain_dc2b2c66-fc15-448a-9cce-efc112b5aca4" xlink:to="loc_shw_RavonOwensV.AmericanCyanamidEtAl.CesarSifuentesV.AmericanCyanamidEtAl.AndGlennBurtonJr.V.AmericanCyanamidEtAl.Member_1cd39a1c-f784-4658-8293-a8caf3301404" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_shw_ManiyaAllenEtAl.V.AmericanCyanamidEtAl.Member_8acafb15-5c34-457d-97a5-e7710acefc01" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#shw_ManiyaAllenEtAl.V.AmericanCyanamidEtAl.Member"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_LitigationCaseTypeDomain_dc2b2c66-fc15-448a-9cce-efc112b5aca4" xlink:to="loc_shw_ManiyaAllenEtAl.V.AmericanCyanamidEtAl.Member_8acafb15-5c34-457d-97a5-e7710acefc01" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_shw_DijonaeTrammellEtAl.V.AmericanCyanamidEtAl.Member_7d50e2cc-2246-4e6e-a254-a9d6d47a0a33" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#shw_DijonaeTrammellEtAl.V.AmericanCyanamidEtAl.Member"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_LitigationCaseTypeDomain_dc2b2c66-fc15-448a-9cce-efc112b5aca4" xlink:to="loc_shw_DijonaeTrammellEtAl.V.AmericanCyanamidEtAl.Member_7d50e2cc-2246-4e6e-a254-a9d6d47a0a33" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_shw_MaryLewisV.LeadIndustriesAssociationEtAl.Member_5d335cca-c4c3-49f5-9484-25f2d4eeeb90" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#shw_MaryLewisV.LeadIndustriesAssociationEtAl.Member"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_LitigationCaseTypeDomain_dc2b2c66-fc15-448a-9cce-efc112b5aca4" xlink:to="loc_shw_MaryLewisV.LeadIndustriesAssociationEtAl.Member_5d335cca-c4c3-49f5-9484-25f2d4eeeb90" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
</link:definitionLink>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/SHAREHOLDERSEQUITY" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#SHAREHOLDERSEQUITY"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/SHAREHOLDERSEQUITY" xlink:type="extended" id="i671075ff16594e619e0a102123e5378c_SHAREHOLDERSEQUITY"/>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/SHAREHOLDERSEQUITYDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#SHAREHOLDERSEQUITYDetails"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/SHAREHOLDERSEQUITYDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="ia55e5eb963ab4528aa7b9414e69c7d21_SHAREHOLDERSEQUITYDetails">
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_6a43aab0-d6ac-4580-bb12-11e985e7231b" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised_62829a21-51ff-47b4-823e-4da233f5169c" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_6a43aab0-d6ac-4580-bb12-11e985e7231b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised_62829a21-51ff-47b4-823e-4da233f5169c" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansExercisePriceRangeExercisableOptionsWeightedAverageExercisePrice1_2a4a6a37-2c32-4153-858f-12d52ec4e814" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansExercisePriceRangeExercisableOptionsWeightedAverageExercisePrice1"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_6a43aab0-d6ac-4580-bb12-11e985e7231b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansExercisePriceRangeExercisableOptionsWeightedAverageExercisePrice1_2a4a6a37-2c32-4153-858f-12d52ec4e814" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod_19621ba2-5a6b-425e-b142-23c593d8a9d5" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_6a43aab0-d6ac-4580-bb12-11e985e7231b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod_19621ba2-5a6b-425e-b142-23c593d8a9d5" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueTreasuryStockReissued_d76e4bb7-ba41-4fcd-a2a2-f61c7fda11db" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueTreasuryStockReissued"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_6a43aab0-d6ac-4580-bb12-11e985e7231b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueTreasuryStockReissued_d76e4bb7-ba41-4fcd-a2a2-f61c7fda11db" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesTreasuryStockReissued_58dcf0c4-71ef-4912-a487-d0e3b833044e" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesTreasuryStockReissued"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_6a43aab0-d6ac-4580-bb12-11e985e7231b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesTreasuryStockReissued_58dcf0c4-71ef-4912-a487-d0e3b833044e" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_92efb913-9917-4c2c-a2fe-2036ebcdf6ba" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_6a43aab0-d6ac-4580-bb12-11e985e7231b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_92efb913-9917-4c2c-a2fe-2036ebcdf6ba" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_f586612d-a17d-4ffe-9035-084b9896dd9d" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_92efb913-9917-4c2c-a2fe-2036ebcdf6ba" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_f586612d-a17d-4ffe-9035-084b9896dd9d" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_f586612d-a17d-4ffe-9035-084b9896dd9d_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_f586612d-a17d-4ffe-9035-084b9896dd9d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_f586612d-a17d-4ffe-9035-084b9896dd9d_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_9ccb1990-8338-4a44-8bc7-3bddc5923ea7" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_f586612d-a17d-4ffe-9035-084b9896dd9d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_9ccb1990-8338-4a44-8bc7-3bddc5923ea7" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember_fea788db-f269-4047-b9bc-6d29f3b8e107" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_9ccb1990-8338-4a44-8bc7-3bddc5923ea7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember_fea788db-f269-4047-b9bc-6d29f3b8e107" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
</link:definitionLink>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/ACCUMULATEDOTHERCOMPREHENSIVELOSSINCOME" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#ACCUMULATEDOTHERCOMPREHENSIVELOSSINCOME"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/ACCUMULATEDOTHERCOMPREHENSIVELOSSINCOME" xlink:type="extended" id="ie239de8d93c446b99783de7b8045edeb_ACCUMULATEDOTHERCOMPREHENSIVELOSSINCOME"/>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/ACCUMULATEDOTHERCOMPREHENSIVELOSSINCOMETables" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#ACCUMULATEDOTHERCOMPREHENSIVELOSSINCOMETables"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/ACCUMULATEDOTHERCOMPREHENSIVELOSSINCOMETables" xlink:type="extended" id="i9fbe23706e2443f683246a0eacffd846_ACCUMULATEDOTHERCOMPREHENSIVELOSSINCOMETables"/>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/ACCUMULATEDOTHERCOMPREHENSIVELOSSINCOMEDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#ACCUMULATEDOTHERCOMPREHENSIVELOSSINCOMEDetails"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/ACCUMULATEDOTHERCOMPREHENSIVELOSSINCOMEDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="ib3d6b9b0c63b40909eb3487656b0df9d_ACCUMULATEDOTHERCOMPREHENSIVELOSSINCOMEDetails">
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossLineItems_6c936a9c-0fc5-4576-89b0-19d6f20b8397" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossLineItems"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AOCIIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterestAbstract_3149ca12-36bb-4bc2-8d3f-d248075e9c25" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AOCIIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterestAbstract"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossLineItems_6c936a9c-0fc5-4576-89b0-19d6f20b8397" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AOCIIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterestAbstract_3149ca12-36bb-4bc2-8d3f-d248075e9c25" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquity_a1a66da1-dfc7-4fdc-bfcc-2d39f2e537fe" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StockholdersEquity"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AOCIIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterestAbstract_3149ca12-36bb-4bc2-8d3f-d248075e9c25" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquity_a1a66da1-dfc7-4fdc-bfcc-2d39f2e537fe" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OciBeforeReclassificationsNetOfTaxAttributableToParent_745be430-2751-4b4d-8a1c-0ce2363b4030" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_OciBeforeReclassificationsNetOfTaxAttributableToParent"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AOCIIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterestAbstract_3149ca12-36bb-4bc2-8d3f-d248075e9c25" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OciBeforeReclassificationsNetOfTaxAttributableToParent_745be430-2751-4b4d-8a1c-0ce2363b4030" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAociCurrentPeriodNetOfTaxAttributableToParent_a7fe13df-3e75-4e01-ab62-c7173033b2f5" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAociCurrentPeriodNetOfTaxAttributableToParent"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AOCIIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterestAbstract_3149ca12-36bb-4bc2-8d3f-d248075e9c25" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAociCurrentPeriodNetOfTaxAttributableToParent_a7fe13df-3e75-4e01-ab62-c7173033b2f5" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquity_6e8e8521-cc13-42ac-a902-75caa854f0ab" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StockholdersEquity"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTable_c19d64c7-fb7b-4a8e-8692-06805519ed48" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTable"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossLineItems_6c936a9c-0fc5-4576-89b0-19d6f20b8397" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTable_c19d64c7-fb7b-4a8e-8692-06805519ed48" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_c422b8f9-b9f8-43c1-bdae-6a67407384c8" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTable_c19d64c7-fb7b-4a8e-8692-06805519ed48" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_c422b8f9-b9f8-43c1-bdae-6a67407384c8" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_c422b8f9-b9f8-43c1-bdae-6a67407384c8_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_c422b8f9-b9f8-43c1-bdae-6a67407384c8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_c422b8f9-b9f8-43c1-bdae-6a67407384c8_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_d05d6502-7714-4131-8ed8-4f64df3564fd" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_c422b8f9-b9f8-43c1-bdae-6a67407384c8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_d05d6502-7714-4131-8ed8-4f64df3564fd" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember_8ee982a0-0bfa-4423-b95e-c43517c76539" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_d05d6502-7714-4131-8ed8-4f64df3564fd" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember_8ee982a0-0bfa-4423-b95e-c43517c76539" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember_6c16fa33-ef00-4b0c-a763-d4fc2216c97f" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_d05d6502-7714-4131-8ed8-4f64df3564fd" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember_6c16fa33-ef00-4b0c-a763-d4fc2216c97f" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedGainLossNetCashFlowHedgeParentMember_2048481e-7cca-403e-a0fa-5a53723d5f6e" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AccumulatedGainLossNetCashFlowHedgeParentMember"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_d05d6502-7714-4131-8ed8-4f64df3564fd" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedGainLossNetCashFlowHedgeParentMember_2048481e-7cca-403e-a0fa-5a53723d5f6e" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember_e9c78cc1-d171-4b01-aa19-e64479584ebe" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_d05d6502-7714-4131-8ed8-4f64df3564fd" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember_e9c78cc1-d171-4b01-aa19-e64479584ebe" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
</link:definitionLink>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/DERIVATIVESANDHEDGING" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#DERIVATIVESANDHEDGING"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/DERIVATIVESANDHEDGING" xlink:type="extended" id="i6a83ffc310bf48e9bf6b8d3862e653dc_DERIVATIVESANDHEDGING"/>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/DERIVATIVESANDHEDGINGTables" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#DERIVATIVESANDHEDGINGTables"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/DERIVATIVESANDHEDGINGTables" xlink:type="extended" id="i102b6d136d574076b372b63c613558e0_DERIVATIVESANDHEDGINGTables"/>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/DERIVATIVESANDHEDGINGDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#DERIVATIVESANDHEDGINGDetails"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/DERIVATIVESANDHEDGINGDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i136194d3013e4553b4c55443c66882c5_DERIVATIVESANDHEDGINGDetails">
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems_db04ed80-4f52-4055-97f2-6672c4feca3d" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeNumberOfInstrumentsHeld_ad697ce4-c29a-4157-8df7-b46bfd424370" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeNumberOfInstrumentsHeld"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems_db04ed80-4f52-4055-97f2-6672c4feca3d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeNumberOfInstrumentsHeld_ad697ce4-c29a-4157-8df7-b46bfd424370" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeNotionalAmount_c9224534-f43f-4727-accf-7f8ebcbe7bce" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeNotionalAmount"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems_db04ed80-4f52-4055-97f2-6672c4feca3d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeNotionalAmount_c9224534-f43f-4727-accf-7f8ebcbe7bce" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax_9638d6d3-0350-4ebe-9f4e-488b1ef0ffdd" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems_db04ed80-4f52-4055-97f2-6672c4feca3d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax_9638d6d3-0350-4ebe-9f4e-488b1ef0ffdd" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeAssets_0b290427-5891-472b-8399-e3ec2fe16019" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeAssets"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems_db04ed80-4f52-4055-97f2-6672c4feca3d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeAssets_0b290427-5891-472b-8399-e3ec2fe16019" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilities_0e126058-d2cc-46a1-90af-24846a0b8ee8" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilities"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems_db04ed80-4f52-4055-97f2-6672c4feca3d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilities_0e126058-d2cc-46a1-90af-24846a0b8ee8" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ChangeInUnrealizedGainLossOnForeignCurrencyFairValueHedgingInstruments1_6563b1cf-9fb8-42a9-a25d-2bea51d0a5ba" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ChangeInUnrealizedGainLossOnForeignCurrencyFairValueHedgingInstruments1"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems_db04ed80-4f52-4055-97f2-6672c4feca3d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ChangeInUnrealizedGainLossOnForeignCurrencyFairValueHedgingInstruments1_6563b1cf-9fb8-42a9-a25d-2bea51d0a5ba" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeTable_49269c11-08db-4839-83ec-8a76da39280f" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeTable"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems_db04ed80-4f52-4055-97f2-6672c4feca3d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeTable_49269c11-08db-4839-83ec-8a76da39280f" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_3fabc58b-dc67-4ed2-bb69-20ca175c2b61" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeTable_49269c11-08db-4839-83ec-8a76da39280f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_3fabc58b-dc67-4ed2-bb69-20ca175c2b61" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_3fabc58b-dc67-4ed2-bb69-20ca175c2b61_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_3fabc58b-dc67-4ed2-bb69-20ca175c2b61" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_3fabc58b-dc67-4ed2-bb69-20ca175c2b61_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_a9e67686-c4e1-447e-9d5a-29a6250855eb" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_3fabc58b-dc67-4ed2-bb69-20ca175c2b61" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_a9e67686-c4e1-447e-9d5a-29a6250855eb" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_shw_EuroCrossCurrencySwap1Member_5be01d93-e1a5-40db-8110-ce4fb7adab7d" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#shw_EuroCrossCurrencySwap1Member"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_a9e67686-c4e1-447e-9d5a-29a6250855eb" xlink:to="loc_shw_EuroCrossCurrencySwap1Member_5be01d93-e1a5-40db-8110-ce4fb7adab7d" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_shw_EuroCrossCurrencySwap2Member_4a9fefe2-82fb-4333-99fa-e5fff7cb9910" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#shw_EuroCrossCurrencySwap2Member"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_a9e67686-c4e1-447e-9d5a-29a6250855eb" xlink:to="loc_shw_EuroCrossCurrencySwap2Member_4a9fefe2-82fb-4333-99fa-e5fff7cb9910" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CurrencySwapMember_e1490354-7298-438a-ae8a-97aec6df6a8b" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CurrencySwapMember"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_a9e67686-c4e1-447e-9d5a-29a6250855eb" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CurrencySwapMember_e1490354-7298-438a-ae8a-97aec6df6a8b" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis_9126a325-4418-4d4a-87b3-35fd8aefd7cc" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeTable_49269c11-08db-4839-83ec-8a76da39280f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis_9126a325-4418-4d4a-87b3-35fd8aefd7cc" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationDomain_9126a325-4418-4d4a-87b3-35fd8aefd7cc_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationDomain"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis_9126a325-4418-4d4a-87b3-35fd8aefd7cc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationDomain_9126a325-4418-4d4a-87b3-35fd8aefd7cc_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationDomain_0f5bace0-13be-4a10-a792-56bdb6cf73ea" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationDomain"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis_9126a325-4418-4d4a-87b3-35fd8aefd7cc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationDomain_0f5bace0-13be-4a10-a792-56bdb6cf73ea" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember_80aac347-2670-4157-8258-f067762c0a70" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationDomain_0f5bace0-13be-4a10-a792-56bdb6cf73ea" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember_80aac347-2670-4157-8258-f067762c0a70" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherCurrentLiabilitiesMember_cf4ff491-35a8-41fd-9cd3-83bf0fddd73a" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_OtherCurrentLiabilitiesMember"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationDomain_0f5bace0-13be-4a10-a792-56bdb6cf73ea" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherCurrentLiabilitiesMember_cf4ff491-35a8-41fd-9cd3-83bf0fddd73a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherNoncurrentLiabilitiesMember_4bb70049-7837-4051-8994-64ab5acff3fd" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_OtherNoncurrentLiabilitiesMember"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationDomain_0f5bace0-13be-4a10-a792-56bdb6cf73ea" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherNoncurrentLiabilitiesMember_4bb70049-7837-4051-8994-64ab5acff3fd" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
</link:definitionLink>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/FAIRVALUEMEASUREMENTS" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#FAIRVALUEMEASUREMENTS"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/FAIRVALUEMEASUREMENTS" xlink:type="extended" id="ie3886801e7f94a77aa5dff758fdac79e_FAIRVALUEMEASUREMENTS"/>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/FAIRVALUEMEASUREMENTSTables" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#FAIRVALUEMEASUREMENTSTables"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/FAIRVALUEMEASUREMENTSTables" xlink:type="extended" id="if7ee1824d557421bb2391b1e8b357033_FAIRVALUEMEASUREMENTSTables"/>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/FAIRVALUEMEASUREMENTSDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#FAIRVALUEMEASUREMENTSDetails"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/FAIRVALUEMEASUREMENTSDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="ife22915b3a4e4b548fbd837262a1fdd2_FAIRVALUEMEASUREMENTSDetails">
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_04d22131-c99d-4c17-8dc2-f36925c45658" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosureAbstract_2f7a9963-1be6-44fa-992d-3be5b0db4baf" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosureAbstract"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_04d22131-c99d-4c17-8dc2-f36925c45658" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosureAbstract_2f7a9963-1be6-44fa-992d-3be5b0db4baf" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_MarketableSecurities_56407e01-855c-4d4e-b575-c07cd6f9d28b" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_MarketableSecurities"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosureAbstract_2f7a9963-1be6-44fa-992d-3be5b0db4baf" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_MarketableSecurities_56407e01-855c-4d4e-b575-c07cd6f9d28b" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure_25115c99-6289-4037-b212-914a26ba6134" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosureAbstract_2f7a9963-1be6-44fa-992d-3be5b0db4baf" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure_25115c99-6289-4037-b212-914a26ba6134" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosureAbstract_b7578989-1b3c-48dd-9225-56095ce8dd1e" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosureAbstract"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_04d22131-c99d-4c17-8dc2-f36925c45658" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosureAbstract_b7578989-1b3c-48dd-9225-56095ce8dd1e" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommitmentsFairValueDisclosure_e0fb0265-aa64-4284-804c-2f97810ee38d" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CommitmentsFairValueDisclosure"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosureAbstract_b7578989-1b3c-48dd-9225-56095ce8dd1e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommitmentsFairValueDisclosure_e0fb0265-aa64-4284-804c-2f97810ee38d" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilities_99c1fc38-1145-4b54-a841-ea204592eef7" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilities"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosureAbstract_b7578989-1b3c-48dd-9225-56095ce8dd1e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilities_99c1fc38-1145-4b54-a841-ea204592eef7" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosure_54b0d5cb-9f82-4415-8349-e6235c02e413" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosure"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosureAbstract_b7578989-1b3c-48dd-9225-56095ce8dd1e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosure_54b0d5cb-9f82-4415-8349-e6235c02e413" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_shw_MarketableSecuritiesAmortizedCostBasis_3a903051-0f62-449b-b90d-6f981659ebbd" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#shw_MarketableSecuritiesAmortizedCostBasis"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_04d22131-c99d-4c17-8dc2-f36925c45658" xlink:to="loc_shw_MarketableSecuritiesAmortizedCostBasis_3a903051-0f62-449b-b90d-6f981659ebbd" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue_b2bef984-2794-44c5-8c06-75f18e086196" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_04d22131-c99d-4c17-8dc2-f36925c45658" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue_b2bef984-2794-44c5-8c06-75f18e086196" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_3cacdbc2-0c02-43db-aa6b-86080e6dae75" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_04d22131-c99d-4c17-8dc2-f36925c45658" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_3cacdbc2-0c02-43db-aa6b-86080e6dae75" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis_a4345465-b8c2-4345-9816-f9c56bb7ec90" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_3cacdbc2-0c02-43db-aa6b-86080e6dae75" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis_a4345465-b8c2-4345-9816-f9c56bb7ec90" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementFrequencyDomain_a4345465-b8c2-4345-9816-f9c56bb7ec90_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementFrequencyDomain"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis_a4345465-b8c2-4345-9816-f9c56bb7ec90" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementFrequencyDomain_a4345465-b8c2-4345-9816-f9c56bb7ec90_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementFrequencyDomain_58a29c67-8a81-41fb-99d1-3f5b36db82c6" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementFrequencyDomain"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis_a4345465-b8c2-4345-9816-f9c56bb7ec90" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementFrequencyDomain_58a29c67-8a81-41fb-99d1-3f5b36db82c6" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember_aa016491-0588-49fb-98e6-5a0ed38ac751" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementFrequencyDomain_58a29c67-8a81-41fb-99d1-3f5b36db82c6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember_aa016491-0588-49fb-98e6-5a0ed38ac751" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_52cee3e0-13ac-445e-a4fc-ca5f02ca75be" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_3cacdbc2-0c02-43db-aa6b-86080e6dae75" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_52cee3e0-13ac-445e-a4fc-ca5f02ca75be" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_52cee3e0-13ac-445e-a4fc-ca5f02ca75be_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_52cee3e0-13ac-445e-a4fc-ca5f02ca75be" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_52cee3e0-13ac-445e-a4fc-ca5f02ca75be_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_85366020-b607-4020-bf40-d9911bf9b95b" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_52cee3e0-13ac-445e-a4fc-ca5f02ca75be" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_85366020-b607-4020-bf40-d9911bf9b95b" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member_214a9ac4-73bc-4c98-b1f8-afcd7a001579" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_85366020-b607-4020-bf40-d9911bf9b95b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member_214a9ac4-73bc-4c98-b1f8-afcd7a001579" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member_1f81de1b-ee66-4d08-bad8-c57b4a35a533" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_85366020-b607-4020-bf40-d9911bf9b95b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member_1f81de1b-ee66-4d08-bad8-c57b4a35a533" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member_e604c63b-eeb8-4ed4-90b2-a546fe2db0dd" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_85366020-b607-4020-bf40-d9911bf9b95b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member_e604c63b-eeb8-4ed4-90b2-a546fe2db0dd" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_shw_FairValueInputsLevel1AndLevel2Member_c384bbd4-ca8f-4f2c-ac28-de17e6ca8211" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#shw_FairValueInputsLevel1AndLevel2Member"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_85366020-b607-4020-bf40-d9911bf9b95b" xlink:to="loc_shw_FairValueInputsLevel1AndLevel2Member_c384bbd4-ca8f-4f2c-ac28-de17e6ca8211" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis_1f6e2d05-96fa-42dd-85c7-a37255c1a1d6" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_3cacdbc2-0c02-43db-aa6b-86080e6dae75" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis_1f6e2d05-96fa-42dd-85c7-a37255c1a1d6" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember_1f6e2d05-96fa-42dd-85c7-a37255c1a1d6_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis_1f6e2d05-96fa-42dd-85c7-a37255c1a1d6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember_1f6e2d05-96fa-42dd-85c7-a37255c1a1d6_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueDisclosureItemAmountsDomain_0703351f-409d-4eec-bf39-5c8f2c029d2a" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueDisclosureItemAmountsDomain"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis_1f6e2d05-96fa-42dd-85c7-a37255c1a1d6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueDisclosureItemAmountsDomain_0703351f-409d-4eec-bf39-5c8f2c029d2a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember_6c3a6478-4e94-44e1-8bef-daa99bf63c55" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueDisclosureItemAmountsDomain_0703351f-409d-4eec-bf39-5c8f2c029d2a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember_6c3a6478-4e94-44e1-8bef-daa99bf63c55" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember_184e3388-8c6d-4e0a-babf-222ca38222ab" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueDisclosureItemAmountsDomain_0703351f-409d-4eec-bf39-5c8f2c029d2a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember_184e3388-8c6d-4e0a-babf-222ca38222ab" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember_f27244c2-5aa2-4126-948b-e0b1b93c9b09" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueDisclosureItemAmountsDomain_0703351f-409d-4eec-bf39-5c8f2c029d2a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember_f27244c2-5aa2-4126-948b-e0b1b93c9b09" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_cfe95ca5-0bea-45bd-b91c-5688bef3ddd5" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_3cacdbc2-0c02-43db-aa6b-86080e6dae75" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_cfe95ca5-0bea-45bd-b91c-5688bef3ddd5" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_cfe95ca5-0bea-45bd-b91c-5688bef3ddd5_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_cfe95ca5-0bea-45bd-b91c-5688bef3ddd5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_cfe95ca5-0bea-45bd-b91c-5688bef3ddd5_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_1cae9af1-7fb4-4421-a40d-46bbc7126a3d" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_cfe95ca5-0bea-45bd-b91c-5688bef3ddd5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_1cae9af1-7fb4-4421-a40d-46bbc7126a3d" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_shw_PubliclyTradedDebtMember_0ffaf727-41d7-4f39-8346-775cfac97709" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#shw_PubliclyTradedDebtMember"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_1cae9af1-7fb4-4421-a40d-46bbc7126a3d" xlink:to="loc_shw_PubliclyTradedDebtMember_0ffaf727-41d7-4f39-8346-775cfac97709" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_shw_NonTradedDebtMember_fde6699b-842c-49f1-9fda-c78561ba43ad" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#shw_NonTradedDebtMember"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_1cae9af1-7fb4-4421-a40d-46bbc7126a3d" xlink:to="loc_shw_NonTradedDebtMember_fde6699b-842c-49f1-9fda-c78561ba43ad" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis_81ca0075-f9ae-4fcb-9a5a-8d83f29a6d50" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_3cacdbc2-0c02-43db-aa6b-86080e6dae75" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis_81ca0075-f9ae-4fcb-9a5a-8d83f29a6d50" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain_81ca0075-f9ae-4fcb-9a5a-8d83f29a6d50_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis_81ca0075-f9ae-4fcb-9a5a-8d83f29a6d50" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain_81ca0075-f9ae-4fcb-9a5a-8d83f29a6d50_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain_101a555a-e107-4ced-a802-e88d7b8e7e9d" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis_81ca0075-f9ae-4fcb-9a5a-8d83f29a6d50" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain_101a555a-e107-4ced-a802-e88d7b8e7e9d" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_shw_DeferredCompensationPlanAssetsMember_a280a76e-f159-483a-9d39-37ac03a23ba1" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#shw_DeferredCompensationPlanAssetsMember"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain_101a555a-e107-4ced-a802-e88d7b8e7e9d" xlink:to="loc_shw_DeferredCompensationPlanAssetsMember_a280a76e-f159-483a-9d39-37ac03a23ba1" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_shw_QualifiedReplacementPlanAssetsMember_737c951f-b8fa-4104-84cb-57a2c4231243" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#shw_QualifiedReplacementPlanAssetsMember"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_TransfersAndServicingOfFinancialInstrumentsTypesOfFinancialInstrumentsDomain_101a555a-e107-4ced-a802-e88d7b8e7e9d" xlink:to="loc_shw_QualifiedReplacementPlanAssetsMember_737c951f-b8fa-4104-84cb-57a2c4231243" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
</link:definitionLink>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/REVENUE" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#REVENUE"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/REVENUE" xlink:type="extended" id="ibaa3d79c72a84710ae472e977e8c3243_REVENUE"/>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/REVENUETables" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#REVENUETables"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/REVENUETables" xlink:type="extended" id="ia18c84541edc44c9894af0d7104301d1_REVENUETables"/>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/REVENUENarrativeDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#REVENUENarrativeDetails"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/REVENUENarrativeDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i1ed58d957aad4599995ec9223cd2e2d9_REVENUENarrativeDetails"/>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/REVENUEDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#REVENUEDetails"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/REVENUEDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i94c4d2c0aa114a8e9f3afcf88ce1a8e8_REVENUEDetails">
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NewAccountingPronouncementsOrChangeInAccountingPrincipleLineItems_f457c497-6766-491b-b71a-e865c9cc932d" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_NewAccountingPronouncementsOrChangeInAccountingPrincipleLineItems"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableRollforward_1834bc71-76cd-4956-8314-be39105b10e3" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableRollforward"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_NewAccountingPronouncementsOrChangeInAccountingPrincipleLineItems_f457c497-6766-491b-b71a-e865c9cc932d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableRollforward_1834bc71-76cd-4956-8314-be39105b10e3" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent_217b62ca-5099-4612-8ba6-da313b95f348" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableRollforward_1834bc71-76cd-4956-8314-be39105b10e3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent_217b62ca-5099-4612-8ba6-da313b95f348" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent_98e1a4b6-7d83-41cc-9b42-cd33dfae3959" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts_698334ff-0802-46c2-b746-2a7fd7825fe3" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableRollforward_1834bc71-76cd-4956-8314-be39105b10e3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts_698334ff-0802-46c2-b746-2a7fd7825fe3" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableWriteOffs_affeba1a-5e6e-4b67-a594-c06bbe0956e9" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableWriteOffs"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableRollforward_1834bc71-76cd-4956-8314-be39105b10e3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableWriteOffs_affeba1a-5e6e-4b67-a594-c06bbe0956e9" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent_1be0bf72-2ad2-417a-888b-8f3086a05943" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccountingStandardsUpdateExtensibleList_9a21c168-fc3d-4711-a0f7-fd25aa70a0bb" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_AccountingStandardsUpdateExtensibleList"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_NewAccountingPronouncementsOrChangeInAccountingPrincipleLineItems_f457c497-6766-491b-b71a-e865c9cc932d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AccountingStandardsUpdateExtensibleList_9a21c168-fc3d-4711-a0f7-fd25aa70a0bb" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NewAccountingPronouncementsOrChangeInAccountingPrincipleTable_ce55e570-b762-4a72-87a3-b2eaa0a6d59c" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_NewAccountingPronouncementsOrChangeInAccountingPrincipleTable"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_NewAccountingPronouncementsOrChangeInAccountingPrincipleLineItems_f457c497-6766-491b-b71a-e865c9cc932d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NewAccountingPronouncementsOrChangeInAccountingPrincipleTable_ce55e570-b762-4a72-87a3-b2eaa0a6d59c" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAxis_815cae65-b9a5-4c5d-a6be-6a770120e88f" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAxis"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_NewAccountingPronouncementsOrChangeInAccountingPrincipleTable_ce55e570-b762-4a72-87a3-b2eaa0a6d59c" xlink:to="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAxis_815cae65-b9a5-4c5d-a6be-6a770120e88f" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionDomain_815cae65-b9a5-4c5d-a6be-6a770120e88f_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionDomain"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAxis_815cae65-b9a5-4c5d-a6be-6a770120e88f" xlink:to="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionDomain_815cae65-b9a5-4c5d-a6be-6a770120e88f_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionDomain_f40ff79d-e60d-4214-b96b-46bc9fa132bf" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionDomain"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAxis_815cae65-b9a5-4c5d-a6be-6a770120e88f" xlink:to="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionDomain_f40ff79d-e60d-4214-b96b-46bc9fa132bf" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAdjustmentMember_934b07ab-0c7f-4446-be99-e94f8553b172" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAdjustmentMember"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionDomain_f40ff79d-e60d-4214-b96b-46bc9fa132bf" xlink:to="loc_srt_CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAdjustmentMember_934b07ab-0c7f-4446-be99-e94f8553b172" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
</link:definitionLink>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/OTHER" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#OTHER"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/OTHER" xlink:type="extended" id="ia938079bca48449498da19db3d90749d_OTHER"/>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/OTHERTables" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#OTHERTables"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/OTHERTables" xlink:type="extended" id="i23f263b791a04d558bc64b166c1b617e_OTHERTables"/>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/OTHEROtherGeneralExpenseNetDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#OTHEROtherGeneralExpenseNetDetails"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/OTHEROtherGeneralExpenseNetDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="iec357d00f4e545739c950189ef937cbe_OTHEROtherGeneralExpenseNetDetails"/>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/OTHEROtherIncomeExpenseNetDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#OTHEROtherIncomeExpenseNetDetails"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/OTHEROtherIncomeExpenseNetDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i36fdc7ca399246d4b48886526a7a72ab_OTHEROtherIncomeExpenseNetDetails"/>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/OTHERNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#OTHERNarrativeDetails"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/OTHERNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i0972b107790d49548c9d2819b7b34431_OTHERNarrativeDetails"/>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/INCOMETAXES" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#INCOMETAXES"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/INCOMETAXES" xlink:type="extended" id="i718de1adf0f249d9a6acf1fcc9efb17c_INCOMETAXES"/>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/INCOMETAXESDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#INCOMETAXESDetails"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/INCOMETAXESDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="id4270f21ab7847339d54c4ca6582bd1b_INCOMETAXESDetails"/>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/NETINCOMEPERSHARE" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#NETINCOMEPERSHARE"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/NETINCOMEPERSHARE" xlink:type="extended" id="i70708cd51fa94f5e8c1f14bface5e9ba_NETINCOMEPERSHARE"/>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/NETINCOMEPERSHARETables" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#NETINCOMEPERSHARETables"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/NETINCOMEPERSHARETables" xlink:type="extended" id="ief53c3b731fa4e19adb51319eb8a3da5_NETINCOMEPERSHARETables"/>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/NETINCOMEPERSHAREDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#NETINCOMEPERSHAREDetails"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/NETINCOMEPERSHAREDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i2b12c23270964784b70486435e8b8dc1_NETINCOMEPERSHAREDetails"/>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/REPORTABLESEGMENTINFORMATION" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#REPORTABLESEGMENTINFORMATION"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/REPORTABLESEGMENTINFORMATION" xlink:type="extended" id="i6dd76e0223f940e38c6f41d0869c02c8_REPORTABLESEGMENTINFORMATION"/>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/REPORTABLESEGMENTINFORMATIONTables" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#REPORTABLESEGMENTINFORMATIONTables"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/REPORTABLESEGMENTINFORMATIONTables" xlink:type="extended" id="i9160b4d0aea349f29745324484bd799d_REPORTABLESEGMENTINFORMATIONTables"/>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/REPORTABLESEGMENTINFORMATIONNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#REPORTABLESEGMENTINFORMATIONNarrativeDetails"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/REPORTABLESEGMENTINFORMATIONNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="ie48bf31d53744b159c41e3bcf6659e08_REPORTABLESEGMENTINFORMATIONNarrativeDetails">
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_52962637-0e7a-49ff-850a-ee0c5ac84d86" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NumberOfReportableSegments_0695f279-d34d-4680-82e8-bf9852e1f863" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_NumberOfReportableSegments"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_52962637-0e7a-49ff-850a-ee0c5ac84d86" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NumberOfReportableSegments_0695f279-d34d-4680-82e8-bf9852e1f863" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax_1d3c0ed8-dc22-4634-9ad2-046bbcd7b794" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_52962637-0e7a-49ff-850a-ee0c5ac84d86" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax_1d3c0ed8-dc22-4634-9ad2-046bbcd7b794" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NoncurrentAssets_1fbcdb68-cff4-4989-9466-910fd8394b47" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_NoncurrentAssets"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_52962637-0e7a-49ff-850a-ee0c5ac84d86" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NoncurrentAssets_1fbcdb68-cff4-4989-9466-910fd8394b47" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfBusiness_6f9824be-63f9-4516-ae2d-bae2bacfb2a2" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfBusiness"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_52962637-0e7a-49ff-850a-ee0c5ac84d86" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfBusiness_6f9824be-63f9-4516-ae2d-bae2bacfb2a2" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_ffee36d6-57c8-41b5-9de6-a696b926046e" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_52962637-0e7a-49ff-850a-ee0c5ac84d86" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_ffee36d6-57c8-41b5-9de6-a696b926046e" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_StatementGeographicalAxis_f55f88e9-f7e6-43b0-90b4-bdc040f2cc0e" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_StatementGeographicalAxis"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_ffee36d6-57c8-41b5-9de6-a696b926046e" xlink:to="loc_srt_StatementGeographicalAxis_f55f88e9-f7e6-43b0-90b4-bdc040f2cc0e" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain_f55f88e9-f7e6-43b0-90b4-bdc040f2cc0e_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_StatementGeographicalAxis_f55f88e9-f7e6-43b0-90b4-bdc040f2cc0e" xlink:to="loc_srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain_f55f88e9-f7e6-43b0-90b4-bdc040f2cc0e_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain_200fda22-02b8-4361-8675-65ec18b3dc84" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_StatementGeographicalAxis_f55f88e9-f7e6-43b0-90b4-bdc040f2cc0e" xlink:to="loc_srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain_200fda22-02b8-4361-8675-65ec18b3dc84" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NonUsMember_a06481f3-f7bd-4fab-a919-123424796fca" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_NonUsMember"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain_200fda22-02b8-4361-8675-65ec18b3dc84" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NonUsMember_a06481f3-f7bd-4fab-a919-123424796fca" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis_90524078-55b3-4bd9-9c79-0664ac9c0741" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_ffee36d6-57c8-41b5-9de6-a696b926046e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis_90524078-55b3-4bd9-9c79-0664ac9c0741" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsNameDomain_90524078-55b3-4bd9-9c79-0664ac9c0741_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsNameDomain"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis_90524078-55b3-4bd9-9c79-0664ac9c0741" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsNameDomain_90524078-55b3-4bd9-9c79-0664ac9c0741_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsNameDomain_977e62a4-cbba-4e41-85cd-d02c3fee7c68" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_DisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsNameDomain"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis_90524078-55b3-4bd9-9c79-0664ac9c0741" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsNameDomain_977e62a4-cbba-4e41-85cd-d02c3fee7c68" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_shw_WattylMember_12b7c7ae-d191-4b6a-ba69-f7c70869be6d" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#shw_WattylMember"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsNameDomain_977e62a4-cbba-4e41-85cd-d02c3fee7c68" xlink:to="loc_shw_WattylMember_12b7c7ae-d191-4b6a-ba69-f7c70869be6d" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
</link:definitionLink>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/REPORTABLESEGMENTINFORMATIONReportableSegmentInformationDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#REPORTABLESEGMENTINFORMATIONReportableSegmentInformationDetails"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/REPORTABLESEGMENTINFORMATIONReportableSegmentInformationDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="ibd42e9eb997647d79a3f6cd78d140a59_REPORTABLESEGMENTINFORMATIONReportableSegmentInformationDetails">
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_f4372753-76ce-44f4-85ed-6846b62449e6" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax_df39afb1-d113-4b37-a128-ad6640dce7e4" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_f4372753-76ce-44f4-85ed-6846b62449e6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax_df39afb1-d113-4b37-a128-ad6640dce7e4" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss_b890e972-ad09-4b5f-95d2-2efd22dc20d4" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_f4372753-76ce-44f4-85ed-6846b62449e6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss_b890e972-ad09-4b5f-95d2-2efd22dc20d4" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InterestExpense_8e5134d5-2f73-4663-a4e9-c776d754972b" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_InterestExpense"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_f4372753-76ce-44f4-85ed-6846b62449e6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InterestExpense_8e5134d5-2f73-4663-a4e9-c776d754972b" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense_040b0e3c-0667-48f9-ae59-9973dffa3639" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_f4372753-76ce-44f4-85ed-6846b62449e6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense_040b0e3c-0667-48f9-ae59-9973dffa3639" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments_252c447b-2298-4bb1-a1fd-7fa49da29e35" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_f4372753-76ce-44f4-85ed-6846b62449e6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments_252c447b-2298-4bb1-a1fd-7fa49da29e35" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_f4b40ce9-a920-41ae-97a4-7979f374aeb1" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_f4372753-76ce-44f4-85ed-6846b62449e6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_f4b40ce9-a920-41ae-97a4-7979f374aeb1" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_30fff1eb-cbfa-47c4-a1e7-5121d4b235aa" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_f4b40ce9-a920-41ae-97a4-7979f374aeb1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_30fff1eb-cbfa-47c4-a1e7-5121d4b235aa" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_30fff1eb-cbfa-47c4-a1e7-5121d4b235aa_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_SegmentDomain"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_30fff1eb-cbfa-47c4-a1e7-5121d4b235aa" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_30fff1eb-cbfa-47c4-a1e7-5121d4b235aa_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_6fd07a26-06d9-49bc-b044-88cf2fffcb06" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_SegmentDomain"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_30fff1eb-cbfa-47c4-a1e7-5121d4b235aa" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_6fd07a26-06d9-49bc-b044-88cf2fffcb06" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_shw_TheAmericasGroupMember_0b342224-d724-4e02-8f73-24f854d6066a" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#shw_TheAmericasGroupMember"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_6fd07a26-06d9-49bc-b044-88cf2fffcb06" xlink:to="loc_shw_TheAmericasGroupMember_0b342224-d724-4e02-8f73-24f854d6066a" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_shw_ConsumerBrandsGroupMember_3b48960a-cf23-4455-babf-dde886dc51d1" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#shw_ConsumerBrandsGroupMember"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_6fd07a26-06d9-49bc-b044-88cf2fffcb06" xlink:to="loc_shw_ConsumerBrandsGroupMember_3b48960a-cf23-4455-babf-dde886dc51d1" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_shw_PerformanceCoatingsGroupMember_ecc18ce5-2151-4f5f-9432-b79a74ae9a15" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#shw_PerformanceCoatingsGroupMember"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_6fd07a26-06d9-49bc-b044-88cf2fffcb06" xlink:to="loc_shw_PerformanceCoatingsGroupMember_ecc18ce5-2151-4f5f-9432-b79a74ae9a15" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis_47c135a3-cbe7-4177-821f-2f64da106ae6" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_f4b40ce9-a920-41ae-97a4-7979f374aeb1" xlink:to="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis_47c135a3-cbe7-4177-821f-2f64da106ae6" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_47c135a3-cbe7-4177-821f-2f64da106ae6_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis_47c135a3-cbe7-4177-821f-2f64da106ae6" xlink:to="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_47c135a3-cbe7-4177-821f-2f64da106ae6_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_55462531-5883-47ea-b346-b1c0aea87134" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis_47c135a3-cbe7-4177-821f-2f64da106ae6" xlink:to="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_55462531-5883-47ea-b346-b1c0aea87134" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CorporateNonSegmentMember_49e45a3f-3174-442f-abd6-9d0472670c61" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CorporateNonSegmentMember"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_55462531-5883-47ea-b346-b1c0aea87134" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CorporateNonSegmentMember_49e45a3f-3174-442f-abd6-9d0472670c61" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_shw_CorporateAndEliminationsMember_0e8deb5d-12ec-4067-8d5c-961783030e79" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#shw_CorporateAndEliminationsMember"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_55462531-5883-47ea-b346-b1c0aea87134" xlink:to="loc_shw_CorporateAndEliminationsMember_0e8deb5d-12ec-4067-8d5c-961783030e79" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IntersegmentEliminationMember_d980a687-523e-4d19-93dd-9999f0c1fe12" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_IntersegmentEliminationMember"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_55462531-5883-47ea-b346-b1c0aea87134" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IntersegmentEliminationMember_d980a687-523e-4d19-93dd-9999f0c1fe12" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember_802cf5d0-d38f-4e80-8c3f-06440cec6388" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_55462531-5883-47ea-b346-b1c0aea87134" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember_802cf5d0-d38f-4e80-8c3f-06440cec6388" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
</link:definitionLink>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/NONTRADEDINVESTMENTS" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#NONTRADEDINVESTMENTS"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/NONTRADEDINVESTMENTS" xlink:type="extended" id="i2ef70f6560b54f78836f9d46d7ff7806_NONTRADEDINVESTMENTS"/>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/NONTRADEDINVESTMENTSTables" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#NONTRADEDINVESTMENTSTables"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/NONTRADEDINVESTMENTSTables" xlink:type="extended" id="ic996bb0a5d3b486d87e4088418997b5c_NONTRADEDINVESTMENTSTables"/>
<link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.sherwin.com/role/NONTRADEDINVESTMENTSDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="shw-20210331.xsd#NONTRADEDINVESTMENTSDetails"/>
<link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.sherwin.com/role/NONTRADEDINVESTMENTSDetails" xlink:type="extended" id="i7c6dac2f825649179d84d64df9fcc90d_NONTRADEDINVESTMENTSDetails">
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityLineItems_8dbcc080-357a-4bb4-a033-6db2200d1f97" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityLineItems"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherAssets_2d71be82-447a-4886-92de-ae08abe8ef66" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_OtherAssets"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityLineItems_8dbcc080-357a-4bb4-a033-6db2200d1f97" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherAssets_2d71be82-447a-4886-92de-ae08abe8ef66" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesCurrent_8e70ff52-99ec-477b-a727-0f6754fe940c" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesCurrent"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityLineItems_8dbcc080-357a-4bb4-a033-6db2200d1f97" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesCurrent_8e70ff52-99ec-477b-a727-0f6754fe940c" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent_012844f1-29b6-478e-a2a3-a6544687438a" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityLineItems_8dbcc080-357a-4bb4-a033-6db2200d1f97" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent_012844f1-29b6-478e-a2a3-a6544687438a" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfVariableInterestEntitiesTable_dee54c4f-992e-49ae-9860-f8a96307aa80" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfVariableInterestEntitiesTable"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityLineItems_8dbcc080-357a-4bb4-a033-6db2200d1f97" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfVariableInterestEntitiesTable_dee54c4f-992e-49ae-9860-f8a96307aa80" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesAxis_c32f125e-a830-4790-a679-28744a79ffe1" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesAxis"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfVariableInterestEntitiesTable_dee54c4f-992e-49ae-9860-f8a96307aa80" xlink:to="loc_srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesAxis_c32f125e-a830-4790-a679-28744a79ffe1" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesDomain_c32f125e-a830-4790-a679-28744a79ffe1_default" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesDomain"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesAxis_c32f125e-a830-4790-a679-28744a79ffe1" xlink:to="loc_srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesDomain_c32f125e-a830-4790-a679-28744a79ffe1_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesDomain_c2d10665-6b87-433e-819f-c245d7309831" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2020/elts/srt-2020-01-31.xsd#srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesDomain"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesAxis_c32f125e-a830-4790-a679-28744a79ffe1" xlink:to="loc_srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesDomain_c2d10665-6b87-433e-819f-c245d7309831" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
<link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityNotPrimaryBeneficiaryMember_4c583499-1983-42d9-9a19-8f51328eaf83" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2020/elts/us-gaap-2020-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityNotPrimaryBeneficiaryMember"/>
<link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesDomain_c2d10665-6b87-433e-819f-c245d7309831" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityNotPrimaryBeneficiaryMember_4c583499-1983-42d9-9a19-8f51328eaf83" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
</link:definitionLink>
</link:linkbase>

2 Subsequent Filings that Reference this Filing

  As Of               Filer                 Filing    For·On·As Docs:Size             Issuer                      Filing Agent

11/10/21  Sherwin-Williams Co.              424B5                  1:572K                                   Donnelley … Solutions/FA
11/08/21  Sherwin-Williams Co.              424B5                  1:568K                                   Donnelley … Solutions/FA

1 Previous Filing that this Filing References

  As Of               Filer                 Filing    For·On·As Docs:Size             Issuer                      Filing Agent

 3/03/21  Sherwin-Williams Co.              8-K:5,9     3/03/21   11:146K                                   Donnelley … Solutions/FA
↑Top
Filing Submission 0000089800-21-000016   –   Alternative Formats (Word / Rich Text, HTML, Plain Text, et al.)
Copyright © 2024 Fran Finnegan & Company LLC – All Rights Reserved.
About — Privacy — Redactions — Help — Tue., Apr. 30, 11:02:20.1am ET