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

<!--XBRL Document Created with the Workiva Platform-->
<!--Copyright 2026 Workiva-->
<!--r:019e26da-2c3a-7862-88e2-bb0a1a65c86d,g:e2f6fae8-9d71-440c-baa6-007c1b3b9788-->
<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.equitylifestyle.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsofIncomeandComprehensiveIncome" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#ConsolidatedStatementsofIncomeandComprehensiveIncome"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.equitylifestyle.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsofIncomeandComprehensiveIncome" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_019e26da-2de3-7161-8d25-63bb78510ffc" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StatementLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementTable_019e26da-2de3-7685-b81c-f0ef1e2c314f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StatementTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_019e26da-2de3-7161-8d25-63bb78510ffc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementTable_019e26da-2de3-7685-b81c-f0ef1e2c314f" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_019e26da-2de3-7992-8e46-ccae754da4b6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ProductOrServiceAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementTable_019e26da-2de3-7685-b81c-f0ef1e2c314f" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_019e26da-2de3-7992-8e46-ccae754da4b6" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019e26da-2de3-7992-8e46-ccae754da4b6_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_019e26da-2de3-7992-8e46-ccae754da4b6" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019e26da-2de3-7992-8e46-ccae754da4b6_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019e26da-2de3-75bf-8464-7b6348f11268" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_019e26da-2de3-7992-8e46-ccae754da4b6" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019e26da-2de3-75bf-8464-7b6348f11268" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_RightToUseAnnualPaymentMember_019e26da-2de3-7863-b253-4d1784476567" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_RightToUseAnnualPaymentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019e26da-2de3-75bf-8464-7b6348f11268" xlink:to="loc_els_RightToUseAnnualPaymentMember_019e26da-2de3-7863-b253-4d1784476567" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_RightToUseContractsCurrentMember_019e26da-2de3-7fa9-94bf-fe8919b55a3f" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_RightToUseContractsCurrentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019e26da-2de3-75bf-8464-7b6348f11268" xlink:to="loc_els_RightToUseContractsCurrentMember_019e26da-2de3-7fa9-94bf-fe8919b55a3f" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_HomeSalesBrokeredResalesAndAncillaryServicesMember_019e26da-2de3-708a-81fe-8a9e3d4bc0b2" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_HomeSalesBrokeredResalesAndAncillaryServicesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019e26da-2de3-75bf-8464-7b6348f11268" xlink:to="loc_els_HomeSalesBrokeredResalesAndAncillaryServicesMember_019e26da-2de3-708a-81fe-8a9e3d4bc0b2" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ManagementServiceMember_019e26da-2de3-768f-8005-59d0aa22024b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ManagementServiceMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019e26da-2de3-75bf-8464-7b6348f11268" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ManagementServiceMember_019e26da-2de3-768f-8005-59d0aa22024b" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevenuesAbstract_019e26da-2de3-737c-8a12-c3b6cb02ccaf" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RevenuesAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_019e26da-2de3-7161-8d25-63bb78510ffc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevenuesAbstract_019e26da-2de3-737c-8a12-c3b6cb02ccaf" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OperatingLeaseLeaseIncome_019e26da-2de3-79e4-891f-3b310f4c99df" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OperatingLeaseLeaseIncome"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RevenuesAbstract_019e26da-2de3-737c-8a12-c3b6cb02ccaf" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OperatingLeaseLeaseIncome_019e26da-2de3-79e4-891f-3b310f4c99df" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax_019e26da-2de3-78c7-8dac-c44f0383db26" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RevenuesAbstract_019e26da-2de3-737c-8a12-c3b6cb02ccaf" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax_019e26da-2de3-78c7-8dac-c44f0383db26" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherIncome_019e26da-2de3-7577-9ab4-49c9420bdc63" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OtherIncome"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RevenuesAbstract_019e26da-2de3-737c-8a12-c3b6cb02ccaf" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherIncome_019e26da-2de3-7577-9ab4-49c9420bdc63" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InterestIncomeOperating_019e26da-2de3-7538-a34e-0e830b5041b8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_InterestIncomeOperating"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RevenuesAbstract_019e26da-2de3-737c-8a12-c3b6cb02ccaf" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InterestIncomeOperating_019e26da-2de3-7538-a34e-0e830b5041b8" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeNet_019e26da-2de3-7edf-8289-5cbd95492ab3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeNet"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RevenuesAbstract_019e26da-2de3-737c-8a12-c3b6cb02ccaf" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeNet_019e26da-2de3-7edf-8289-5cbd95492ab3" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_Revenues_019e26da-2de3-7b23-af61-f9e086421c97" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_Revenues"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RevenuesAbstract_019e26da-2de3-737c-8a12-c3b6cb02ccaf" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_Revenues_019e26da-2de3-7b23-af61-f9e086421c97" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CostsAndExpensesAbstract_019e26da-2de3-74bf-8bc1-cc24b9152860" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CostsAndExpensesAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_019e26da-2de3-7161-8d25-63bb78510ffc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CostsAndExpensesAbstract_019e26da-2de3-74bf-8bc1-cc24b9152860" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CostOfOtherPropertyOperatingExpense_019e26da-2de3-77a7-a8e3-b03ae90544d9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CostOfOtherPropertyOperatingExpense"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CostsAndExpensesAbstract_019e26da-2de3-74bf-8bc1-cc24b9152860" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CostOfOtherPropertyOperatingExpense_019e26da-2de3-77a7-a8e3-b03ae90544d9" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RealEstateTaxExpense_019e26da-2de3-7803-b0d0-52a102e29723" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RealEstateTaxExpense"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CostsAndExpensesAbstract_019e26da-2de3-74bf-8bc1-cc24b9152860" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RealEstateTaxExpense_019e26da-2de3-7803-b0d0-52a102e29723" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SellingAndMarketingExpense_019e26da-2de3-7eec-8e78-78eafe6e18ff" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SellingAndMarketingExpense"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CostsAndExpensesAbstract_019e26da-2de3-74bf-8bc1-cc24b9152860" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SellingAndMarketingExpense_019e26da-2de3-7eec-8e78-78eafe6e18ff" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold_019e26da-2de3-7017-8b23-e13b744d400d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CostsAndExpensesAbstract_019e26da-2de3-74bf-8bc1-cc24b9152860" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold_019e26da-2de3-7017-8b23-e13b744d400d" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DepreciationAmortizationAndAccretionNet_019e26da-2de3-7137-b5ff-1b32eb5c662b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DepreciationAmortizationAndAccretionNet"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CostsAndExpensesAbstract_019e26da-2de3-74bf-8bc1-cc24b9152860" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DepreciationAmortizationAndAccretionNet_019e26da-2de3-7137-b5ff-1b32eb5c662b" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_HomeSellingExpensesAndAncillaryOperatingExpenses_019e26da-2de3-770e-9724-82222766a5c9" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_HomeSellingExpensesAndAncillaryOperatingExpenses"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CostsAndExpensesAbstract_019e26da-2de3-74bf-8bc1-cc24b9152860" xlink:to="loc_els_HomeSellingExpensesAndAncillaryOperatingExpenses_019e26da-2de3-770e-9724-82222766a5c9" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense_019e26da-2de3-7ef8-b602-f328228eff7f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CostsAndExpensesAbstract_019e26da-2de3-74bf-8bc1-cc24b9152860" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense_019e26da-2de3-7ef8-b602-f328228eff7f" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_CasualtyRelatedChargesRecoveriesNet_019e26da-2de3-7a53-bcc6-0de752b1c5b1" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_CasualtyRelatedChargesRecoveriesNet"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CostsAndExpensesAbstract_019e26da-2de3-74bf-8bc1-cc24b9152860" xlink:to="loc_els_CasualtyRelatedChargesRecoveriesNet_019e26da-2de3-7a53-bcc6-0de752b1c5b1" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherOperatingIncomeExpenseNet_019e26da-2de3-79d2-b677-7f25f108b2d0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OtherOperatingIncomeExpenseNet"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CostsAndExpensesAbstract_019e26da-2de3-74bf-8bc1-cc24b9152860" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherOperatingIncomeExpenseNet_019e26da-2de3-79d2-b677-7f25f108b2d0" xlink:type="arc" order="9"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InterestExpenseDebt_019e26da-2de3-749b-bc0a-6285c05e667c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_InterestExpenseDebt"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CostsAndExpensesAbstract_019e26da-2de3-74bf-8bc1-cc24b9152860" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InterestExpenseDebt_019e26da-2de3-749b-bc0a-6285c05e667c" xlink:type="arc" order="10"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CostsAndExpenses_019e26da-2de3-7064-9092-93f56a29e90c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CostsAndExpenses"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CostsAndExpensesAbstract_019e26da-2de3-74bf-8bc1-cc24b9152860" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CostsAndExpenses_019e26da-2de3-7064-9092-93f56a29e90c" xlink:type="arc" order="11"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss_019e26da-2de3-7e9a-ab5f-ccfbad125eb8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_019e26da-2de3-7161-8d25-63bb78510ffc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss_019e26da-2de3-7e9a-ab5f-ccfbad125eb8" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments_019e3a6f-2cd2-79bb-81d1-861f1df2ebba" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_019e26da-2de3-7161-8d25-63bb78510ffc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments_019e3a6f-2cd2-79bb-81d1-861f1df2ebba" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments_019e26da-2de3-731b-8af8-59f23483a935" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_019e26da-2de3-7161-8d25-63bb78510ffc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments_019e26da-2de3-731b-8af8-59f23483a935" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ProfitLoss_019e26da-2de3-7362-bd26-26d59e94a713" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ProfitLoss"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_019e26da-2de3-7161-8d25-63bb78510ffc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ProfitLoss_019e26da-2de3-7362-bd26-26d59e94a713" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NoncontrollingInterestInNetIncomeLossOperatingPartnershipsRedeemable_019e26da-2de3-7618-8346-7f48f474bc1f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_NoncontrollingInterestInNetIncomeLossOperatingPartnershipsRedeemable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_019e26da-2de3-7161-8d25-63bb78510ffc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NoncontrollingInterestInNetIncomeLossOperatingPartnershipsRedeemable_019e26da-2de3-7618-8346-7f48f474bc1f" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RedeemablePreferredStockDividends_019e3a6f-7ea2-7a62-819b-c484be8bbbbc" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RedeemablePreferredStockDividends"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_019e26da-2de3-7161-8d25-63bb78510ffc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RedeemablePreferredStockDividends_019e3a6f-7ea2-7a62-819b-c484be8bbbbc" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic_019e26da-2de3-7045-a2c0-95ab80fc810b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_019e26da-2de3-7161-8d25-63bb78510ffc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic_019e26da-2de3-7045-a2c0-95ab80fc810b" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ProfitLoss_019e26da-2de3-7beb-9d3e-f1ebbcff355c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ProfitLoss"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPeriodIncreaseDecreaseAbstract_019e26da-2de3-7122-b47d-c93b1ed2600f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPeriodIncreaseDecreaseAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_019e26da-2de3-7161-8d25-63bb78510ffc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPeriodIncreaseDecreaseAbstract_019e26da-2de3-7122-b47d-c93b1ed2600f" xlink:type="arc" order="10"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDerivativeExcludedComponentIncreaseDecreaseAfterAdjustmentsAndTax_019e26da-2de3-74d7-a0ef-86656d307701" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDerivativeExcludedComponentIncreaseDecreaseAfterAdjustmentsAndTax"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPeriodIncreaseDecreaseAbstract_019e26da-2de3-7122-b47d-c93b1ed2600f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDerivativeExcludedComponentIncreaseDecreaseAfterAdjustmentsAndTax_019e26da-2de3-74d7-a0ef-86656d307701" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest_019e26da-2de3-7a7b-9780-0d0441a0605a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_019e26da-2de3-7161-8d25-63bb78510ffc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest_019e26da-2de3-7a7b-9780-0d0441a0605a" xlink:type="arc" order="11"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest_019e26da-2de3-78b0-8196-ae3ea82781c8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_019e26da-2de3-7161-8d25-63bb78510ffc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest_019e26da-2de3-78b0-8196-ae3ea82781c8" xlink:type="arc" order="12"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax_019e26da-2de3-7adf-84be-a50db5848313" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_019e26da-2de3-7161-8d25-63bb78510ffc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax_019e26da-2de3-7adf-84be-a50db5848313" xlink:type="arc" order="13"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic_019e26da-2de3-7897-be8a-304aa30448c9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_019e26da-2de3-7161-8d25-63bb78510ffc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic_019e26da-2de3-7897-be8a-304aa30448c9" xlink:type="arc" order="14"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted_019e26da-2de3-7c47-a346-0aa420be07b8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_019e26da-2de3-7161-8d25-63bb78510ffc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted_019e26da-2de3-7c47-a346-0aa420be07b8" xlink:type="arc" order="15"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic_019e26da-2de3-707b-92d0-22568cdea548" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_019e26da-2de3-7161-8d25-63bb78510ffc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic_019e26da-2de3-707b-92d0-22568cdea548" xlink:type="arc" order="16"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding_019e26da-2de3-7e66-a7c4-012ea9f7f623" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_019e26da-2de3-7161-8d25-63bb78510ffc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding_019e26da-2de3-7e66-a7c4-012ea9f7f623" xlink:type="arc" order="17"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.equitylifestyle.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsofChangesinEquity" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#ConsolidatedStatementsofChangesinEquity"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.equitylifestyle.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsofChangesinEquity" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_019e26da-2de3-76d3-9938-6088a6859cad" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StatementLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementTable_019e26da-2de3-7521-be53-c07f92c8d5c9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StatementTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_019e26da-2de3-76d3-9938-6088a6859cad" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementTable_019e26da-2de3-7521-be53-c07f92c8d5c9" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_019e26da-2de3-779c-8c3d-123303a37128" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementTable_019e26da-2de3-7521-be53-c07f92c8d5c9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_019e26da-2de3-779c-8c3d-123303a37128" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_019e26da-2de3-779c-8c3d-123303a37128_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_019e26da-2de3-779c-8c3d-123303a37128" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_019e26da-2de3-779c-8c3d-123303a37128_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_019e26da-2de3-7a3d-b76c-854fcd0516e8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_019e26da-2de3-779c-8c3d-123303a37128" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_019e26da-2de3-7a3d-b76c-854fcd0516e8" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockMember_019e26da-2de3-7c32-b8bd-d6c71552546b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_019e26da-2de3-7a3d-b76c-854fcd0516e8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockMember_019e26da-2de3-7c32-b8bd-d6c71552546b" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember_019e26da-2de3-797b-a250-5796de85a09d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_019e26da-2de3-7a3d-b76c-854fcd0516e8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember_019e26da-2de3-797b-a250-5796de85a09d" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PreferredStockMember_019e26da-2de3-7657-9d34-cff886ca0485" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_PreferredStockMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_019e26da-2de3-7a3d-b76c-854fcd0516e8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PreferredStockMember_019e26da-2de3-7657-9d34-cff886ca0485" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedDistributionsInExcessOfNetIncomeMember_019e26da-2de3-7368-9a4c-d55d0706853c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AccumulatedDistributionsInExcessOfNetIncomeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_019e26da-2de3-7a3d-b76c-854fcd0516e8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedDistributionsInExcessOfNetIncomeMember_019e26da-2de3-7368-9a4c-d55d0706853c" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember_019e26da-2de3-70d8-ba2c-fef0f23e4027" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_019e26da-2de3-7a3d-b76c-854fcd0516e8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember_019e26da-2de3-70d8-ba2c-fef0f23e4027" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_NoncontrollingInterestOfCommonUnitsMember_019e26da-2de3-7ba5-8be9-799e721f7f24" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_NoncontrollingInterestOfCommonUnitsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_019e26da-2de3-7a3d-b76c-854fcd0516e8" xlink:to="loc_els_NoncontrollingInterestOfCommonUnitsMember_019e26da-2de3-7ba5-8be9-799e721f7f24" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019e26da-2de3-7828-8b75-f469a56f6c91" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_019e26da-2de3-76d3-9938-6088a6859cad" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019e26da-2de3-7828-8b75-f469a56f6c91" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest_019e26da-2de3-7013-aacc-9c70affa18eb" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019e26da-2de3-7828-8b75-f469a56f6c91" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest_019e26da-2de3-7013-aacc-9c70affa18eb" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueConversionOfConvertibleSecurities_019e26da-2de3-7ba5-8db5-602134bbcf28" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueConversionOfConvertibleSecurities"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019e26da-2de3-7828-8b75-f469a56f6c91" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueConversionOfConvertibleSecurities_019e26da-2de3-7ba5-8db5-602134bbcf28" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueEmployeeStockPurchasePlan_019e26da-2de3-7c85-ab5e-caf186fef7e6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueEmployeeStockPurchasePlan"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019e26da-2de3-7828-8b75-f469a56f6c91" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueEmployeeStockPurchasePlan_019e26da-2de3-7c85-ab5e-caf186fef7e6" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue_019e26da-2de3-7474-9eb1-4157a197bf6e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019e26da-2de3-7828-8b75-f469a56f6c91" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue_019e26da-2de3-7474-9eb1-4157a197bf6e" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodValue_019e26da-2de3-7960-8e96-b86f8271d72f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019e26da-2de3-7828-8b75-f469a56f6c91" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodValue_019e26da-2de3-7960-8e96-b86f8271d72f" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_AdjustmentForCommonUnitholdersInOperatingPartnership_019e26da-2de3-731b-9bb5-b9465fc3de12" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_AdjustmentForCommonUnitholdersInOperatingPartnership"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019e26da-2de3-7828-8b75-f469a56f6c91" xlink:to="loc_els_AdjustmentForCommonUnitholdersInOperatingPartnership_019e26da-2de3-731b-9bb5-b9465fc3de12" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDerivativeExcludedComponentIncreaseDecreaseAfterAdjustmentsAndTax_019e26da-2de3-7f4f-9c31-09b0f013d7e5" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDerivativeExcludedComponentIncreaseDecreaseAfterAdjustmentsAndTax"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019e26da-2de3-7828-8b75-f469a56f6c91" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDerivativeExcludedComponentIncreaseDecreaseAfterAdjustmentsAndTax_019e26da-2de3-7f4f-9c31-09b0f013d7e5" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss_019e26da-2de3-74b8-9544-30bf2f202f63" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019e26da-2de3-7828-8b75-f469a56f6c91" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss_019e26da-2de3-74b8-9544-30bf2f202f63" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_Dividends_019e26da-2de3-7ea8-a2f5-7969c112b128" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_Dividends"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019e26da-2de3-7828-8b75-f469a56f6c91" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_Dividends_019e26da-2de3-7ea8-a2f5-7969c112b128" xlink:type="arc" order="9"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalOther_019e26da-2de3-7802-b815-bf45eff9686e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalOther"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019e26da-2de3-7828-8b75-f469a56f6c91" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalOther_019e26da-2de3-7802-b815-bf45eff9686e" xlink:type="arc" order="10"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest_019e26da-2de3-7812-80dc-2a1cd37affba" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.equitylifestyle.com/role/OrganizationandBasisofPresentationDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#OrganizationandBasisofPresentationDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.equitylifestyle.com/role/OrganizationandBasisofPresentationDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherOwnershipInterestsLineItems_019e26da-2de3-7e92-8dd3-37cbac2c7121" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OtherOwnershipInterestsLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfOtherOwnershipInterestsTable_019e26da-2de3-7595-b9f4-436080d5d648" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfOtherOwnershipInterestsTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_OtherOwnershipInterestsLineItems_019e26da-2de3-7e92-8dd3-37cbac2c7121" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfOtherOwnershipInterestsTable_019e26da-2de3-7595-b9f4-436080d5d648" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_OwnershipAxis_019e26da-2de3-7eb0-a395-16994c15d0eb" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_OwnershipAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfOtherOwnershipInterestsTable_019e26da-2de3-7595-b9f4-436080d5d648" xlink:to="loc_srt_OwnershipAxis_019e26da-2de3-7eb0-a395-16994c15d0eb" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_OwnershipDomain_019e26da-2de3-7eb0-a395-16994c15d0eb_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_OwnershipDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_OwnershipAxis_019e26da-2de3-7eb0-a395-16994c15d0eb" xlink:to="loc_srt_OwnershipDomain_019e26da-2de3-7eb0-a395-16994c15d0eb_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_OwnershipDomain_019e26da-2de3-70fe-8ffd-d98d917105dd" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_OwnershipDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_OwnershipAxis_019e26da-2de3-7eb0-a395-16994c15d0eb" xlink:to="loc_srt_OwnershipDomain_019e26da-2de3-70fe-8ffd-d98d917105dd" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_OperatingPartnershipMember_019e26da-2de3-7074-b671-064205a90483" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_OperatingPartnershipMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_OwnershipDomain_019e26da-2de3-70fe-8ffd-d98d917105dd" xlink:to="loc_els_OperatingPartnershipMember_019e26da-2de3-7074-b671-064205a90483" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_AssetAcquisitionPercentageofSharesAcquired_019e26da-2de3-7597-b92c-3c2a3cd63550" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_AssetAcquisitionPercentageofSharesAcquired"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_OtherOwnershipInterestsLineItems_019e26da-2de3-7e92-8dd3-37cbac2c7121" xlink:to="loc_els_AssetAcquisitionPercentageofSharesAcquired_019e26da-2de3-7597-b92c-3c2a3cd63550" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.equitylifestyle.com/role/SummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#SummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesNarrativeDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.equitylifestyle.com/role/SummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NewAccountingPronouncementsOrChangeInAccountingPrincipleLineItems_019e26da-2de3-731d-8a6e-fbd6b28f3d81" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_NewAccountingPronouncementsOrChangeInAccountingPrincipleLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NewAccountingPronouncementsOrChangeInAccountingPrincipleTable_019e26da-2de3-72ba-8ffa-d24248bca74e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_NewAccountingPronouncementsOrChangeInAccountingPrincipleTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_NewAccountingPronouncementsOrChangeInAccountingPrincipleLineItems_019e26da-2de3-731d-8a6e-fbd6b28f3d81" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NewAccountingPronouncementsOrChangeInAccountingPrincipleTable_019e26da-2de3-72ba-8ffa-d24248bca74e" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019e26da-2de3-7ee2-be44-65a028146798" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_RangeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_NewAccountingPronouncementsOrChangeInAccountingPrincipleTable_019e26da-2de3-72ba-8ffa-d24248bca74e" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019e26da-2de3-7ee2-be44-65a028146798" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeMember_019e26da-2de3-7ee2-be44-65a028146798_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_RangeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019e26da-2de3-7ee2-be44-65a028146798" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeMember_019e26da-2de3-7ee2-be44-65a028146798_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeMember_019e26da-2de3-7dca-b6b5-f10780724597" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_RangeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019e26da-2de3-7ee2-be44-65a028146798" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeMember_019e26da-2de3-7dca-b6b5-f10780724597" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_MinimumMember_019e26da-2de3-7620-9b28-24255c3dc79a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_MinimumMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeMember_019e26da-2de3-7dca-b6b5-f10780724597" xlink:to="loc_srt_MinimumMember_019e26da-2de3-7620-9b28-24255c3dc79a" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_MaximumMember_019e26da-2de3-7471-9d05-89bce063d5cf" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_MaximumMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeMember_019e26da-2de3-7dca-b6b5-f10780724597" xlink:to="loc_srt_MaximumMember_019e26da-2de3-7471-9d05-89bce063d5cf" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentNonconsolidatedInvesteeAxis_019e26da-2de3-720c-96da-97e43434363a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentNonconsolidatedInvesteeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_NewAccountingPronouncementsOrChangeInAccountingPrincipleTable_019e26da-2de3-72ba-8ffa-d24248bca74e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentNonconsolidatedInvesteeAxis_019e26da-2de3-720c-96da-97e43434363a" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentNonconsolidatedInvesteeDomain_019e26da-2de3-720c-96da-97e43434363a_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentNonconsolidatedInvesteeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentNonconsolidatedInvesteeAxis_019e26da-2de3-720c-96da-97e43434363a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentNonconsolidatedInvesteeDomain_019e26da-2de3-720c-96da-97e43434363a_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentNonconsolidatedInvesteeDomain_019e26da-2de3-77ad-a48c-f8b0d3e4e192" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentNonconsolidatedInvesteeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentNonconsolidatedInvesteeAxis_019e26da-2de3-720c-96da-97e43434363a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentNonconsolidatedInvesteeDomain_019e26da-2de3-77ad-a48c-f8b0d3e4e192" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_RVCFinancingMember_019e26da-2de3-7113-af7b-8aacd64430db" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_RVCFinancingMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentNonconsolidatedInvesteeDomain_019e26da-2de3-77ad-a48c-f8b0d3e4e192" xlink:to="loc_els_RVCFinancingMember_019e26da-2de3-7113-af7b-8aacd64430db" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionAxis_019eee94-1fa1-71f9-9889-98f9bb264a1c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_NewAccountingPronouncementsOrChangeInAccountingPrincipleTable_019e26da-2de3-72ba-8ffa-d24248bca74e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionAxis_019eee94-1fa1-71f9-9889-98f9bb264a1c" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionDomain_019eee94-1fa1-71f9-9889-98f9bb264a1c_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionAxis_019eee94-1fa1-71f9-9889-98f9bb264a1c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionDomain_019eee94-1fa1-71f9-9889-98f9bb264a1c_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionDomain_019eee94-1fa1-736a-ac42-39900b501d23" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionAxis_019eee94-1fa1-71f9-9889-98f9bb264a1c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionDomain_019eee94-1fa1-736a-ac42-39900b501d23" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_RVCFinancingMember_019eee94-4fa7-74f9-9906-ebfa6acad5b9" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_RVCFinancingMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionDomain_019eee94-1fa1-736a-ac42-39900b501d23" xlink:to="loc_els_RVCFinancingMember_019eee94-4fa7-74f9-9906-ebfa6acad5b9" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_UnusualOrInfrequentItemAxis_019e8b0d-faf8-791c-a1d2-a703604e1573" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_UnusualOrInfrequentItemAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_NewAccountingPronouncementsOrChangeInAccountingPrincipleTable_019e26da-2de3-72ba-8ffa-d24248bca74e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_UnusualOrInfrequentItemAxis_019e8b0d-faf8-791c-a1d2-a703604e1573" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_UnusualOrInfrequentItemDomain_019e8b0d-faf8-791c-a1d2-a703604e1573_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_UnusualOrInfrequentItemDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_UnusualOrInfrequentItemAxis_019e8b0d-faf8-791c-a1d2-a703604e1573" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_UnusualOrInfrequentItemDomain_019e8b0d-faf8-791c-a1d2-a703604e1573_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_UnusualOrInfrequentItemDomain_019e8b0d-faf8-7161-8617-d69f22ceb537" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_UnusualOrInfrequentItemDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_UnusualOrInfrequentItemAxis_019e8b0d-faf8-791c-a1d2-a703604e1573" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_UnusualOrInfrequentItemDomain_019e8b0d-faf8-7161-8617-d69f22ceb537" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_HurricaneIanMember_019e8b0e-297b-712e-808c-bf497e300239" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_HurricaneIanMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_UnusualOrInfrequentItemDomain_019e8b0d-faf8-7161-8617-d69f22ceb537" xlink:to="loc_els_HurricaneIanMember_019e8b0e-297b-712e-808c-bf497e300239" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LessorOperatingLeaseTermOfContract_019e26da-2de3-70b0-9f5d-06b14b38c2bf" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LessorOperatingLeaseTermOfContract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_NewAccountingPronouncementsOrChangeInAccountingPrincipleLineItems_019e26da-2de3-731d-8a6e-fbd6b28f3d81" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LessorOperatingLeaseTermOfContract_019e26da-2de3-70b0-9f5d-06b14b38c2bf" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_ContractWithCustomerProductSubscriptionTerm_019e26da-2de3-7d3a-b810-5aca6aed61ca" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_ContractWithCustomerProductSubscriptionTerm"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_NewAccountingPronouncementsOrChangeInAccountingPrincipleLineItems_019e26da-2de3-731d-8a6e-fbd6b28f3d81" xlink:to="loc_els_ContractWithCustomerProductSubscriptionTerm_019e26da-2de3-7d3a-b810-5aca6aed61ca" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_EstimatedMembershipUpgradeContractTerm_019e26da-2de3-7ba3-96e3-67e7425f7dc3" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_EstimatedMembershipUpgradeContractTerm"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_NewAccountingPronouncementsOrChangeInAccountingPrincipleLineItems_019e26da-2de3-731d-8a6e-fbd6b28f3d81" xlink:to="loc_els_EstimatedMembershipUpgradeContractTerm_019e26da-2de3-7ba3-96e3-67e7425f7dc3" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedCash_019e26da-2de3-7d68-852e-6a4523c1de1f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RestrictedCash"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_NewAccountingPronouncementsOrChangeInAccountingPrincipleLineItems_019e26da-2de3-731d-8a6e-fbd6b28f3d81" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedCash_019e26da-2de3-7d68-852e-6a4523c1de1f" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NotesReceivableNet_019e26da-2de3-7a84-a79a-988096e69ae2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_NotesReceivableNet"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_NewAccountingPronouncementsOrChangeInAccountingPrincipleLineItems_019e26da-2de3-731d-8a6e-fbd6b28f3d81" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NotesReceivableNet_019e26da-2de3-7a84-a79a-988096e69ae2" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_AssetAcquisitionVotingEquityInterestAcquiredPercentage_019eee94-1fa1-7c4d-b100-fd97a275e6bc" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_AssetAcquisitionVotingEquityInterestAcquiredPercentage"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_NewAccountingPronouncementsOrChangeInAccountingPrincipleLineItems_019e26da-2de3-731d-8a6e-fbd6b28f3d81" xlink:to="loc_els_AssetAcquisitionVotingEquityInterestAcquiredPercentage_019eee94-1fa1-7c4d-b100-fd97a275e6bc" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_UnusualOrInfrequentItemLossGross_019e26da-2de3-7219-8263-e4167636ba33" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_UnusualOrInfrequentItemLossGross"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_NewAccountingPronouncementsOrChangeInAccountingPrincipleLineItems_019e26da-2de3-731d-8a6e-fbd6b28f3d81" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_UnusualOrInfrequentItemLossGross_019e26da-2de3-7219-8263-e4167636ba33" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_UnusualOrInfrequentItemOrBothInsuranceRecoveryAccrual_019e26da-2de3-72b9-8ad0-df5c22350da2" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_UnusualOrInfrequentItemOrBothInsuranceRecoveryAccrual"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_NewAccountingPronouncementsOrChangeInAccountingPrincipleLineItems_019e26da-2de3-731d-8a6e-fbd6b28f3d81" xlink:to="loc_els_UnusualOrInfrequentItemOrBothInsuranceRecoveryAccrual_019e26da-2de3-72b9-8ad0-df5c22350da2" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InsuranceRecoveries_019f7a1b-7aa0-7de7-9757-aedf8c86f480" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_InsuranceRecoveries"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_NewAccountingPronouncementsOrChangeInAccountingPrincipleLineItems_019e26da-2de3-731d-8a6e-fbd6b28f3d81" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InsuranceRecoveries_019f7a1b-7aa0-7de7-9757-aedf8c86f480" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_UnusualOrInfrequentItemInsuranceProceeds_019e26da-2de3-7453-bea6-6ac483a1d0ce" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_UnusualOrInfrequentItemInsuranceProceeds"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_NewAccountingPronouncementsOrChangeInAccountingPrincipleLineItems_019e26da-2de3-731d-8a6e-fbd6b28f3d81" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_UnusualOrInfrequentItemInsuranceProceeds_019e26da-2de3-7453-bea6-6ac483a1d0ce" xlink:type="arc" order="9"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.equitylifestyle.com/role/CommonStockandOtherEquityRelatedTransactionsNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#CommonStockandOtherEquityRelatedTransactionsNarrativeDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.equitylifestyle.com/role/CommonStockandOtherEquityRelatedTransactionsNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockLineItems_019e26da-2de3-7dfe-9343-1b7bfda6724a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ClassOfStockLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfStockByClassTable_019e26da-2de3-7d22-991d-3f124edb5def" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfStockByClassTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockLineItems_019e26da-2de3-7dfe-9343-1b7bfda6724a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfStockByClassTable_019e26da-2de3-7d22-991d-3f124edb5def" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SubsidiarySaleOfStockAxis_019e26da-2de3-7096-acab-98d443acdec9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SubsidiarySaleOfStockAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfStockByClassTable_019e26da-2de3-7d22-991d-3f124edb5def" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SubsidiarySaleOfStockAxis_019e26da-2de3-7096-acab-98d443acdec9" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SaleOfStockNameOfTransactionDomain_019e26da-2de3-7096-acab-98d443acdec9_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SaleOfStockNameOfTransactionDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SubsidiarySaleOfStockAxis_019e26da-2de3-7096-acab-98d443acdec9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SaleOfStockNameOfTransactionDomain_019e26da-2de3-7096-acab-98d443acdec9_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SaleOfStockNameOfTransactionDomain_019e26da-2de3-7106-ae24-adb24b45ee7b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SaleOfStockNameOfTransactionDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SubsidiarySaleOfStockAxis_019e26da-2de3-7096-acab-98d443acdec9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SaleOfStockNameOfTransactionDomain_019e26da-2de3-7106-ae24-adb24b45ee7b" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PrivatePlacementMember_019e26da-2de3-71ed-9561-2fad9a4d2399" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_PrivatePlacementMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SaleOfStockNameOfTransactionDomain_019e26da-2de3-7106-ae24-adb24b45ee7b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PrivatePlacementMember_019e26da-2de3-71ed-9561-2fad9a4d2399" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesConversionOfUnits_019e26da-2de3-772b-9d25-b1e158f700e8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesConversionOfUnits"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockLineItems_019e26da-2de3-7dfe-9343-1b7bfda6724a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesConversionOfUnits_019e26da-2de3-772b-9d25-b1e158f700e8" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare_019e26da-2de3-7602-b4c9-2fcb35b0520c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockLineItems_019e26da-2de3-7dfe-9343-1b7bfda6724a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare_019e26da-2de3-7602-b4c9-2fcb35b0520c" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_SaleOfStockCommonStockAggregateOffering_019e26da-2de3-7d2e-a99b-5c6fcd80715e" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_SaleOfStockCommonStockAggregateOffering"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockLineItems_019e26da-2de3-7dfe-9343-1b7bfda6724a" xlink:to="loc_els_SaleOfStockCommonStockAggregateOffering_019e26da-2de3-7d2e-a99b-5c6fcd80715e" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.equitylifestyle.com/role/InvestmentinRealEstateNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#InvestmentinRealEstateNarrativeDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.equitylifestyle.com/role/InvestmentinRealEstateNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionLineItems_019e8b1b-cf52-79ae-979e-81a7aae0752e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionTable_019e8b1b-888c-7482-b7dd-34746ae9583e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionLineItems_019e8b1b-cf52-79ae-979e-81a7aae0752e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionTable_019e8b1b-888c-7482-b7dd-34746ae9583e" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionAxis_019e8b1b-cf52-74a0-b944-d6e1f1b0923e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionTable_019e8b1b-888c-7482-b7dd-34746ae9583e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionAxis_019e8b1b-cf52-74a0-b944-d6e1f1b0923e" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionDomain_019e8b1b-cf52-74a0-b944-d6e1f1b0923e_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionAxis_019e8b1b-cf52-74a0-b944-d6e1f1b0923e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionDomain_019e8b1b-cf52-74a0-b944-d6e1f1b0923e_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionDomain_019e8b1b-cf52-71fa-83a6-b5634aa4454f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionAxis_019e8b1b-cf52-74a0-b944-d6e1f1b0923e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionDomain_019e8b1b-cf52-71fa-83a6-b5634aa4454f" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_RVCFinancingMember_019e8b1b-cf52-7486-a3e4-7c6442703f23" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_RVCFinancingMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionDomain_019e8b1b-cf52-71fa-83a6-b5634aa4454f" xlink:to="loc_els_RVCFinancingMember_019e8b1b-cf52-7486-a3e4-7c6442703f23" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_AssetAcquisitionVotingEquityInterestAcquiredPercentage_019e8b1b-cf52-7119-bff7-a401c3d49528" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_AssetAcquisitionVotingEquityInterestAcquiredPercentage"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionLineItems_019e8b1b-cf52-79ae-979e-81a7aae0752e" xlink:to="loc_els_AssetAcquisitionVotingEquityInterestAcquiredPercentage_019e8b1b-cf52-7119-bff7-a401c3d49528" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionConsiderationTransferred_019e8b1b-cf52-7d6a-8a3b-5e70de1b79e5" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionConsiderationTransferred"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionLineItems_019e8b1b-cf52-79ae-979e-81a7aae0752e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionConsiderationTransferred_019e8b1b-cf52-7d6a-8a3b-5e70de1b79e5" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionConsiderationTransferredTransactionCost_019f7a41-ed3f-71b8-af19-488ea35970fe" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionConsiderationTransferredTransactionCost"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionLineItems_019e8b1b-cf52-79ae-979e-81a7aae0752e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionConsiderationTransferredTransactionCost_019f7a41-ed3f-71b8-af19-488ea35970fe" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_AssetAcquisitionPreacquisitionAndAcquiredEquityInterestsInAcquireePercentage_019f7a6b-2196-7dc4-bec7-654d8f587b6e" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_AssetAcquisitionPreacquisitionAndAcquiredEquityInterestsInAcquireePercentage"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionLineItems_019e8b1b-cf52-79ae-979e-81a7aae0752e" xlink:to="loc_els_AssetAcquisitionPreacquisitionAndAcquiredEquityInterestsInAcquireePercentage_019f7a6b-2196-7dc4-bec7-654d8f587b6e" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_AssetAcquisitionConsiderationTransferredAndPreacquisitionEquityInterestInAcquiree_019f9429-919f-7d2b-aebc-c6215bc6fe7c" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_AssetAcquisitionConsiderationTransferredAndPreacquisitionEquityInterestInAcquiree"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionLineItems_019e8b1b-cf52-79ae-979e-81a7aae0752e" xlink:to="loc_els_AssetAcquisitionConsiderationTransferredAndPreacquisitionEquityInterestInAcquiree_019f9429-919f-7d2b-aebc-c6215bc6fe7c" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_AssetAcquisitionConsiderationTransferredPreviouslyHeldEquityInterest_019f8793-6f02-74f8-a744-33e48e1e482f" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_AssetAcquisitionConsiderationTransferredPreviouslyHeldEquityInterest"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionLineItems_019e8b1b-cf52-79ae-979e-81a7aae0752e" xlink:to="loc_els_AssetAcquisitionConsiderationTransferredPreviouslyHeldEquityInterest_019f8793-6f02-74f8-a744-33e48e1e482f" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_AssetAcquisitionConsiderationTransferredCashAndCapitalizedTransactionCosts_019f8793-6f02-72a0-a06e-ccac708e3bc4" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_AssetAcquisitionConsiderationTransferredCashAndCapitalizedTransactionCosts"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionLineItems_019e8b1b-cf52-79ae-979e-81a7aae0752e" xlink:to="loc_els_AssetAcquisitionConsiderationTransferredCashAndCapitalizedTransactionCosts_019f8793-6f02-72a0-a06e-ccac708e3bc4" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_AssetAcquisitionConsiderationTransferredTermLoanEliminated_019f942a-b4d7-701f-b107-a4a36b3567ca" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_AssetAcquisitionConsiderationTransferredTermLoanEliminated"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionLineItems_019e8b1b-cf52-79ae-979e-81a7aae0752e" xlink:to="loc_els_AssetAcquisitionConsiderationTransferredTermLoanEliminated_019f942a-b4d7-701f-b107-a4a36b3567ca" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NotesReceivableNet_019f5fc9-e355-7c10-9cbe-291e23a84d4d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_NotesReceivableNet"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionLineItems_019e8b1b-cf52-79ae-979e-81a7aae0752e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NotesReceivableNet_019f5fc9-e355-7c10-9cbe-291e23a84d4d" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_NumberOfPropertiesAcquired_019f87b0-cbc6-781d-937a-9dec92a73912" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_NumberOfPropertiesAcquired"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionLineItems_019e8b1b-cf52-79ae-979e-81a7aae0752e" xlink:to="loc_els_NumberOfPropertiesAcquired_019f87b0-cbc6-781d-937a-9dec92a73912" xlink:type="arc" order="9"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.equitylifestyle.com/role/InvestmentinRealEstateScheduleofNetAssetsAcquiredDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#InvestmentinRealEstateScheduleofNetAssetsAcquiredDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.equitylifestyle.com/role/InvestmentinRealEstateScheduleofNetAssetsAcquiredDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionLineItems_019e8b2c-a31b-7676-b2b8-c088b4ee0cf0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionTable_019e8b2c-832c-777c-9b47-efce8a98ac2f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionLineItems_019e8b2c-a31b-7676-b2b8-c088b4ee0cf0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionTable_019e8b2c-832c-777c-9b47-efce8a98ac2f" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionAxis_019e8b2c-a31b-72ac-b672-a516fa1fb29e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionTable_019e8b2c-832c-777c-9b47-efce8a98ac2f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionAxis_019e8b2c-a31b-72ac-b672-a516fa1fb29e" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionDomain_019e8b2c-a31b-72ac-b672-a516fa1fb29e_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionAxis_019e8b2c-a31b-72ac-b672-a516fa1fb29e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionDomain_019e8b2c-a31b-72ac-b672-a516fa1fb29e_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionDomain_019e8b2c-a31b-7e8c-a0cc-5dd086992bbc" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionAxis_019e8b2c-a31b-72ac-b672-a516fa1fb29e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionDomain_019e8b2c-a31b-7e8c-a0cc-5dd086992bbc" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_RVCFinancingMember_019e8b2c-a31b-7983-b477-0bc05f1a1848" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_RVCFinancingMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionDomain_019e8b2c-a31b-7e8c-a0cc-5dd086992bbc" xlink:to="loc_els_RVCFinancingMember_019e8b2c-a31b-7983-b477-0bc05f1a1848" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_AssetAcquisitionLand_019f8672-79d8-7902-9b8f-fc0527884b66" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_AssetAcquisitionLand"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionLineItems_019e8b2c-a31b-7676-b2b8-c088b4ee0cf0" xlink:to="loc_els_AssetAcquisitionLand_019f8672-79d8-7902-9b8f-fc0527884b66" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_AssetAcquisitionLandImprovements_019f8672-d852-718d-aa4f-0e6d1322a3a8" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_AssetAcquisitionLandImprovements"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionLineItems_019e8b2c-a31b-7676-b2b8-c088b4ee0cf0" xlink:to="loc_els_AssetAcquisitionLandImprovements_019f8672-d852-718d-aa4f-0e6d1322a3a8" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_AssetAcquisitionBuildingsAndOtherDepreciableProperty_019f8673-7c60-7092-9866-2532b5215dc4" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_AssetAcquisitionBuildingsAndOtherDepreciableProperty"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionLineItems_019e8b2c-a31b-7676-b2b8-c088b4ee0cf0" xlink:to="loc_els_AssetAcquisitionBuildingsAndOtherDepreciableProperty_019f8673-7c60-7092-9866-2532b5215dc4" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_AssetAcquisitionRealEstateProperties_019f8673-7c60-7023-b57f-28830f31dd02" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_AssetAcquisitionRealEstateProperties"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionLineItems_019e8b2c-a31b-7676-b2b8-c088b4ee0cf0" xlink:to="loc_els_AssetAcquisitionRealEstateProperties_019f8673-7c60-7023-b57f-28830f31dd02" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_AssetAcquisitionOtherAssets_019f8673-7c60-7df4-9e35-af9f54d95f60" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_AssetAcquisitionOtherAssets"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionLineItems_019e8b2c-a31b-7676-b2b8-c088b4ee0cf0" xlink:to="loc_els_AssetAcquisitionOtherAssets_019f8673-7c60-7df4-9e35-af9f54d95f60" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_AssetAcquisitionAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedNet_019f8673-7c60-7d91-bbfe-c77b31aac8f8" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_AssetAcquisitionAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedNet"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionLineItems_019e8b2c-a31b-7676-b2b8-c088b4ee0cf0" xlink:to="loc_els_AssetAcquisitionAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedNet_019f8673-7c60-7d91-bbfe-c77b31aac8f8" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.equitylifestyle.com/role/InvestmentinUnconsolidatedJointVenturesScheduleofInvestmentsDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#InvestmentinUnconsolidatedJointVenturesScheduleofInvestmentsDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.equitylifestyle.com/role/InvestmentinUnconsolidatedJointVenturesScheduleofInvestmentsDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentsLineItems_019e26da-2de3-728d-96aa-507817e82305" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentsLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentsTable_019e26da-2de3-71aa-b8f9-9f27ea768075" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentsTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentsLineItems_019e26da-2de3-728d-96aa-507817e82305" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentsTable_019e26da-2de3-71aa-b8f9-9f27ea768075" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_StatementGeographicalAxis_019e26da-2de3-711f-b02d-b7a04955fc7c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_StatementGeographicalAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentsTable_019e26da-2de3-71aa-b8f9-9f27ea768075" xlink:to="loc_srt_StatementGeographicalAxis_019e26da-2de3-711f-b02d-b7a04955fc7c" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain_019e26da-2de3-711f-b02d-b7a04955fc7c_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_StatementGeographicalAxis_019e26da-2de3-711f-b02d-b7a04955fc7c" xlink:to="loc_srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain_019e26da-2de3-711f-b02d-b7a04955fc7c_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain_019e26da-2de3-7001-9472-1277bb6e959a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_StatementGeographicalAxis_019e26da-2de3-711f-b02d-b7a04955fc7c" xlink:to="loc_srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain_019e26da-2de3-7001-9472-1277bb6e959a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_OtherRegionsMember_019e26da-2de3-7cef-b097-0d3fdefbf95e" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_OtherRegionsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_SegmentGeographicalDomain_019e26da-2de3-7001-9472-1277bb6e959a" xlink:to="loc_els_OtherRegionsMember_019e26da-2de3-7cef-b097-0d3fdefbf95e" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis_019e26da-2de3-722b-9b8a-aa50159ba228" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentsTable_019e26da-2de3-71aa-b8f9-9f27ea768075" xlink:to="loc_srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis_019e26da-2de3-722b-9b8a-aa50159ba228" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_EquityMethodInvesteeNameDomain_019e26da-2de3-722b-9b8a-aa50159ba228_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_EquityMethodInvesteeNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis_019e26da-2de3-722b-9b8a-aa50159ba228" xlink:to="loc_srt_EquityMethodInvesteeNameDomain_019e26da-2de3-722b-9b8a-aa50159ba228_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_EquityMethodInvesteeNameDomain_019e26da-2de3-7b7b-aa1f-47dd565ceafc" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_EquityMethodInvesteeNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis_019e26da-2de3-722b-9b8a-aa50159ba228" xlink:to="loc_srt_EquityMethodInvesteeNameDomain_019e26da-2de3-7b7b-aa1f-47dd565ceafc" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_RVCFinancingMember_019e26da-2de3-7273-9f49-cbf0a1f3d1c6" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_RVCFinancingMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_EquityMethodInvesteeNameDomain_019e26da-2de3-7b7b-aa1f-47dd565ceafc" xlink:to="loc_els_RVCFinancingMember_019e26da-2de3-7273-9f49-cbf0a1f3d1c6" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherInvesteesMember_019e26da-2de3-7099-b850-5dd16dfd2837" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OtherInvesteesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_EquityMethodInvesteeNameDomain_019e26da-2de3-7b7b-aa1f-47dd565ceafc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherInvesteesMember_019e26da-2de3-7099-b850-5dd16dfd2837" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_OneJointVentureMember_019e3b08-c7d8-79a1-aade-3397e80757cf" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_OneJointVentureMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_EquityMethodInvesteeNameDomain_019e26da-2de3-7b7b-aa1f-47dd565ceafc" xlink:to="loc_els_OneJointVentureMember_019e3b08-c7d8-79a1-aade-3397e80757cf" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_RVCommunityMember_019e3bab-0f8d-71e4-99e2-9d1bcc9b262d" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_RVCommunityMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_EquityMethodInvesteeNameDomain_019e26da-2de3-7b7b-aa1f-47dd565ceafc" xlink:to="loc_els_RVCommunityMember_019e3bab-0f8d-71e4-99e2-9d1bcc9b262d" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019e26da-2de3-767e-b0ab-63f4a7c7d1a2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_RangeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentsTable_019e26da-2de3-71aa-b8f9-9f27ea768075" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019e26da-2de3-767e-b0ab-63f4a7c7d1a2" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeMember_019e26da-2de3-767e-b0ab-63f4a7c7d1a2_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_RangeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019e26da-2de3-767e-b0ab-63f4a7c7d1a2" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeMember_019e26da-2de3-767e-b0ab-63f4a7c7d1a2_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeMember_019e26da-2de3-7c5f-9ca1-c17511dce574" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_RangeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019e26da-2de3-767e-b0ab-63f4a7c7d1a2" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeMember_019e26da-2de3-7c5f-9ca1-c17511dce574" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_MinimumMember_019e26da-2de3-745c-9e16-541b964f257a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_MinimumMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeMember_019e26da-2de3-7c5f-9ca1-c17511dce574" xlink:to="loc_srt_MinimumMember_019e26da-2de3-745c-9e16-541b964f257a" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_MaximumMember_019e26da-2de3-7ac6-8c6e-21a33ca3fcdd" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_MaximumMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeMember_019e26da-2de3-7c5f-9ca1-c17511dce574" xlink:to="loc_srt_MaximumMember_019e26da-2de3-7ac6-8c6e-21a33ca3fcdd" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures_019e26da-2de3-7022-b96b-6508bdf01e96" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentsLineItems_019e26da-2de3-728d-96aa-507817e82305" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures_019e26da-2de3-7022-b96b-6508bdf01e96" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_NumberOfJointVentureSites_019e26da-2de3-700b-aa57-749b7f8e7f48" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_NumberOfJointVentureSites"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentsLineItems_019e26da-2de3-728d-96aa-507817e82305" xlink:to="loc_els_NumberOfJointVentureSites_019e26da-2de3-700b-aa57-749b7f8e7f48" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage_019e26da-2de3-7b96-84e6-6139d7bba16e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentsLineItems_019e26da-2de3-728d-96aa-507817e82305" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage_019e26da-2de3-7b96-84e6-6139d7bba16e" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments_019e26da-2de3-71d2-bb05-84bd386479ef" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentsLineItems_019e26da-2de3-728d-96aa-507817e82305" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments_019e26da-2de3-71d2-bb05-84bd386479ef" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_AdjustmentDepreciation_019e26da-2de3-7951-9e0e-b2fdf64568db" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_AdjustmentDepreciation"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentsLineItems_019e26da-2de3-728d-96aa-507817e82305" xlink:to="loc_els_AdjustmentDepreciation_019e26da-2de3-7951-9e0e-b2fdf64568db" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.equitylifestyle.com/role/BorrowingArrangementsScheduleofFairValueofMortgageDebtDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#BorrowingArrangementsScheduleofFairValueofMortgageDebtDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.equitylifestyle.com/role/BorrowingArrangementsScheduleofFairValueofMortgageDebtDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019e26da-2de3-76ae-9e6f-e82504435e9c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019e26da-2de3-7cd7-920f-a15ad42dfdf9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019e26da-2de3-76ae-9e6f-e82504435e9c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019e26da-2de3-7cd7-920f-a15ad42dfdf9" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019e26da-2de3-773a-ba70-bc07fc583578" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_RangeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019e26da-2de3-7cd7-920f-a15ad42dfdf9" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019e26da-2de3-773a-ba70-bc07fc583578" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeMember_019e26da-2de3-773a-ba70-bc07fc583578_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_RangeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019e26da-2de3-773a-ba70-bc07fc583578" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeMember_019e26da-2de3-773a-ba70-bc07fc583578_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeMember_019e26da-2de3-77f7-bcf7-9755bef34fe7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_RangeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019e26da-2de3-773a-ba70-bc07fc583578" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeMember_019e26da-2de3-77f7-bcf7-9755bef34fe7" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_MinimumMember_019e26da-2de3-7a40-946b-c6aeb865e8eb" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_MinimumMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeMember_019e26da-2de3-77f7-bcf7-9755bef34fe7" xlink:to="loc_srt_MinimumMember_019e26da-2de3-7a40-946b-c6aeb865e8eb" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_MaximumMember_019e26da-2de3-7004-8a0a-24fbf000b3bd" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_MaximumMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeMember_019e26da-2de3-77f7-bcf7-9755bef34fe7" xlink:to="loc_srt_MaximumMember_019e26da-2de3-7004-8a0a-24fbf000b3bd" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019e26da-2de3-7e81-aaac-480327dfa8dd" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019e26da-2de3-7cd7-920f-a15ad42dfdf9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019e26da-2de3-7e81-aaac-480327dfa8dd" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e26da-2de3-7e81-aaac-480327dfa8dd_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019e26da-2de3-7e81-aaac-480327dfa8dd" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e26da-2de3-7e81-aaac-480327dfa8dd_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e26da-2de3-7518-a4c6-71afacc760d1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019e26da-2de3-7e81-aaac-480327dfa8dd" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e26da-2de3-7518-a4c6-71afacc760d1" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_SecuredMortgageNotesPayableMember_019e26da-2de3-71bb-b0c2-fa96a10705fd" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_SecuredMortgageNotesPayableMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e26da-2de3-7518-a4c6-71afacc760d1" xlink:to="loc_els_SecuredMortgageNotesPayableMember_019e26da-2de3-71bb-b0c2-fa96a10705fd" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_019e26da-2de3-75e7-b9c4-80f37d036e0b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019e26da-2de3-7cd7-920f-a15ad42dfdf9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_019e26da-2de3-75e7-b9c4-80f37d036e0b" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019e26da-2de3-75e7-b9c4-80f37d036e0b_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_019e26da-2de3-75e7-b9c4-80f37d036e0b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019e26da-2de3-75e7-b9c4-80f37d036e0b_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019e26da-2de3-7650-8c7e-36be5d8df2bd" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_019e26da-2de3-75e7-b9c4-80f37d036e0b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019e26da-2de3-7650-8c7e-36be5d8df2bd" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member_019e26da-2de3-75b1-8f1c-2958b2a4bed8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019e26da-2de3-7650-8c7e-36be5d8df2bd" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member_019e26da-2de3-75b1-8f1c-2958b2a4bed8" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis_019e26da-2de3-7f7a-ba0d-3cb87cecc2f7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019e26da-2de3-7cd7-920f-a15ad42dfdf9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis_019e26da-2de3-7f7a-ba0d-3cb87cecc2f7" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember_019e26da-2de3-7f7a-ba0d-3cb87cecc2f7_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis_019e26da-2de3-7f7a-ba0d-3cb87cecc2f7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember_019e26da-2de3-7f7a-ba0d-3cb87cecc2f7_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueDisclosureItemAmountsDomain_019e26da-2de3-77e8-a286-ffd84e8d6ae3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueDisclosureItemAmountsDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis_019e26da-2de3-7f7a-ba0d-3cb87cecc2f7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueDisclosureItemAmountsDomain_019e26da-2de3-77e8-a286-ffd84e8d6ae3" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember_019e26da-2de3-711e-9eb1-29276059cec7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueDisclosureItemAmountsDomain_019e26da-2de3-77e8-a286-ffd84e8d6ae3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember_019e26da-2de3-711e-9eb1-29276059cec7" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember_019e26da-2de3-7877-bc4c-1cbb32b584d0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember_019e26da-2de3-711e-9eb1-29276059cec7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember_019e26da-2de3-7877-bc4c-1cbb32b584d0" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage_019e26da-2de3-773a-b0a6-fa40aadb5e60" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019e26da-2de3-76ae-9e6f-e82504435e9c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage_019e26da-2de3-773a-b0a6-fa40aadb5e60" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount_019e26da-2de3-7a2f-8324-b742ba2cbca2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019e26da-2de3-76ae-9e6f-e82504435e9c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount_019e26da-2de3-7a2f-8324-b742ba2cbca2" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue_019e26da-2de3-7d3b-bbb7-5ee924d8564c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019e26da-2de3-76ae-9e6f-e82504435e9c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue_019e26da-2de3-7d3b-bbb7-5ee924d8564c" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtWeightedAverageInterestRate_019e26da-2de3-77bd-85f8-8a841246a7e7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtWeightedAverageInterestRate"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019e26da-2de3-76ae-9e6f-e82504435e9c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtWeightedAverageInterestRate_019e26da-2de3-77bd-85f8-8a841246a7e7" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DeferredFinanceCostsNet_019e26da-2de3-7197-8815-ac9ba1836857" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DeferredFinanceCostsNet"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019e26da-2de3-76ae-9e6f-e82504435e9c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DeferredFinanceCostsNet_019e26da-2de3-7197-8815-ac9ba1836857" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebt_019e26da-2de3-70e1-a82f-e6095f5b84a0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongTermDebt"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019e26da-2de3-76ae-9e6f-e82504435e9c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebt_019e26da-2de3-70e1-a82f-e6095f5b84a0" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.equitylifestyle.com/role/BorrowingArrangementsScheduleofEncumberedPropertiesDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#BorrowingArrangementsScheduleofEncumberedPropertiesDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.equitylifestyle.com/role/BorrowingArrangementsScheduleofEncumberedPropertiesDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019e26da-2de3-750d-a592-e354a369d91f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019e26da-2de3-7dd6-b639-f117ea609e19" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019e26da-2de3-750d-a592-e354a369d91f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019e26da-2de3-7dd6-b639-f117ea609e19" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019e26da-2de3-703e-8f3b-dfd31d80a74f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019e26da-2de3-7dd6-b639-f117ea609e19" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019e26da-2de3-703e-8f3b-dfd31d80a74f" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e26da-2de3-703e-8f3b-dfd31d80a74f_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019e26da-2de3-703e-8f3b-dfd31d80a74f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e26da-2de3-703e-8f3b-dfd31d80a74f_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e26da-2de3-7b7c-9ee7-202fe657d06c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019e26da-2de3-703e-8f3b-dfd31d80a74f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e26da-2de3-7b7c-9ee7-202fe657d06c" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_SecuredMortgageNotesPayableMember_019e26da-2de3-7a29-a230-8f3c2a0bcb9a" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_SecuredMortgageNotesPayableMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e26da-2de3-7b7c-9ee7-202fe657d06c" xlink:to="loc_els_SecuredMortgageNotesPayableMember_019e26da-2de3-7a29-a230-8f3c2a0bcb9a" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PledgedStatusAxis_019e26da-2de3-7b21-8e60-8e70e99244fc" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_PledgedStatusAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019e26da-2de3-7dd6-b639-f117ea609e19" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PledgedStatusAxis_019e26da-2de3-7b21-8e60-8e70e99244fc" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PledgedStatusDomain_019e26da-2de3-7b21-8e60-8e70e99244fc_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_PledgedStatusDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PledgedStatusAxis_019e26da-2de3-7b21-8e60-8e70e99244fc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PledgedStatusDomain_019e26da-2de3-7b21-8e60-8e70e99244fc_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PledgedStatusDomain_019e26da-2de3-7587-ba62-c22a7280ba42" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_PledgedStatusDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PledgedStatusAxis_019e26da-2de3-7b21-8e60-8e70e99244fc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PledgedStatusDomain_019e26da-2de3-7587-ba62-c22a7280ba42" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AssetPledgedAsCollateralMember_019e26da-2de3-7671-885f-fee5ade8e874" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AssetPledgedAsCollateralMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PledgedStatusDomain_019e26da-2de3-7587-ba62-c22a7280ba42" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AssetPledgedAsCollateralMember_019e26da-2de3-7671-885f-fee5ade8e874" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_NumberOfPledgedProperties_019e26da-2de3-7051-8c53-764d4dc9e876" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_NumberOfPledgedProperties"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019e26da-2de3-750d-a592-e354a369d91f" xlink:to="loc_els_NumberOfPledgedProperties_019e26da-2de3-7051-8c53-764d4dc9e876" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RealEstateInvestmentPropertyNet_019e26da-2de3-7586-b2dc-7babf18bfcb6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RealEstateInvestmentPropertyNet"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019e26da-2de3-750d-a592-e354a369d91f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RealEstateInvestmentPropertyNet_019e26da-2de3-7586-b2dc-7babf18bfcb6" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.equitylifestyle.com/role/BorrowingArrangementsUnsecuredDebtDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#BorrowingArrangementsUnsecuredDebtDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.equitylifestyle.com/role/BorrowingArrangementsUnsecuredDebtDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019e26da-2de3-78d3-96a9-0356529dc3d7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019e26da-2de3-7b6b-ba64-a6deb618fa03" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019e26da-2de3-78d3-96a9-0356529dc3d7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019e26da-2de3-7b6b-ba64-a6deb618fa03" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019e26da-2de3-716f-8866-7c426cb6474e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019e26da-2de3-7b6b-ba64-a6deb618fa03" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019e26da-2de3-716f-8866-7c426cb6474e" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e26da-2de3-716f-8866-7c426cb6474e_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019e26da-2de3-716f-8866-7c426cb6474e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e26da-2de3-716f-8866-7c426cb6474e_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e26da-2de3-74e4-be5b-0a470fa51815" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019e26da-2de3-716f-8866-7c426cb6474e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e26da-2de3-74e4-be5b-0a470fa51815" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_A240MillionTermLoanMember_019e26da-2de3-7204-b237-c59e594e3ae5" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_A240MillionTermLoanMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e26da-2de3-74e4-be5b-0a470fa51815" xlink:to="loc_els_A240MillionTermLoanMember_019e26da-2de3-7204-b237-c59e594e3ae5" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_A200MillionTermLoanMember_019e26da-2de3-7df4-b121-633c5be974b4" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_A200MillionTermLoanMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e26da-2de3-74e4-be5b-0a470fa51815" xlink:to="loc_els_A200MillionTermLoanMember_019e26da-2de3-7df4-b121-633c5be974b4" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_019e26da-2de3-759f-abe5-8dbf088edd16" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019e26da-2de3-7b6b-ba64-a6deb618fa03" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_019e26da-2de3-759f-abe5-8dbf088edd16" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019e26da-2de3-759f-abe5-8dbf088edd16_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_019e26da-2de3-759f-abe5-8dbf088edd16" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019e26da-2de3-759f-abe5-8dbf088edd16_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019e26da-2de3-7e8f-9a33-0fb56a764480" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_019e26da-2de3-759f-abe5-8dbf088edd16" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019e26da-2de3-7e8f-9a33-0fb56a764480" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember_019e26da-2de3-7aa1-8215-aee0b28528e2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019e26da-2de3-7e8f-9a33-0fb56a764480" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember_019e26da-2de3-7aa1-8215-aee0b28528e2" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember_019e26da-2de3-7421-acfd-7a5408176578" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019e26da-2de3-7e8f-9a33-0fb56a764480" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember_019e26da-2de3-7421-acfd-7a5408176578" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_UnsecuredDebtAndLineOfCreditMember_019e26da-2de3-7b1c-8862-6ac921d11aa6" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_UnsecuredDebtAndLineOfCreditMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019e26da-2de3-7e8f-9a33-0fb56a764480" xlink:to="loc_els_UnsecuredDebtAndLineOfCreditMember_019e26da-2de3-7b1c-8862-6ac921d11aa6" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_019e26da-2de3-7d4e-b8d7-a4e0d0d48555" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019e26da-2de3-7b6b-ba64-a6deb618fa03" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_019e26da-2de3-7d4e-b8d7-a4e0d0d48555" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019e26da-2de3-7d4e-b8d7-a4e0d0d48555_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_019e26da-2de3-7d4e-b8d7-a4e0d0d48555" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019e26da-2de3-7d4e-b8d7-a4e0d0d48555_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019e26da-2de3-726b-96d5-8afd2ec732af" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_019e26da-2de3-7d4e-b8d7-a4e0d0d48555" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019e26da-2de3-726b-96d5-8afd2ec732af" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember_019e26da-2de3-7360-96c7-737c28ae055b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019e26da-2de3-726b-96d5-8afd2ec732af" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember_019e26da-2de3-7360-96c7-737c28ae055b" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019e26da-2de3-7ee2-859a-bb3fadce8b99" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_RangeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019e26da-2de3-7b6b-ba64-a6deb618fa03" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019e26da-2de3-7ee2-859a-bb3fadce8b99" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeMember_019e26da-2de3-7ee2-859a-bb3fadce8b99_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_RangeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019e26da-2de3-7ee2-859a-bb3fadce8b99" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeMember_019e26da-2de3-7ee2-859a-bb3fadce8b99_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeMember_019e26da-2de3-7a3c-995f-0873ffae0715" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_RangeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019e26da-2de3-7ee2-859a-bb3fadce8b99" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeMember_019e26da-2de3-7a3c-995f-0873ffae0715" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_MinimumMember_019e26da-2de3-777d-b7db-3eaef798b1b8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_MinimumMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeMember_019e26da-2de3-7a3c-995f-0873ffae0715" xlink:to="loc_srt_MinimumMember_019e26da-2de3-777d-b7db-3eaef798b1b8" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_MaximumMember_019e26da-2de3-7618-973f-98fe9559c4c9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_MaximumMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeMember_019e26da-2de3-7a3c-995f-0873ffae0715" xlink:to="loc_srt_MaximumMember_019e26da-2de3-7618-973f-98fe9559c4c9" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_WeightedAverageMember_019e26da-2de3-75a6-896d-ae327d179337" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_WeightedAverageMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeMember_019e26da-2de3-7a3c-995f-0873ffae0715" xlink:to="loc_srt_WeightedAverageMember_019e26da-2de3-75a6-896d-ae327d179337" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis_019e26da-2de3-7e37-939f-2e958c17e262" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019e26da-2de3-7b6b-ba64-a6deb618fa03" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis_019e26da-2de3-7e37-939f-2e958c17e262" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ReceivableTypeDomain_019e26da-2de3-7e37-939f-2e958c17e262_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ReceivableTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis_019e26da-2de3-7e37-939f-2e958c17e262" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ReceivableTypeDomain_019e26da-2de3-7e37-939f-2e958c17e262_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ReceivableTypeDomain_019e26da-2de3-748d-9557-a2c367728694" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ReceivableTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis_019e26da-2de3-7e37-939f-2e958c17e262" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ReceivableTypeDomain_019e26da-2de3-748d-9557-a2c367728694" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_RVCFinancingMember_019e26da-2de3-79c4-9133-6f944b73c398" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_RVCFinancingMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ReceivableTypeDomain_019e26da-2de3-748d-9557-a2c367728694" xlink:to="loc_els_RVCFinancingMember_019e26da-2de3-79c4-9133-6f944b73c398" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1_019e26da-2de3-76d7-8cd6-efdcc566d91a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019e26da-2de3-78d3-96a9-0356529dc3d7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1_019e26da-2de3-76d7-8cd6-efdcc566d91a" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_DebtInstrumentVariableRateBasisAdjustment_019e26da-2de3-71be-a12e-84352c06e8da" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_DebtInstrumentVariableRateBasisAdjustment"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019e26da-2de3-78d3-96a9-0356529dc3d7" xlink:to="loc_els_DebtInstrumentVariableRateBasisAdjustment_019e26da-2de3-71be-a12e-84352c06e8da" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount_019e26da-2de3-793a-8125-5b8f9a9f1588" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019e26da-2de3-78d3-96a9-0356529dc3d7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount_019e26da-2de3-793a-8125-5b8f9a9f1588" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtWeightedAverageInterestRate_019e26da-2de3-7c6d-8655-8c17db8d4518" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtWeightedAverageInterestRate"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019e26da-2de3-78d3-96a9-0356529dc3d7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtWeightedAverageInterestRate_019e26da-2de3-7c6d-8655-8c17db8d4518" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DeferredFinanceCostsNet_019e26da-2de3-73fd-93c0-9564fff1a942" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DeferredFinanceCostsNet"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019e26da-2de3-78d3-96a9-0356529dc3d7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DeferredFinanceCostsNet_019e26da-2de3-73fd-93c0-9564fff1a942" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebt_019e26da-2de3-7b73-a113-3f2eaf88e154" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongTermDebt"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019e26da-2de3-78d3-96a9-0356529dc3d7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebt_019e26da-2de3-7b73-a113-3f2eaf88e154" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount_019e26da-2de3-711b-82eb-a4ddf9239f7a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019e26da-2de3-78d3-96a9-0356529dc3d7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount_019e26da-2de3-711b-82eb-a4ddf9239f7a" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ProceedsFromLongTermLinesOfCredit_019e26da-2de3-7f3a-8899-fdffcadc5c97" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ProceedsFromLongTermLinesOfCredit"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019e26da-2de3-78d3-96a9-0356529dc3d7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ProceedsFromLongTermLinesOfCredit_019e26da-2de3-7f3a-8899-fdffcadc5c97" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityRemainingBorrowingCapacity_019e26da-2de3-7580-866c-4f38e70ee235" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityRemainingBorrowingCapacity"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019e26da-2de3-78d3-96a9-0356529dc3d7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityRemainingBorrowingCapacity_019e26da-2de3-7580-866c-4f38e70ee235" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.equitylifestyle.com/role/DerivativeInstrumentsandHedgingActivitiesScheduleofDerivativeInstrumentsDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#DerivativeInstrumentsandHedgingActivitiesScheduleofDerivativeInstrumentsDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.equitylifestyle.com/role/DerivativeInstrumentsandHedgingActivitiesScheduleofDerivativeInstrumentsDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems_019e26da-2de3-79d1-b38e-ebbc127b8c31" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeTable_019e26da-2de3-7adc-87fa-5604ca3ba18b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems_019e26da-2de3-79d1-b38e-ebbc127b8c31" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeTable_019e26da-2de3-7adc-87fa-5604ca3ba18b" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_019e26da-2de3-725b-bf3d-b042c69685b9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeTable_019e26da-2de3-7adc-87fa-5604ca3ba18b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_019e26da-2de3-725b-bf3d-b042c69685b9" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019e26da-2de3-725b-bf3d-b042c69685b9_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_019e26da-2de3-725b-bf3d-b042c69685b9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019e26da-2de3-725b-bf3d-b042c69685b9_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019e26da-2de3-795b-9405-c6e618a53254" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_019e26da-2de3-725b-bf3d-b042c69685b9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019e26da-2de3-795b-9405-c6e618a53254" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember_019e26da-2de3-7a30-bdf6-a4b324881ba5" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019e26da-2de3-795b-9405-c6e618a53254" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember_019e26da-2de3-7a30-bdf6-a4b324881ba5" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NumberOfInterestRateDerivativesHeld_019e26da-2de3-76da-881f-a1fa03ff28d2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_NumberOfInterestRateDerivativesHeld"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems_019e26da-2de3-79d1-b38e-ebbc127b8c31" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NumberOfInterestRateDerivativesHeld_019e26da-2de3-76da-881f-a1fa03ff28d2" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeNotionalAmount_019e26da-2de3-7449-9f5e-f94f9f581075" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeNotionalAmount"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems_019e26da-2de3-79d1-b38e-ebbc127b8c31" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeNotionalAmount_019e26da-2de3-7449-9f5e-f94f9f581075" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeAverageFixedInterestRate_019e26da-2de3-7ccf-8e25-657c5806555b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeAverageFixedInterestRate"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems_019e26da-2de3-79d1-b38e-ebbc127b8c31" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeAverageFixedInterestRate_019e26da-2de3-7ccf-8e25-657c5806555b" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeAverageRemainingMaturity1_019e26da-2de3-7b49-a9b5-46774abaf058" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeAverageRemainingMaturity1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems_019e26da-2de3-79d1-b38e-ebbc127b8c31" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeAverageRemainingMaturity1_019e26da-2de3-7b49-a9b5-46774abaf058" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.equitylifestyle.com/role/DerivativeInstrumentsandHedgingActivitiesScheduleofFairValueofDerivativeFinancialInstrumentsDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#DerivativeInstrumentsandHedgingActivitiesScheduleofFairValueofDerivativeFinancialInstrumentsDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.equitylifestyle.com/role/DerivativeInstrumentsandHedgingActivitiesScheduleofFairValueofDerivativeFinancialInstrumentsDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems_019e26da-2de3-76d1-8feb-d8ccc5cb65a2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeTable_019e26da-2de3-79c5-9a3e-275515ec62b7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems_019e26da-2de3-76d1-8feb-d8ccc5cb65a2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeTable_019e26da-2de3-79c5-9a3e-275515ec62b7" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis_019e26da-2de3-774a-9701-38dfbb591428" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeTable_019e26da-2de3-79c5-9a3e-275515ec62b7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis_019e26da-2de3-774a-9701-38dfbb591428" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationDomain_019e26da-2de3-774a-9701-38dfbb591428_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_HedgingDesignationDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis_019e26da-2de3-774a-9701-38dfbb591428" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationDomain_019e26da-2de3-774a-9701-38dfbb591428_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationDomain_019e26da-2de3-7d48-bdf6-7d2c3c216864" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_HedgingDesignationDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis_019e26da-2de3-774a-9701-38dfbb591428" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationDomain_019e26da-2de3-7d48-bdf6-7d2c3c216864" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember_019e26da-2de3-7451-b4b2-81258b92cbb2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_HedgingDesignationDomain_019e26da-2de3-7d48-bdf6-7d2c3c216864" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember_019e26da-2de3-7451-b4b2-81258b92cbb2" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_019e26da-2de3-7ce2-b80c-04306248a8fe" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeTable_019e26da-2de3-79c5-9a3e-275515ec62b7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_019e26da-2de3-7ce2-b80c-04306248a8fe" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019e26da-2de3-7ce2-b80c-04306248a8fe_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_019e26da-2de3-7ce2-b80c-04306248a8fe" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019e26da-2de3-7ce2-b80c-04306248a8fe_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019e26da-2de3-7aa7-9a85-d971ee5da951" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_019e26da-2de3-7ce2-b80c-04306248a8fe" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019e26da-2de3-7aa7-9a85-d971ee5da951" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember_019e26da-2de3-7335-8ecc-036258201ee0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019e26da-2de3-7aa7-9a85-d971ee5da951" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember_019e26da-2de3-7335-8ecc-036258201ee0" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_019e26da-2de3-7277-a5fc-cac00258741e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeTable_019e26da-2de3-79c5-9a3e-275515ec62b7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_019e26da-2de3-7277-a5fc-cac00258741e" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019e26da-2de3-7277-a5fc-cac00258741e_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_019e26da-2de3-7277-a5fc-cac00258741e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019e26da-2de3-7277-a5fc-cac00258741e_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019e26da-2de3-7dd1-8a6a-23eeb7616bd9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_019e26da-2de3-7277-a5fc-cac00258741e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019e26da-2de3-7dd1-8a6a-23eeb7616bd9" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member_019e26da-2de3-7306-950a-65875ae2b272" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019e26da-2de3-7dd1-8a6a-23eeb7616bd9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member_019e26da-2de3-7306-950a-65875ae2b272" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeAssets_019e26da-2de3-7aa9-a8a8-f1be254c9773" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeAssets"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems_019e26da-2de3-76d1-8feb-d8ccc5cb65a2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeAssets_019e26da-2de3-7aa9-a8a8-f1be254c9773" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilities_019e26da-2de3-793a-9263-320188a86439" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilities"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems_019e26da-2de3-76d1-8feb-d8ccc5cb65a2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilities_019e26da-2de3-793a-9263-320188a86439" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.equitylifestyle.com/role/DerivativeInstrumentsandHedgingActivitiesScheduleofEffectsofDerivativeInstrumentsonStatementofComprehensiveIncomeandIncomeStatementDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#DerivativeInstrumentsandHedgingActivitiesScheduleofEffectsofDerivativeInstrumentsonStatementofComprehensiveIncomeandIncomeStatementDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.equitylifestyle.com/role/DerivativeInstrumentsandHedgingActivitiesScheduleofEffectsofDerivativeInstrumentsonStatementofComprehensiveIncomeandIncomeStatementDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems_019e26da-2de3-708e-9163-2f67232ae772" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeTable_019e26da-2de3-7847-9882-0ede915fc5ff" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems_019e26da-2de3-708e-9163-2f67232ae772" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeTable_019e26da-2de3-7847-9882-0ede915fc5ff" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_019e26da-2de3-7a08-b701-3612beeca66a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeTable_019e26da-2de3-7847-9882-0ede915fc5ff" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_019e26da-2de3-7a08-b701-3612beeca66a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019e26da-2de3-7a08-b701-3612beeca66a_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_019e26da-2de3-7a08-b701-3612beeca66a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019e26da-2de3-7a08-b701-3612beeca66a_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019e26da-2de3-7f11-9143-b395114a2bdc" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_019e26da-2de3-7a08-b701-3612beeca66a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019e26da-2de3-7f11-9143-b395114a2bdc" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember_019e26da-2de3-725f-85cc-c429b527bd7c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019e26da-2de3-7f11-9143-b395114a2bdc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember_019e26da-2de3-725f-85cc-c429b527bd7c" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis_019e26da-2de3-7644-a913-8f8b2f5a548f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeTable_019e26da-2de3-7847-9882-0ede915fc5ff" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis_019e26da-2de3-7644-a913-8f8b2f5a548f" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_HedgingRelationshipDomain_019e26da-2de3-7644-a913-8f8b2f5a548f_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_HedgingRelationshipDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis_019e26da-2de3-7644-a913-8f8b2f5a548f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_HedgingRelationshipDomain_019e26da-2de3-7644-a913-8f8b2f5a548f_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_HedgingRelationshipDomain_019e26da-2de3-7382-ac56-df16bf58dd61" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_HedgingRelationshipDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis_019e26da-2de3-7644-a913-8f8b2f5a548f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_HedgingRelationshipDomain_019e26da-2de3-7382-ac56-df16bf58dd61" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CashFlowHedgingMember_019e26da-2de3-7fd9-8670-6299e303489a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CashFlowHedgingMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_HedgingRelationshipDomain_019e26da-2de3-7382-ac56-df16bf58dd61" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CashFlowHedgingMember_019e26da-2de3-7fd9-8670-6299e303489a" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementOfIncomeLocationBalanceAxis_019e26da-2de3-70a5-8572-6b1ac58f4de3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StatementOfIncomeLocationBalanceAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeTable_019e26da-2de3-7847-9882-0ede915fc5ff" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementOfIncomeLocationBalanceAxis_019e26da-2de3-70a5-8572-6b1ac58f4de3" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCashFlowHedgeGainLossBeforeReclassificationAndTax_019e26da-2de3-7c1e-8add-d245b8c52e9a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCashFlowHedgeGainLossBeforeReclassificationAndTax"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems_019e26da-2de3-708e-9163-2f67232ae772" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCashFlowHedgeGainLossBeforeReclassificationAndTax_019e26da-2de3-7c1e-8add-d245b8c52e9a" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCashFlowHedgeGainLossReclassificationBeforeTax_019e26da-2de3-7a40-a631-5bf7eebb1b91" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCashFlowHedgeGainLossReclassificationBeforeTax"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems_019e26da-2de3-708e-9163-2f67232ae772" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCashFlowHedgeGainLossReclassificationBeforeTax_019e26da-2de3-7a40-a631-5bf7eebb1b91" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.equitylifestyle.com/role/DerivativeInstrumentsandHedgingActivitiesScheduleofEffectsofDerivativeInstrumentsonStatementofComprehensiveIncomeandIncomeStatementDetails_1" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#DerivativeInstrumentsandHedgingActivitiesScheduleofEffectsofDerivativeInstrumentsonStatementofComprehensiveIncomeandIncomeStatementDetails_1"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.equitylifestyle.com/role/DerivativeInstrumentsandHedgingActivitiesScheduleofEffectsofDerivativeInstrumentsonStatementofComprehensiveIncomeandIncomeStatementDetails_1" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems_019e26da-2de3-708e-9163-2f67232ae772" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeTable_019e26da-2de3-7847-9882-0ede915fc5ff" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems_019e26da-2de3-708e-9163-2f67232ae772" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeTable_019e26da-2de3-7847-9882-0ede915fc5ff" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_019e26da-2de3-7a08-b701-3612beeca66a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeTable_019e26da-2de3-7847-9882-0ede915fc5ff" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_019e26da-2de3-7a08-b701-3612beeca66a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019e26da-2de3-7a08-b701-3612beeca66a_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_019e26da-2de3-7a08-b701-3612beeca66a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019e26da-2de3-7a08-b701-3612beeca66a_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019e26da-2de3-7f11-9143-b395114a2bdc" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_019e26da-2de3-7a08-b701-3612beeca66a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019e26da-2de3-7f11-9143-b395114a2bdc" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember_019e26da-2de3-725f-85cc-c429b527bd7c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019e26da-2de3-7f11-9143-b395114a2bdc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember_019e26da-2de3-725f-85cc-c429b527bd7c" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis_019e26da-2de3-7644-a913-8f8b2f5a548f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeTable_019e26da-2de3-7847-9882-0ede915fc5ff" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis_019e26da-2de3-7644-a913-8f8b2f5a548f" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_HedgingRelationshipDomain_019e26da-2de3-7644-a913-8f8b2f5a548f_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_HedgingRelationshipDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis_019e26da-2de3-7644-a913-8f8b2f5a548f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_HedgingRelationshipDomain_019e26da-2de3-7644-a913-8f8b2f5a548f_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_HedgingRelationshipDomain_019e26da-2de3-7382-ac56-df16bf58dd61" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_HedgingRelationshipDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis_019e26da-2de3-7644-a913-8f8b2f5a548f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_HedgingRelationshipDomain_019e26da-2de3-7382-ac56-df16bf58dd61" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CashFlowHedgingMember_019e26da-2de3-7fd9-8670-6299e303489a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CashFlowHedgingMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_HedgingRelationshipDomain_019e26da-2de3-7382-ac56-df16bf58dd61" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CashFlowHedgingMember_019e26da-2de3-7fd9-8670-6299e303489a" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCashFlowHedgeGainLossBeforeReclassificationAndTax_019e26da-2de3-7c1e-8add-d245b8c52e9a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCashFlowHedgeGainLossBeforeReclassificationAndTax"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems_019e26da-2de3-708e-9163-2f67232ae772" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCashFlowHedgeGainLossBeforeReclassificationAndTax_019e26da-2de3-7c1e-8add-d245b8c52e9a" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCashFlowHedgeGainLossReclassificationBeforeTax_019e26da-2de3-7a40-a631-5bf7eebb1b91" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCashFlowHedgeGainLossReclassificationBeforeTax"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems_019e26da-2de3-708e-9163-2f67232ae772" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCashFlowHedgeGainLossReclassificationBeforeTax_019e26da-2de3-7a40-a631-5bf7eebb1b91" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.equitylifestyle.com/role/DerivativeInstrumentsandHedgingActivitiesNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#DerivativeInstrumentsandHedgingActivitiesNarrativeDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.equitylifestyle.com/role/DerivativeInstrumentsandHedgingActivitiesNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems_019e26da-2de3-77a5-986e-353ac9aa1d5d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeTable_019e26da-2de3-7d9f-9ab3-3764068d3e98" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems_019e26da-2de3-77a5-986e-353ac9aa1d5d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeTable_019e26da-2de3-7d9f-9ab3-3764068d3e98" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_019e26da-2de3-7d0f-9ec5-09bdc7ac0a45" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeTable_019e26da-2de3-7d9f-9ab3-3764068d3e98" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_019e26da-2de3-7d0f-9ec5-09bdc7ac0a45" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019e26da-2de3-7d0f-9ec5-09bdc7ac0a45_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_019e26da-2de3-7d0f-9ec5-09bdc7ac0a45" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019e26da-2de3-7d0f-9ec5-09bdc7ac0a45_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019e26da-2de3-725a-bc10-88bcb481b98f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_019e26da-2de3-7d0f-9ec5-09bdc7ac0a45" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019e26da-2de3-725a-bc10-88bcb481b98f" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember_019e26da-2de3-71f0-9ab1-d5d53ef65454" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeContractTypeDomain_019e26da-2de3-725a-bc10-88bcb481b98f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember_019e26da-2de3-71f0-9ab1-d5d53ef65454" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis_019e26da-2de3-78da-aa6d-dfdbfdeefa5d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeTable_019e26da-2de3-7d9f-9ab3-3764068d3e98" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis_019e26da-2de3-78da-aa6d-dfdbfdeefa5d" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_HedgingRelationshipDomain_019e26da-2de3-78da-aa6d-dfdbfdeefa5d_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_HedgingRelationshipDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis_019e26da-2de3-78da-aa6d-dfdbfdeefa5d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_HedgingRelationshipDomain_019e26da-2de3-78da-aa6d-dfdbfdeefa5d_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_HedgingRelationshipDomain_019e26da-2de3-7117-ac28-346f5bc659f7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_HedgingRelationshipDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis_019e26da-2de3-78da-aa6d-dfdbfdeefa5d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_HedgingRelationshipDomain_019e26da-2de3-7117-ac28-346f5bc659f7" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CashFlowHedgingMember_019e26da-2de3-7508-b8ba-7c050d32f3a0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CashFlowHedgingMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_HedgingRelationshipDomain_019e26da-2de3-7117-ac28-346f5bc659f7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CashFlowHedgingMember_019e26da-2de3-7508-b8ba-7c050d32f3a0" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InterestRateCashFlowHedgeGainLossToBeReclassifiedDuringNext12MonthsNet_019e26da-2de3-76dc-8127-fb78c26307bf" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_InterestRateCashFlowHedgeGainLossToBeReclassifiedDuringNext12MonthsNet"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems_019e26da-2de3-77a5-986e-353ac9aa1d5d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InterestRateCashFlowHedgeGainLossToBeReclassifiedDuringNext12MonthsNet_019e26da-2de3-76dc-8127-fb78c26307bf" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.equitylifestyle.com/role/DeferredRevenuefromMembershipUpgradesandDeferredCommissionExpenseDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#DeferredRevenuefromMembershipUpgradesandDeferredCommissionExpenseDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.equitylifestyle.com/role/DeferredRevenuefromMembershipUpgradesandDeferredCommissionExpenseDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueLineItems_019e26da-2de3-7127-8ac0-257f59b347d9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueTable_019e26da-2de3-75c5-ad7c-a70ba51680df" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueLineItems_019e26da-2de3-7127-8ac0-257f59b347d9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueTable_019e26da-2de3-75c5-ad7c-a70ba51680df" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_019e26da-2de3-7626-a4a9-c3dcd1b0ba1f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ProductOrServiceAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueTable_019e26da-2de3-75c5-ad7c-a70ba51680df" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_019e26da-2de3-7626-a4a9-c3dcd1b0ba1f" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019e26da-2de3-7626-a4a9-c3dcd1b0ba1f_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_019e26da-2de3-7626-a4a9-c3dcd1b0ba1f" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019e26da-2de3-7626-a4a9-c3dcd1b0ba1f_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019e26da-2de3-7184-988d-3f0a005594ae" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_019e26da-2de3-7626-a4a9-c3dcd1b0ba1f" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019e26da-2de3-7184-988d-3f0a005594ae" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_MembershipSubscriptionMember_019e26da-2de3-7c48-8770-cba5372e3d13" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_MembershipSubscriptionMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019e26da-2de3-7184-988d-3f0a005594ae" xlink:to="loc_els_MembershipSubscriptionMember_019e26da-2de3-7c48-8770-cba5372e3d13" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityAbstract_019e26da-2de3-75f4-a121-d2e8fe01a390" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueLineItems_019e26da-2de3-7127-8ac0-257f59b347d9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityAbstract_019e26da-2de3-75f4-a121-d2e8fe01a390" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiability_019e26da-2de3-779a-be86-60aeeab3ddce" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiability"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityAbstract_019e26da-2de3-75f4-a121-d2e8fe01a390" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiability_019e26da-2de3-779a-be86-60aeeab3ddce" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax_019e26da-2de3-72a2-b74d-72595c263d68" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityAbstract_019e26da-2de3-75f4-a121-d2e8fe01a390" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax_019e26da-2de3-72a2-b74d-72595c263d68" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityRevenueRecognized_019e26da-2de3-761c-9ea8-a07ab8653516" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityRevenueRecognized"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityAbstract_019e26da-2de3-75f4-a121-d2e8fe01a390" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityRevenueRecognized_019e26da-2de3-761c-9ea8-a07ab8653516" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInContractWithCustomerLiability_019e26da-2de3-728b-a2b6-e957cabb4237" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInContractWithCustomerLiability"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityAbstract_019e26da-2de3-75f4-a121-d2e8fe01a390" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInContractWithCustomerLiability_019e26da-2de3-728b-a2b6-e957cabb4237" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiability_019e26da-2de3-71d3-ac81-d4bab7028a81" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiability"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerAssetNetAbstract_019e26da-2de3-7935-884e-1819f1ba504c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerAssetNetAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueLineItems_019e26da-2de3-7127-8ac0-257f59b347d9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerAssetNetAbstract_019e26da-2de3-7935-884e-1819f1ba504c" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerAssetNet_019e26da-2de3-7636-9162-82eeb5688e3b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerAssetNet"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerAssetNetAbstract_019e26da-2de3-7935-884e-1819f1ba504c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerAssetNet_019e26da-2de3-7636-9162-82eeb5688e3b" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerAssetCreditLossExpense_019e26da-2de3-700f-8e19-c20bce421312" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerAssetCreditLossExpense"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerAssetNetAbstract_019e26da-2de3-7935-884e-1819f1ba504c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerAssetCreditLossExpense_019e26da-2de3-700f-8e19-c20bce421312" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerAssetReclassifiedToReceivable_019e26da-2de3-7253-a885-1a9bdfd540a2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerAssetReclassifiedToReceivable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerAssetNetAbstract_019e26da-2de3-7935-884e-1819f1ba504c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerAssetReclassifiedToReceivable_019e26da-2de3-7253-a885-1a9bdfd540a2" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInDeferredCharges_019e26da-2de3-7d57-bb4c-1cc972401eb0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInDeferredCharges"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerAssetNetAbstract_019e26da-2de3-7935-884e-1819f1ba504c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInDeferredCharges_019e26da-2de3-7d57-bb4c-1cc972401eb0" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerAssetNet_019e26da-2eb3-761c-be0d-a8622f05ff43" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerAssetNet"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.equitylifestyle.com/role/EquityIncentiveAwardsScheduleofGrantDateFairValueDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#EquityIncentiveAwardsScheduleofGrantDateFairValueDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.equitylifestyle.com/role/EquityIncentiveAwardsScheduleofGrantDateFairValueDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_019e26da-2eb3-7b40-bace-78589ebdbaba" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_019e26da-2eb3-7470-a74c-a3bc9428d2ac" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_019e26da-2eb3-7b40-bace-78589ebdbaba" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_019e26da-2eb3-7470-a74c-a3bc9428d2ac" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_019e26da-2eb3-76a4-8056-70e14b771113" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_019e26da-2eb3-7470-a74c-a3bc9428d2ac" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_019e26da-2eb3-76a4-8056-70e14b771113" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_019e26da-2eb3-76a4-8056-70e14b771113_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_019e26da-2eb3-76a4-8056-70e14b771113" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_019e26da-2eb3-76a4-8056-70e14b771113_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_019e26da-2eb3-7dd1-a546-66893decced0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_019e26da-2eb3-76a4-8056-70e14b771113" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_019e26da-2eb3-7dd1-a546-66893decced0" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember_019e26da-2eb3-7fa8-a72b-6652d1686c07" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_019e26da-2eb3-7dd1-a546-66893decced0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember_019e26da-2eb3-7fa8-a72b-6652d1686c07" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember_019e26da-2eb3-7815-8170-69037a3f06cf" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_019e26da-2eb3-7dd1-a546-66893decced0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember_019e26da-2eb3-7815-8170-69037a3f06cf" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PlanNameAxis_019e26da-2eb3-7872-bcae-1a1d53a73f54" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_PlanNameAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_019e26da-2eb3-7470-a74c-a3bc9428d2ac" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PlanNameAxis_019e26da-2eb3-7872-bcae-1a1d53a73f54" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PlanNameDomain_019e26da-2eb3-7872-bcae-1a1d53a73f54_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_PlanNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PlanNameAxis_019e26da-2eb3-7872-bcae-1a1d53a73f54" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PlanNameDomain_019e26da-2eb3-7872-bcae-1a1d53a73f54_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PlanNameDomain_019e26da-2eb3-795a-a6bb-cbb92a81d474" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_PlanNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PlanNameAxis_019e26da-2eb3-7872-bcae-1a1d53a73f54" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PlanNameDomain_019e26da-2eb3-795a-a6bb-cbb92a81d474" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_A2024EquityIncentivePlanMember_019e26da-2eb3-7373-b717-8d4606efc564" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_A2024EquityIncentivePlanMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PlanNameDomain_019e26da-2eb3-795a-a6bb-cbb92a81d474" xlink:to="loc_els_A2024EquityIncentivePlanMember_019e26da-2eb3-7373-b717-8d4606efc564" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod_019e26da-2eb3-703c-a072-35bd290aca13" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_019e26da-2eb3-7b40-bace-78589ebdbaba" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod_019e26da-2eb3-703c-a072-35bd290aca13" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodGrantDateFairValue_019e26da-2eb3-7930-90f5-3bc1042ecd01" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodGrantDateFairValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_019e26da-2eb3-7b40-bace-78589ebdbaba" xlink:to="loc_els_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodGrantDateFairValue_019e26da-2eb3-7930-90f5-3bc1042ecd01" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.equitylifestyle.com/role/EquityIncentiveAwardsNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#EquityIncentiveAwardsNarrativeDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.equitylifestyle.com/role/EquityIncentiveAwardsNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_019e26da-2eb3-7961-893a-6327fdbaccca" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_019e26da-2eb3-7840-8e3a-a1e346377670" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_019e26da-2eb3-7961-893a-6327fdbaccca" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_019e26da-2eb3-7840-8e3a-a1e346377670" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_019e26da-2eb3-7ea0-8a12-a0ea05c8a5c7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_019e26da-2eb3-7840-8e3a-a1e346377670" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_019e26da-2eb3-7ea0-8a12-a0ea05c8a5c7" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_019e26da-2eb3-7ea0-8a12-a0ea05c8a5c7_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_019e26da-2eb3-7ea0-8a12-a0ea05c8a5c7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_019e26da-2eb3-7ea0-8a12-a0ea05c8a5c7_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_019e26da-2eb3-7667-bb47-f53b177f8e47" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_019e26da-2eb3-7ea0-8a12-a0ea05c8a5c7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_019e26da-2eb3-7667-bb47-f53b177f8e47" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember_019e26da-2eb3-7fd1-a8c3-b7b893a6c80e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_019e26da-2eb3-7667-bb47-f53b177f8e47" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember_019e26da-2eb3-7fd1-a8c3-b7b893a6c80e" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_TimeBasedRestrictedStockMember_019e26da-2eb3-7dd2-a577-c7b0fbf21d7c" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_TimeBasedRestrictedStockMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_019e26da-2eb3-7667-bb47-f53b177f8e47" xlink:to="loc_els_TimeBasedRestrictedStockMember_019e26da-2eb3-7dd2-a577-c7b0fbf21d7c" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember_019e26da-2eb3-7edb-9120-f515c2e356e1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_019e26da-2eb3-7667-bb47-f53b177f8e47" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember_019e26da-2eb3-7edb-9120-f515c2e356e1" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PlanNameAxis_019e26da-2eb3-77d0-99c4-3b7e9bef4084" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_PlanNameAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_019e26da-2eb3-7840-8e3a-a1e346377670" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PlanNameAxis_019e26da-2eb3-77d0-99c4-3b7e9bef4084" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PlanNameDomain_019e26da-2eb3-77d0-99c4-3b7e9bef4084_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_PlanNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PlanNameAxis_019e26da-2eb3-77d0-99c4-3b7e9bef4084" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PlanNameDomain_019e26da-2eb3-77d0-99c4-3b7e9bef4084_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PlanNameDomain_019e26da-2eb3-7156-8a5d-cdf07b3e477e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_PlanNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PlanNameAxis_019e26da-2eb3-77d0-99c4-3b7e9bef4084" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PlanNameDomain_019e26da-2eb3-7156-8a5d-cdf07b3e477e" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_A2024EquityIncentivePlanMember_019e26da-2eb3-7f0e-8401-d09da6e530f3" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_A2024EquityIncentivePlanMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PlanNameDomain_019e26da-2eb3-7156-8a5d-cdf07b3e477e" xlink:to="loc_els_A2024EquityIncentivePlanMember_019e26da-2eb3-7f0e-8401-d09da6e530f3" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_VestingAxis_019e26da-2eb3-7340-8f6c-975911c849a6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_VestingAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_019e26da-2eb3-7840-8e3a-a1e346377670" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_VestingAxis_019e26da-2eb3-7340-8f6c-975911c849a6" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_VestingDomain_019e26da-2eb3-7340-8f6c-975911c849a6_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_VestingDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_VestingAxis_019e26da-2eb3-7340-8f6c-975911c849a6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_VestingDomain_019e26da-2eb3-7340-8f6c-975911c849a6_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_VestingDomain_019e26da-2eb3-78df-baeb-2cf902511f71" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_VestingDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_VestingAxis_019e26da-2eb3-7340-8f6c-975911c849a6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_VestingDomain_019e26da-2eb3-78df-baeb-2cf902511f71" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationAwardTrancheOneMember_019e26da-2eb3-77f3-ba94-da1b62df6b3d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationAwardTrancheOneMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_VestingDomain_019e26da-2eb3-78df-baeb-2cf902511f71" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationAwardTrancheOneMember_019e26da-2eb3-77f3-ba94-da1b62df6b3d" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationAwardTrancheTwoMember_019e26da-2eb3-77cd-af38-028e65793e74" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationAwardTrancheTwoMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_VestingDomain_019e26da-2eb3-78df-baeb-2cf902511f71" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationAwardTrancheTwoMember_019e26da-2eb3-77cd-af38-028e65793e74" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_VestingInstallmentAxis_019e26da-2eb3-7006-879b-0c16cd181bee" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_VestingInstallmentAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_019e26da-2eb3-7840-8e3a-a1e346377670" xlink:to="loc_els_VestingInstallmentAxis_019e26da-2eb3-7006-879b-0c16cd181bee" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_VestingInstallmentDomain_019e26da-2eb3-7006-879b-0c16cd181bee_default" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_VestingInstallmentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_els_VestingInstallmentAxis_019e26da-2eb3-7006-879b-0c16cd181bee" xlink:to="loc_els_VestingInstallmentDomain_019e26da-2eb3-7006-879b-0c16cd181bee_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_VestingInstallmentDomain_019e26da-2eb3-7531-8428-3a3143caf746" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_VestingInstallmentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_els_VestingInstallmentAxis_019e26da-2eb3-7006-879b-0c16cd181bee" xlink:to="loc_els_VestingInstallmentDomain_019e26da-2eb3-7531-8428-3a3143caf746" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_InstallmentOneMember_019e26da-2eb3-7ab7-8971-9e9feee49297" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_InstallmentOneMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_els_VestingInstallmentDomain_019e26da-2eb3-7531-8428-3a3143caf746" xlink:to="loc_els_InstallmentOneMember_019e26da-2eb3-7ab7-8971-9e9feee49297" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_InstallmentTwoMember_019e26da-2eb3-782a-8ff7-73dff1ea1e80" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_InstallmentTwoMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_els_VestingInstallmentDomain_019e26da-2eb3-7531-8428-3a3143caf746" xlink:to="loc_els_InstallmentTwoMember_019e26da-2eb3-782a-8ff7-73dff1ea1e80" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_InstallmentThreeMember_019e26da-2eb3-73ac-9541-4b5353a21be1" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_InstallmentThreeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_els_VestingInstallmentDomain_019e26da-2eb3-7531-8428-3a3143caf746" xlink:to="loc_els_InstallmentThreeMember_019e26da-2eb3-73ac-9541-4b5353a21be1" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod_019e26da-2eb3-7c94-8469-f60c676ff065" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_019e26da-2eb3-7961-893a-6327fdbaccca" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod_019e26da-2eb3-7c94-8469-f60c676ff065" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingPeriod1_019e26da-2eb3-7939-92dd-9478d81aa4de" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingPeriod1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_019e26da-2eb3-7961-893a-6327fdbaccca" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingPeriod1_019e26da-2eb3-7939-92dd-9478d81aa4de" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod_019e26da-2eb3-7028-a533-32e7f0c32697" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_019e26da-2eb3-7961-893a-6327fdbaccca" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod_019e26da-2eb3-7028-a533-32e7f0c32697" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodGrantDateFairValue_019e26da-2eb3-7e6e-9d88-475cf2ae985d" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodGrantDateFairValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_019e26da-2eb3-7961-893a-6327fdbaccca" xlink:to="loc_els_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodGrantDateFairValue_019e26da-2eb3-7e6e-9d88-475cf2ae985d" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardSharesIssuedInPeriod_019e26da-2eb3-7ab4-a397-fdce5c8c76e2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardSharesIssuedInPeriod"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_019e26da-2eb3-7961-893a-6327fdbaccca" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardSharesIssuedInPeriod_019e26da-2eb3-7ab4-a397-fdce5c8c76e2" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardSharesIssuedInPeriodValue_019e26da-2eb3-7caa-acba-69b27296654f" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardSharesIssuedInPeriodValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_019e26da-2eb3-7961-893a-6327fdbaccca" xlink:to="loc_els_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardSharesIssuedInPeriodValue_019e26da-2eb3-7caa-acba-69b27296654f" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingRightsPercentage_019e26da-2eb3-7df1-a86c-7ba492a45a2b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingRightsPercentage"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_019e26da-2eb3-7961-893a-6327fdbaccca" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingRightsPercentage_019e26da-2eb3-7df1-a86c-7ba492a45a2b" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.equitylifestyle.com/role/ReportableSegmentsScheduleofConsolidatedNetIncomeDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#ReportableSegmentsScheduleofConsolidatedNetIncomeDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.equitylifestyle.com/role/ReportableSegmentsScheduleofConsolidatedNetIncomeDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e26da-2eb3-72d4-ba82-ba85a299dc2e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_019e26da-2eb3-702f-b404-d392f9111c7e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e26da-2eb3-72d4-ba82-ba85a299dc2e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_019e26da-2eb3-702f-b404-d392f9111c7e" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis_019e26da-2eb3-7beb-894c-b5c93d2b2b23" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_019e26da-2eb3-702f-b404-d392f9111c7e" xlink:to="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis_019e26da-2eb3-7beb-894c-b5c93d2b2b23" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_019e26da-2eb3-7beb-894c-b5c93d2b2b23_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis_019e26da-2eb3-7beb-894c-b5c93d2b2b23" xlink:to="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_019e26da-2eb3-7beb-894c-b5c93d2b2b23_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_019e26da-2eb3-708f-9582-e5907ab92ddc" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis_019e26da-2eb3-7beb-894c-b5c93d2b2b23" xlink:to="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_019e26da-2eb3-708f-9582-e5907ab92ddc" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember_019e26da-2eb3-7790-a426-a6c9463b3d8c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_019e26da-2eb3-708f-9582-e5907ab92ddc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember_019e26da-2eb3-7790-a426-a6c9463b3d8c" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_MaterialReconcilingItemsMember_019e26da-2eb3-72c0-81a3-56293d69305c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_MaterialReconcilingItemsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_019e26da-2eb3-708f-9582-e5907ab92ddc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_MaterialReconcilingItemsMember_019e26da-2eb3-72c0-81a3-56293d69305c" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_019e26da-2eb3-7151-b7a7-345bac183150" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_019e26da-2eb3-702f-b404-d392f9111c7e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_019e26da-2eb3-7151-b7a7-345bac183150" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e26da-2eb3-7151-b7a7-345bac183150_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SegmentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_019e26da-2eb3-7151-b7a7-345bac183150" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e26da-2eb3-7151-b7a7-345bac183150_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e26da-2eb3-7961-97ba-607d4c960bba" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SegmentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_019e26da-2eb3-7151-b7a7-345bac183150" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e26da-2eb3-7961-97ba-607d4c960bba" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_PropertyOperationsSegmentMember_019e26da-2eb3-7dc8-bc52-ba163c118cea" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_PropertyOperationsSegmentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e26da-2eb3-7961-97ba-607d4c960bba" xlink:to="loc_els_PropertyOperationsSegmentMember_019e26da-2eb3-7dc8-bc52-ba163c118cea" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_HomeSalesAndRentalsMember_019e26da-2eb3-7063-974c-be0bbb71d698" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_HomeSalesAndRentalsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e26da-2eb3-7961-97ba-607d4c960bba" xlink:to="loc_els_HomeSalesAndRentalsMember_019e26da-2eb3-7063-974c-be0bbb71d698" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_Revenues_019e26da-2eb3-7e6b-aef3-e6590350af3b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_Revenues"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e26da-2eb3-72d4-ba82-ba85a299dc2e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_Revenues_019e26da-2eb3-7e6b-aef3-e6590350af3b" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OperatingCostsAndExpenses_019e26da-2eb3-7fd7-b116-cc0e0f4df2c4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OperatingCostsAndExpenses"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e26da-2eb3-72d4-ba82-ba85a299dc2e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OperatingCostsAndExpenses_019e26da-2eb3-7fd7-b116-cc0e0f4df2c4" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_OperatingIncomeLossBeforeDepreciationAndOther_019e26da-2eb3-73c4-b8ac-94548ae97571" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_OperatingIncomeLossBeforeDepreciationAndOther"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e26da-2eb3-72d4-ba82-ba85a299dc2e" xlink:to="loc_els_OperatingIncomeLossBeforeDepreciationAndOther_019e26da-2eb3-73c4-b8ac-94548ae97571" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasicAbstract_019e26da-2eb3-7af7-8a03-c054a4cbf0c1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasicAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e26da-2eb3-72d4-ba82-ba85a299dc2e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasicAbstract_019e26da-2eb3-7af7-8a03-c054a4cbf0c1" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DepreciationAmortizationAndAccretionNet_019e26da-2eb3-7bfa-b28d-68e1d660995e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DepreciationAmortizationAndAccretionNet"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasicAbstract_019e26da-2eb3-7af7-8a03-c054a4cbf0c1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DepreciationAmortizationAndAccretionNet_019e26da-2eb3-7bfa-b28d-68e1d660995e" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_GainsLossesOnSalesOfInvestmentRealEstate_019e3b42-a06c-758d-aa97-548d7c58f245" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_GainsLossesOnSalesOfInvestmentRealEstate"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasicAbstract_019e26da-2eb3-7af7-8a03-c054a4cbf0c1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_GainsLossesOnSalesOfInvestmentRealEstate_019e3b42-a06c-758d-aa97-548d7c58f245" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_CorporateInterestIncome_019e26da-2eb3-74da-b06d-d8ba4d321333" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_CorporateInterestIncome"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasicAbstract_019e26da-2eb3-7af7-8a03-c054a4cbf0c1" xlink:to="loc_els_CorporateInterestIncome_019e26da-2eb3-74da-b06d-d8ba4d321333" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherIncome_019e26da-2eb3-70fb-b2a4-a1360d09a6b4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OtherIncome"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasicAbstract_019e26da-2eb3-7af7-8a03-c054a4cbf0c1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherIncome_019e26da-2eb3-70fb-b2a4-a1360d09a6b4" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense_019e26da-2eb3-7e01-b62c-bc62661d1dda" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasicAbstract_019e26da-2eb3-7af7-8a03-c054a4cbf0c1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense_019e26da-2eb3-7e01-b62c-bc62661d1dda" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_CasualtyRelatedChargesRecoveriesNet_019e26da-2eb3-7950-acd5-add5b8392731" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_CasualtyRelatedChargesRecoveriesNet"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasicAbstract_019e26da-2eb3-7af7-8a03-c054a4cbf0c1" xlink:to="loc_els_CasualtyRelatedChargesRecoveriesNet_019e26da-2eb3-7950-acd5-add5b8392731" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherExpenses_019e26da-2eb3-71d9-9d40-df4f006a5b2c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OtherExpenses"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasicAbstract_019e26da-2eb3-7af7-8a03-c054a4cbf0c1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherExpenses_019e26da-2eb3-71d9-9d40-df4f006a5b2c" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InterestExpenseDebt_019e26da-2eb3-7d23-a4e0-a192ea543e35" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_InterestExpenseDebt"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasicAbstract_019e26da-2eb3-7af7-8a03-c054a4cbf0c1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InterestExpenseDebt_019e26da-2eb3-7d23-a4e0-a192ea543e35" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments_019e26da-2eb3-7480-a438-658dea4b25d4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasicAbstract_019e26da-2eb3-7af7-8a03-c054a4cbf0c1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments_019e26da-2eb3-7480-a438-658dea4b25d4" xlink:type="arc" order="9"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ProfitLoss_019e26da-2eb3-79ee-806f-7423cebb1de7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ProfitLoss"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasicAbstract_019e26da-2eb3-7af7-8a03-c054a4cbf0c1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ProfitLoss_019e26da-2eb3-79ee-806f-7423cebb1de7" xlink:type="arc" order="10"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_Assets_019e26da-2eb3-7e69-b3fc-aa74302ac81f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_Assets"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e26da-2eb3-72d4-ba82-ba85a299dc2e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_Assets_019e26da-2eb3-7e69-b3fc-aa74302ac81f" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentExpenditureAdditionToLongLivedAssets_019e26da-2eb3-7ce8-b16b-1e5fdf2ae72f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SegmentExpenditureAdditionToLongLivedAssets"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e26da-2eb3-72d4-ba82-ba85a299dc2e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SegmentExpenditureAdditionToLongLivedAssets_019e26da-2eb3-7ce8-b16b-1e5fdf2ae72f" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.equitylifestyle.com/role/ReportableSegmentsScheduleofIncomefromSegmentDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#ReportableSegmentsScheduleofIncomefromSegmentDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.equitylifestyle.com/role/ReportableSegmentsScheduleofIncomefromSegmentDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e26da-2eb3-7d62-b6b7-3fcb2eb47aa3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_019e26da-2eb3-7f67-b371-eff18121f60c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e26da-2eb3-7d62-b6b7-3fcb2eb47aa3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_019e26da-2eb3-7f67-b371-eff18121f60c" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis_019e26da-2eb3-7fb7-8a06-85fdc8dadc57" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_019e26da-2eb3-7f67-b371-eff18121f60c" xlink:to="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis_019e26da-2eb3-7fb7-8a06-85fdc8dadc57" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_019e26da-2eb3-7fb7-8a06-85fdc8dadc57_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis_019e26da-2eb3-7fb7-8a06-85fdc8dadc57" xlink:to="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_019e26da-2eb3-7fb7-8a06-85fdc8dadc57_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_019e26da-2eb3-7315-b508-8724cfcfdd3e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis_019e26da-2eb3-7fb7-8a06-85fdc8dadc57" xlink:to="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_019e26da-2eb3-7315-b508-8724cfcfdd3e" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember_019e26da-2eb3-7b9d-bdde-7484e241963c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_019e26da-2eb3-7315-b508-8724cfcfdd3e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember_019e26da-2eb3-7b9d-bdde-7484e241963c" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_019e26da-2eb3-7a8a-8c1f-aeb2398228ab" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_019e26da-2eb3-7f67-b371-eff18121f60c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_019e26da-2eb3-7a8a-8c1f-aeb2398228ab" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e26da-2eb3-7a8a-8c1f-aeb2398228ab_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SegmentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_019e26da-2eb3-7a8a-8c1f-aeb2398228ab" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e26da-2eb3-7a8a-8c1f-aeb2398228ab_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e26da-2eb3-7283-a40b-415a6af9d9df" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SegmentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_019e26da-2eb3-7a8a-8c1f-aeb2398228ab" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e26da-2eb3-7283-a40b-415a6af9d9df" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_PropertyOperationsSegmentMember_019e26da-2eb3-71d2-91ab-f8a868fa2eec" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_PropertyOperationsSegmentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e26da-2eb3-7283-a40b-415a6af9d9df" xlink:to="loc_els_PropertyOperationsSegmentMember_019e26da-2eb3-71d2-91ab-f8a868fa2eec" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_HomeSalesAndRentalsMember_019e26da-2eb3-7b96-baba-73525c9d22dd" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_HomeSalesAndRentalsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e26da-2eb3-7283-a40b-415a6af9d9df" xlink:to="loc_els_HomeSalesAndRentalsMember_019e26da-2eb3-7b96-baba-73525c9d22dd" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_019e26da-2eb3-735d-96b5-12070d4b6aaa" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ProductOrServiceAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_019e26da-2eb3-7f67-b371-eff18121f60c" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_019e26da-2eb3-735d-96b5-12070d4b6aaa" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019e26da-2eb3-735d-96b5-12070d4b6aaa_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_019e26da-2eb3-735d-96b5-12070d4b6aaa" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019e26da-2eb3-735d-96b5-12070d4b6aaa_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019e26da-2eb3-778b-94e6-b3daeaffcc7c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_019e26da-2eb3-735d-96b5-12070d4b6aaa" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019e26da-2eb3-778b-94e6-b3daeaffcc7c" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_RightToUseAnnualPaymentMember_019e26da-2eb3-7a66-8a6a-47125d2d1568" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_RightToUseAnnualPaymentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019e26da-2eb3-778b-94e6-b3daeaffcc7c" xlink:to="loc_els_RightToUseAnnualPaymentMember_019e26da-2eb3-7a66-8a6a-47125d2d1568" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_RightToUseContractsCurrentMember_019e26da-2eb3-74a8-9eb8-1caf07c83c8e" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_RightToUseContractsCurrentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019e26da-2eb3-778b-94e6-b3daeaffcc7c" xlink:to="loc_els_RightToUseContractsCurrentMember_019e26da-2eb3-74a8-9eb8-1caf07c83c8e" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_AncillaryServicesMember_019e26da-2eb3-7c5b-89cc-fee1c9b4c91e" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_AncillaryServicesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019e26da-2eb3-778b-94e6-b3daeaffcc7c" xlink:to="loc_els_AncillaryServicesMember_019e26da-2eb3-7c5b-89cc-fee1c9b4c91e" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ManagementServiceMember_019e26da-2eb3-7571-88b1-1cbe1dd85087" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ManagementServiceMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019e26da-2eb3-778b-94e6-b3daeaffcc7c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ManagementServiceMember_019e26da-2eb3-7571-88b1-1cbe1dd85087" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_HomeSalesAndBrokeredResaleMember_019e26da-2eb3-726f-b50d-482bd7286763" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_HomeSalesAndBrokeredResaleMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019e26da-2eb3-778b-94e6-b3daeaffcc7c" xlink:to="loc_els_HomeSalesAndBrokeredResaleMember_019e26da-2eb3-726f-b50d-482bd7286763" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevenuesAbstract_019e26da-2eb3-75be-8702-7176c9c0e43f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RevenuesAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e26da-2eb3-7d62-b6b7-3fcb2eb47aa3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevenuesAbstract_019e26da-2eb3-75be-8702-7176c9c0e43f" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OperatingLeaseLeaseIncome_019e26da-2eb3-78cb-98b1-505a921ec491" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OperatingLeaseLeaseIncome"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RevenuesAbstract_019e26da-2eb3-75be-8702-7176c9c0e43f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OperatingLeaseLeaseIncome_019e26da-2eb3-78cb-98b1-505a921ec491" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax_019e26da-2eb3-7a3c-925a-58928550c43a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RevenuesAbstract_019e26da-2eb3-75be-8702-7176c9c0e43f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax_019e26da-2eb3-7a3c-925a-58928550c43a" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherIncome_019e26da-2eb3-76bc-b5a3-3f011007d5d8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OtherIncome"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RevenuesAbstract_019e26da-2eb3-75be-8702-7176c9c0e43f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherIncome_019e26da-2eb3-76bc-b5a3-3f011007d5d8" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_Revenues_019e26da-2eb3-760b-a8dc-f24fa18ab945" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_Revenues"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RevenuesAbstract_019e26da-2eb3-75be-8702-7176c9c0e43f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_Revenues_019e26da-2eb3-760b-a8dc-f24fa18ab945" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CostsAndExpensesAbstract_019e26da-2eb3-7e09-b9d3-79f789ab2dac" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CostsAndExpensesAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e26da-2eb3-7d62-b6b7-3fcb2eb47aa3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CostsAndExpensesAbstract_019e26da-2eb3-7e09-b9d3-79f789ab2dac" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_UtilitiesOperatingExpense_019e26da-2eb3-7152-8526-1a06fe71e0bd" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_UtilitiesOperatingExpense"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CostsAndExpensesAbstract_019e26da-2eb3-7e09-b9d3-79f789ab2dac" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_UtilitiesOperatingExpense_019e26da-2eb3-7152-8526-1a06fe71e0bd" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_PayrollExpenses_019e26da-2eb3-7eee-87fa-7bf7458c048f" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_PayrollExpenses"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CostsAndExpensesAbstract_019e26da-2eb3-7e09-b9d3-79f789ab2dac" xlink:to="loc_els_PayrollExpenses_019e26da-2eb3-7eee-87fa-7bf7458c048f" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_RepairsAndMaintenanceExpenses_019e26da-2eb3-7898-b406-7e5dac089a26" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_RepairsAndMaintenanceExpenses"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CostsAndExpensesAbstract_019e26da-2eb3-7e09-b9d3-79f789ab2dac" xlink:to="loc_els_RepairsAndMaintenanceExpenses_019e26da-2eb3-7898-b406-7e5dac089a26" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_GeneralInsuranceExpense_019e26da-2eb3-7578-8178-045f207b128f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_GeneralInsuranceExpense"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CostsAndExpensesAbstract_019e26da-2eb3-7e09-b9d3-79f789ab2dac" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_GeneralInsuranceExpense_019e26da-2eb3-7578-8178-045f207b128f" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RealEstateTaxExpense_019e26da-2eb3-76e2-bbc7-86463aae9599" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RealEstateTaxExpense"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CostsAndExpensesAbstract_019e26da-2eb3-7e09-b9d3-79f789ab2dac" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RealEstateTaxExpense_019e26da-2eb3-76e2-bbc7-86463aae9599" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SellingAndMarketingExpense_019e26da-2eb3-7df5-a4d2-b405f55a6dd6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SellingAndMarketingExpense"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CostsAndExpensesAbstract_019e26da-2eb3-7e09-b9d3-79f789ab2dac" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SellingAndMarketingExpense_019e26da-2eb3-7df5-a4d2-b405f55a6dd6" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold_019e26da-2eb3-79a5-aad8-8e60760abc25" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CostsAndExpensesAbstract_019e26da-2eb3-7e09-b9d3-79f789ab2dac" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold_019e26da-2eb3-79a5-aad8-8e60760abc25" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_AncillaryOperatingExpenses_019e26da-2eb3-7b5b-8ba4-eb98e7598ec5" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_AncillaryOperatingExpenses"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CostsAndExpensesAbstract_019e26da-2eb3-7e09-b9d3-79f789ab2dac" xlink:to="loc_els_AncillaryOperatingExpenses_019e26da-2eb3-7b5b-8ba4-eb98e7598ec5" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_RentalHomeOperatingAndMaintenanceExpenses_019e26da-2eb3-7b87-ac94-1a6f056a09aa" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_RentalHomeOperatingAndMaintenanceExpenses"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CostsAndExpensesAbstract_019e26da-2eb3-7e09-b9d3-79f789ab2dac" xlink:to="loc_els_RentalHomeOperatingAndMaintenanceExpenses_019e26da-2eb3-7b87-ac94-1a6f056a09aa" xlink:type="arc" order="9"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SellingExpense_019e26da-2eb3-7379-bd1e-b9c2c15c7cec" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SellingExpense"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CostsAndExpensesAbstract_019e26da-2eb3-7e09-b9d3-79f789ab2dac" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SellingExpense_019e26da-2eb3-7379-bd1e-b9c2c15c7cec" xlink:type="arc" order="10"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OperatingCostsAndExpenses_019e26da-2eb3-765e-bb80-bdd2fd790de3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OperatingCostsAndExpenses"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CostsAndExpensesAbstract_019e26da-2eb3-7e09-b9d3-79f789ab2dac" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OperatingCostsAndExpenses_019e26da-2eb3-765e-bb80-bdd2fd790de3" xlink:type="arc" order="11"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_els_OperatingIncomeLossBeforeDepreciationAndOther_019e26da-2eb3-71cf-9cfb-d4f0dbebe802" xlink:href="els-20260630.xsd#els_OperatingIncomeLossBeforeDepreciationAndOther"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e26da-2eb3-7d62-b6b7-3fcb2eb47aa3" xlink:to="loc_els_OperatingIncomeLossBeforeDepreciationAndOther_019e26da-2eb3-71cf-9cfb-d4f0dbebe802" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
</link:linkbase>
