diff --git a/packages/@aws-cdk-testing/framework-integ/test/aws-stepfunctions/test/integ.state-machine-string.ts b/packages/@aws-cdk-testing/framework-integ/test/aws-stepfunctions/test/integ.state-machine-string.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..f578b74793e4f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/@aws-cdk-testing/framework-integ/test/aws-stepfunctions/test/integ.state-machine-string.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+import * as cdk from 'aws-cdk-lib';
+import * as sfn from 'aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions';
+/*
+ * Stack verification steps:
+ *
+ * -- aws stepfunctions describe-state-machine --state-machine-arn <stack-output> has a status of `ACTIVE` and the definition is correct
+ */
+const app = new cdk.App();
+const stack = new cdk.Stack(app, 'aws-stepfunctions-integ');
+
+new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'StateMachine', {
+  definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromString('{"StartAt":"Pass","States":{"Pass":{"Type":"Pass","End":true}}}'),
+});
+
+app.synth();
diff --git a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-apigateway/test/integrations/stepfunctions.test.ts b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-apigateway/test/integrations/stepfunctions.test.ts
index 607298294d9cd..0f2a5c65bcf9a 100644
--- a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-apigateway/test/integrations/stepfunctions.test.ts
+++ b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-apigateway/test/integrations/stepfunctions.test.ts
@@ -304,7 +304,7 @@ describe('StepFunctionsIntegration', () => {
       });
 
       const stateMachine: sfn.IStateMachine = new StateMachine(stack, 'StateMachine', {
-        definition: passTask,
+        definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(passTask),
         stateMachineType: sfn.StateMachineType.EXPRESS,
       });
 
@@ -327,7 +327,7 @@ describe('StepFunctionsIntegration', () => {
       });
 
       const stateMachine: sfn.IStateMachine = new StateMachine(stack, 'StateMachine', {
-        definition: passTask,
+        definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(passTask),
         stateMachineType: sfn.StateMachineType.EXPRESS,
       });
 
@@ -362,7 +362,7 @@ describe('StepFunctionsIntegration', () => {
       const restapi = new apigw.RestApi(stack, 'RestApi');
       const method = restapi.root.addMethod('ANY');
       const stateMachine: sfn.StateMachine = new StateMachine(stack, 'StateMachine', {
-        definition: new sfn.Pass(stack, 'passTask'),
+        definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(new sfn.Pass(stack, 'passTask')),
         stateMachineType: StateMachineType.STANDARD,
       });
       const integration = apigw.StepFunctionsIntegration.startExecution(stateMachine);
@@ -382,7 +382,7 @@ function givenSetup() {
   });
 
   const stateMachine: sfn.IStateMachine = new StateMachine(stack, 'StateMachine', {
-    definition: passTask,
+    definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(passTask),
     stateMachineType: sfn.StateMachineType.EXPRESS,
   });
 
diff --git a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-apigateway/test/stepfunctions-api.test.ts b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-apigateway/test/stepfunctions-api.test.ts
index 4bdacef692ad8..b73ec6a54e777 100644
--- a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-apigateway/test/stepfunctions-api.test.ts
+++ b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-apigateway/test/stepfunctions-api.test.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { Template } from '../../assertions';
 import * as sfn from '../../aws-stepfunctions';
-import { StateMachine } from '../../aws-stepfunctions';
+import { StateMachine, DefinitionBody } from '../../aws-stepfunctions';
 import * as cdk from '../../core';
 import * as apigw from '../lib';
 import { StepFunctionsIntegration } from '../lib';
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ describe('Step Functions api', () => {
     const api = new apigw.RestApi(stack, 'Api');
     const stateMachine = new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'StateMachine', {
       stateMachineType: sfn.StateMachineType.EXPRESS,
-      definition: new sfn.Pass(stack, 'Pass'),
+      definitionBody: DefinitionBody.fromChainable(new sfn.Pass(stack, 'Pass')),
     });
 
     // WHEN
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ describe('Step Functions api', () => {
     });
 
     const stateMachine: sfn.IStateMachine = new StateMachine(stack, 'StateMachine', {
-      definition: passTask,
+      definitionBody: DefinitionBody.fromChainable(passTask),
       stateMachineType: sfn.StateMachineType.STANDARD,
     });
 
@@ -199,14 +199,14 @@ function givenSetup() {
   });
 
   const stateMachine: sfn.IStateMachine = new StateMachine(stack, 'StateMachine', {
-    definition: passTask,
+    definitionBody: DefinitionBody.fromChainable(passTask),
     stateMachineType: sfn.StateMachineType.EXPRESS,
   });
 
   return { stack, stateMachine };
 }
 
-function whenCondition(stack:cdk.Stack, stateMachine: sfn.IStateMachine) {
+function whenCondition(stack: cdk.Stack, stateMachine: sfn.IStateMachine) {
   const api = new apigw.StepFunctionsRestApi(stack, 'StepFunctionsRestApi', { stateMachine: stateMachine });
   return api;
 }
diff --git a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-codepipeline-actions/test/stepfunctions/stepfunctions-invoke-actions.test.ts b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-codepipeline-actions/test/stepfunctions/stepfunctions-invoke-actions.test.ts
index 636e6472a8779..6fd457125e362 100644
--- a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-codepipeline-actions/test/stepfunctions/stepfunctions-invoke-actions.test.ts
+++ b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-codepipeline-actions/test/stepfunctions/stepfunctions-invoke-actions.test.ts
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ function minimalPipeline(stack: Stack): codepipeline.IStage {
   const sourceOutput = new codepipeline.Artifact();
   const startState = new stepfunction.Pass(stack, 'StartState');
   const simpleStateMachine = new stepfunction.StateMachine(stack, 'SimpleStateMachine', {
-    definition: startState,
+    definitionBody: stepfunction.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(startState),
   });
   const pipeline = new codepipeline.Pipeline(stack, 'MyPipeline');
   const sourceStage = pipeline.addStage({
diff --git a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-events-targets/test/stepfunctions/statemachine.test.ts b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-events-targets/test/stepfunctions/statemachine.test.ts
index 33099f2558fef..410f51801646e 100644
--- a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-events-targets/test/stepfunctions/statemachine.test.ts
+++ b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-events-targets/test/stepfunctions/statemachine.test.ts
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ test('State machine can be used as Event Rule target', () => {
     schedule: events.Schedule.rate(cdk.Duration.minutes(1)),
   });
   const stateMachine = new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'SM', {
-    definition: new sfn.Wait(stack, 'Hello', { time: sfn.WaitTime.duration(cdk.Duration.seconds(10)) }),
+    definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(new sfn.Wait(stack, 'Hello', { time: sfn.WaitTime.duration(cdk.Duration.seconds(10)) })),
   });
 
   // WHEN
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ test('Existing role can be used for State machine Rule target', () => {
     assumedBy: new iam.ServicePrincipal('events.amazonaws.com'),
   });
   const stateMachine = new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'SM', {
-    definition: new sfn.Wait(stack, 'Hello', { time: sfn.WaitTime.duration(cdk.Duration.seconds(10)) }),
+    definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(new sfn.Wait(stack, 'Hello', { time: sfn.WaitTime.duration(cdk.Duration.seconds(10)) })),
   });
 
   // WHEN
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ test('specifying retry policy', () => {
     assumedBy: new iam.ServicePrincipal('events.amazonaws.com'),
   });
   const stateMachine = new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'SM', {
-    definition: new sfn.Wait(stack, 'Hello', { time: sfn.WaitTime.duration(cdk.Duration.seconds(10)) }),
+    definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(new sfn.Wait(stack, 'Hello', { time: sfn.WaitTime.duration(cdk.Duration.seconds(10)) })),
   });
 
   rule.addTarget(new targets.SfnStateMachine(stateMachine, {
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ test('specifying retry policy with 0 retryAttempts', () => {
     assumedBy: new iam.ServicePrincipal('events.amazonaws.com'),
   });
   const stateMachine = new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'SM', {
-    definition: new sfn.Wait(stack, 'Hello', { time: sfn.WaitTime.duration(cdk.Duration.seconds(10)) }),
+    definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(new sfn.Wait(stack, 'Hello', { time: sfn.WaitTime.duration(cdk.Duration.seconds(10)) })),
   });
 
   rule.addTarget(new targets.SfnStateMachine(stateMachine, {
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ test('use a Dead Letter Queue for the rule target', () => {
     assumedBy: new iam.ServicePrincipal('events.amazonaws.com'),
   });
   const stateMachine = new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'SM', {
-    definition: new sfn.Wait(stack, 'Hello', { time: sfn.WaitTime.duration(cdk.Duration.seconds(10)) }),
+    definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(new sfn.Wait(stack, 'Hello', { time: sfn.WaitTime.duration(cdk.Duration.seconds(10)) })),
   });
 
   // WHEN
diff --git a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/athena/start-query-execution.test.ts b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/athena/start-query-execution.test.ts
index 22e5316ee9985..2d9be071b0e88 100644
--- a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/athena/start-query-execution.test.ts
+++ b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/athena/start-query-execution.test.ts
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ describe('Start Query Execution', () => {
     });
 
     new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'StateMachine', {
-      definition: task,
+      definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
     });
 
     // THEN
diff --git a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/aws-sdk/call-aws-service.test.ts b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/aws-sdk/call-aws-service.test.ts
index cce87e2739337..cd5ac68818c15 100644
--- a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/aws-sdk/call-aws-service.test.ts
+++ b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/aws-sdk/call-aws-service.test.ts
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ test('CallAwsService task', () => {
   });
 
   new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'StateMachine', {
-    definition: task,
+    definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
   });
 
   // THEN
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ test('with custom IAM action', () => {
   });
 
   new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'StateMachine', {
-    definition: task,
+    definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
   });
 
   // THEN
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ test('with unresolved tokens', () => {
   });
 
   new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'StateMachine', {
-    definition: task,
+    definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
   });
 
   // THEN
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ test('can pass additional IAM statements', () => {
   });
 
   new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'StateMachine', {
-    definition: task,
+    definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
   });
 
   // THEN
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ test('IAM policy for sfn', () => {
   });
 
   new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'StateMachine', {
-    definition: task,
+    definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
   });
 
   // THEN
diff --git a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/ecs/ecs-tasks.test.ts b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/ecs/ecs-tasks.test.ts
index 5aea07ea8766c..b05db95c4472e 100644
--- a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/ecs/ecs-tasks.test.ts
+++ b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/ecs/ecs-tasks.test.ts
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ describeDeprecated('ecs-tasks', () => {
     });
 
     new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'SM', {
-      definition: runTask,
+      definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(runTask),
     });
 
     // THEN
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ describeDeprecated('ecs-tasks', () => {
     });
 
     new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'SM', {
-      definition: runTask,
+      definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(runTask),
     });
 
     // THEN
@@ -292,7 +292,7 @@ describeDeprecated('ecs-tasks', () => {
     const runTask = new sfn.Task(stack, 'Run', { task: ec2Task });
 
     new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'SM', {
-      definition: runTask,
+      definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(runTask),
     });
 
     // THEN
diff --git a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/ecs/run-tasks.test.ts b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/ecs/run-tasks.test.ts
index bb5214cd613fd..957c4820bf087 100644
--- a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/ecs/run-tasks.test.ts
+++ b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/ecs/run-tasks.test.ts
@@ -113,18 +113,18 @@ test('Running a task with container override and container has explicitly set a
       ],
       launchTarget: new tasks.EcsFargateLaunchTarget(),
     }).toStateJson())).toHaveProperty('Parameters.Overrides', {
-    ContainerOverrides: [
-      {
-        Environment: [
-          {
-            Name: 'SOME_KEY',
-            'Value.$': '$.SomeKey',
-          },
-        ],
-        Name: 'ExplicitContainerName',
-      },
-    ],
-  });
+      ContainerOverrides: [
+        {
+          Environment: [
+            {
+              Name: 'SOME_KEY',
+              'Value.$': '$.SomeKey',
+            },
+          ],
+          Name: 'ExplicitContainerName',
+        },
+      ],
+    });
 });
 
 test('Running a task without propagated tag source', () => {
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@ test('Running a Fargate Task', () => {
   });
 
   new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'SM', {
-    definition: runTask,
+    definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(runTask),
   });
 
   // THEN
@@ -364,7 +364,7 @@ test('Running an EC2 Task with bridge network', () => {
   });
 
   new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'SM', {
-    definition: runTask,
+    definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(runTask),
   });
 
   // THEN
@@ -483,7 +483,7 @@ test('Running an EC2 Task with placement strategies', () => {
   });
 
   new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'SM', {
-    definition: runTask,
+    definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(runTask),
   });
 
   // THEN
diff --git a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/emr/emr-add-step.test.ts b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/emr/emr-add-step.test.ts
index d6678cb09b9d9..5e3e2b8674bb7 100644
--- a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/emr/emr-add-step.test.ts
+++ b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/emr/emr-add-step.test.ts
@@ -301,7 +301,7 @@ test('task policies are generated', () => {
     integrationPattern: sfn.IntegrationPattern.RUN_JOB,
   });
   new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'SM', {
-    definition: task,
+    definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
   });
 
   // THEN
diff --git a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/emr/emr-cancel-step.test.ts b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/emr/emr-cancel-step.test.ts
index 812a8fdfac616..1036b4313512f 100644
--- a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/emr/emr-cancel-step.test.ts
+++ b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/emr/emr-cancel-step.test.ts
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ test('task policies are generated', () => {
     stepId: 'StepId',
   });
   new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'SM', {
-    definition: task,
+    definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
   });
 
   // THEN
diff --git a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/emr/emr-modify-instance-fleet-by-name.test.ts b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/emr/emr-modify-instance-fleet-by-name.test.ts
index f64864ba6ae71..050a069b2f3d7 100644
--- a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/emr/emr-modify-instance-fleet-by-name.test.ts
+++ b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/emr/emr-modify-instance-fleet-by-name.test.ts
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ test('task policies are generated', () => {
     targetSpotCapacity: 0,
   });
   new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'SM', {
-    definition: task,
+    definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
   });
 
   // THEN
diff --git a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/emr/emr-modify-instance-group-by-name.test.ts b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/emr/emr-modify-instance-group-by-name.test.ts
index d38b820502d2d..e411bf3e5c7e6 100644
--- a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/emr/emr-modify-instance-group-by-name.test.ts
+++ b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/emr/emr-modify-instance-group-by-name.test.ts
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ test('task policies are generated', () => {
     },
   });
   new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'SM', {
-    definition: task,
+    definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
   });
 
   // THEN
diff --git a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/emr/emr-set-cluster-termination-protection.test.ts b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/emr/emr-set-cluster-termination-protection.test.ts
index 9c313754d7cf1..ee757f09fe1e7 100644
--- a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/emr/emr-set-cluster-termination-protection.test.ts
+++ b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/emr/emr-set-cluster-termination-protection.test.ts
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ test('task policies are generated', () => {
     terminationProtected: false,
   });
   new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'SM', {
-    definition: task,
+    definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
   });
 
   // THEN
diff --git a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/emr/emr-terminate-cluster.test.ts b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/emr/emr-terminate-cluster.test.ts
index 11e3eb8320d8c..2a7aa6e53e80b 100644
--- a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/emr/emr-terminate-cluster.test.ts
+++ b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/emr/emr-terminate-cluster.test.ts
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ test('task policies are generated', () => {
     integrationPattern: sfn.IntegrationPattern.RUN_JOB,
   });
   new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'SM', {
-    definition: task,
+    definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
   });
 
   // THEN
diff --git a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/emrcontainers/create-virtual-cluster.test.ts b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/emrcontainers/create-virtual-cluster.test.ts
index 0a8b5c35618ac..4abfba223ef3d 100644
--- a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/emrcontainers/create-virtual-cluster.test.ts
+++ b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/emrcontainers/create-virtual-cluster.test.ts
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ describe('Invoke emr-containers CreateVirtualCluster with ', () => {
     });
 
     new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'SM', {
-      definition: task,
+      definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
     });
 
     // THEN
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ describe('Invoke emr-containers CreateVirtualCluster with ', () => {
     });
 
     new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'SM', {
-      definition: task,
+      definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
     });
 
     // THEN
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ describe('Invoke emr-containers CreateVirtualCluster with ', () => {
     });
 
     new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'SM', {
-      definition: task,
+      definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
     });
 
     // THEN
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ test('Permitted role actions included for CreateVirtualCluster if service integr
   });
 
   new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'SM', {
-    definition: task,
+    definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
   });
 
   // THEN
diff --git a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/emrcontainers/delete-virtual-cluster.test.ts b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/emrcontainers/delete-virtual-cluster.test.ts
index 4f29217158029..9451544def370 100644
--- a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/emrcontainers/delete-virtual-cluster.test.ts
+++ b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/emrcontainers/delete-virtual-cluster.test.ts
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ describe('Valid policy statements and resources are passed ', () => {
     });
 
     new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'SM', {
-      definition: task,
+      definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
     });
 
     // THEN
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ describe('Valid policy statements and resources are passed ', () => {
     });
 
     new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'SM', {
-      definition: task,
+      definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
     });
 
     // THEN
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ describe('Valid policy statements and resources are passed ', () => {
     });
 
     new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'SM', {
-      definition: task,
+      definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
     });
 
     // THEN
diff --git a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/emrcontainers/start-job-run.test.ts b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/emrcontainers/start-job-run.test.ts
index 5c96170ba76a5..67f37ba04e8a1 100644
--- a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/emrcontainers/start-job-run.test.ts
+++ b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/emrcontainers/start-job-run.test.ts
@@ -747,7 +747,7 @@ describe('Invoke EMR Containers Start Job Run with ', () => {
     const task = new EmrContainersStartJobRun(stack, 'EMR Containers Start Job Run', defaultProps);
 
     new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'SM', {
-      definition: task,
+      definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
     });
 
     // THEN
@@ -827,7 +827,7 @@ describe('Invoke EMR Containers Start Job Run with ', () => {
     });
 
     new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'SM', {
-      definition: task,
+      definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
     });
 
     // THEN
@@ -901,7 +901,7 @@ describe('Invoke EMR Containers Start Job Run with ', () => {
     });
 
     new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'SM', {
-      definition: task,
+      definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
     });
 
     // THEN
@@ -950,7 +950,7 @@ describe('Invoke EMR Containers Start Job Run with ', () => {
     const task = new EmrContainersStartJobRun(stack, 'Task', defaultProps);
 
     new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'SM', {
-      definition: task,
+      definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
     });
 
     // THEN
@@ -982,7 +982,7 @@ describe('Invoke EMR Containers Start Job Run with ', () => {
     const task = new EmrContainersStartJobRun(stack, 'Task', defaultProps);
 
     new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'SM', {
-      definition: task,
+      definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
     });
 
     // THEN
diff --git a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/evaluate-expression.test.ts b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/evaluate-expression.test.ts
index 4d3f87124cbd5..c27376701228b 100644
--- a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/evaluate-expression.test.ts
+++ b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/evaluate-expression.test.ts
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ test('Eval with Node.js', () => {
     expression: '$.a + $.b',
   });
   new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'SM', {
-    definition: task,
+    definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
   });
 
   // THEN
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ test('expression does not contain paths', () => {
     expression: '2 + 2',
   });
   new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'SM', {
-    definition: task,
+    definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
   });
 
   Template.fromStack(stack).hasResourceProperties('AWS::StepFunctions::StateMachine', {
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ test('with dash and underscore in path', () => {
     expression: '$.a_b + $.c-d + $[_e]',
   });
   new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'SM', {
-    definition: task,
+    definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
   });
 
   Template.fromStack(stack).hasResourceProperties('AWS::StepFunctions::StateMachine', {
diff --git a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/eventbridge/put-events.test.ts b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/eventbridge/put-events.test.ts
index 529a8032c8e01..67e98c798d32e 100644
--- a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/eventbridge/put-events.test.ts
+++ b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/eventbridge/put-events.test.ts
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ describe('Put Events', () => {
           source: 'my.source',
         }],
       });
-    // THEN
+      // THEN
     }).toThrowError('Task Token is required in `entries`. Use JsonPath.taskToken to set the token.');
   });
 
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ describe('Put Events', () => {
           source: 'my.source',
         }],
       });
-    // THEN
+      // THEN
     }).toThrowError('Unsupported service integration pattern');
   });
 
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@ describe('Put Events', () => {
         source: 'my.source',
       }],
     });
-    new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'State Machine', { definition: task });
+    new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'State Machine', { definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task) });
 
     // THEN
     Template.fromStack(stack).hasResourceProperties('AWS::IAM::Policy', {
diff --git a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/glue/run-glue-job-task.test.ts b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/glue/run-glue-job-task.test.ts
index eb46ac79eba49..a448648860d1f 100644
--- a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/glue/run-glue-job-task.test.ts
+++ b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/glue/run-glue-job-task.test.ts
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ describeDeprecated('RunGlueJobTask', () => {
       task: new tasks.RunGlueJobTask(jobName),
     });
     new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'SM', {
-      definition: task,
+      definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
     });
 
     expect(stack.resolve(task.toStateJson())).toEqual({
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ describeDeprecated('RunGlueJobTask', () => {
       }),
     });
     new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'SM', {
-      definition: task,
+      definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
     });
 
     expect(stack.resolve(task.toStateJson())).toEqual({
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ describeDeprecated('RunGlueJobTask', () => {
       }),
     });
     new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'SM', {
-      definition: task,
+      definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
     });
 
     Template.fromStack(stack).hasResourceProperties('AWS::IAM::Policy', {
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ describeDeprecated('RunGlueJobTask', () => {
       }),
     });
     new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'SM', {
-      definition: task,
+      definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
     });
 
     Template.fromStack(stack).hasResourceProperties('AWS::IAM::Policy', {
diff --git a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/glue/start-job-run.test.ts b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/glue/start-job-run.test.ts
index d6c17d111db42..f1a79d2226c6f 100644
--- a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/glue/start-job-run.test.ts
+++ b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/glue/start-job-run.test.ts
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ test('Invoke glue job with just job ARN', () => {
     glueJobName,
   });
   new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'SM', {
-    definition: task,
+    definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
   });
 
   expect(stack.resolve(task.toStateJson())).toEqual({
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ test('Invoke glue job with full properties', () => {
     notifyDelayAfter,
   });
   new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'SM', {
-    definition: task,
+    definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
   });
 
   expect(stack.resolve(task.toStateJson())).toEqual({
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ test('Invoke glue job with Timeout.at()', () => {
     taskTimeout: sfn.Timeout.at('$.timeout'),
   });
   new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'SM', {
-    definition: task,
+    definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
   });
 
   expect(stack.resolve(task.toStateJson())).toEqual({
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ test('job arguments can reference state input', () => {
     arguments: sfn.TaskInput.fromJsonPathAt('$.input'),
   });
   new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'SM', {
-    definition: task,
+    definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
   });
 
   expect(stack.resolve(task.toStateJson())).toEqual({
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ test('permitted role actions limited to start job run if service integration pat
   });
 
   new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'SM', {
-    definition: task,
+    definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
   });
 
   Template.fromStack(stack).hasResourceProperties('AWS::IAM::Policy', {
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ test('permitted role actions include start, get, and stop job run if service int
   });
 
   new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'SM', {
-    definition: task,
+    definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
   });
 
   Template.fromStack(stack).hasResourceProperties('AWS::IAM::Policy', {
diff --git a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/invoke-activity.test.ts b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/invoke-activity.test.ts
index 7945ae85ac32a..201fa6b11b980 100644
--- a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/invoke-activity.test.ts
+++ b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/invoke-activity.test.ts
@@ -6,14 +6,14 @@ import * as tasks from '../lib';
 
 describeDeprecated('InvokeActivity', () => {
   test('Activity can be used in a Task', () => {
-  // GIVEN
+    // GIVEN
     const stack = new Stack();
 
     // WHEN
     const activity = new sfn.Activity(stack, 'Activity');
     const task = new sfn.Task(stack, 'Task', { task: new tasks.InvokeActivity(activity) });
     new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'SM', {
-      definition: task,
+      definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
     });
 
     // THEN
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ describeDeprecated('InvokeActivity', () => {
   });
 
   test('Activity Task metrics and Activity metrics are the same', () => {
-  // GIVEN
+    // GIVEN
     const stack = new Stack();
     const activity = new sfn.Activity(stack, 'Activity');
     const task = new sfn.Task(stack, 'Invoke', { task: new tasks.InvokeActivity(activity) });
diff --git a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/lambda/invoke-function.test.ts b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/lambda/invoke-function.test.ts
index c13b0e43f87c8..0a5d1bb906100 100644
--- a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/lambda/invoke-function.test.ts
+++ b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/lambda/invoke-function.test.ts
@@ -18,10 +18,10 @@ beforeEach(() => {
 
 describeDeprecated('InvokeFunction', () => {
   test('Invoke lambda with function ARN', () => {
-  // WHEN
+    // WHEN
     const task = new sfn.Task(stack, 'Task', { task: new tasks.InvokeFunction(fn) });
     new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'SM', {
-      definition: task,
+      definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
     });
 
     // THEN
@@ -38,13 +38,13 @@ describeDeprecated('InvokeFunction', () => {
 
   test('Lambda function payload ends up in Parameters', () => {
     new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'SM', {
-      definition: new sfn.Task(stack, 'Task', {
+      definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(new sfn.Task(stack, 'Task', {
         task: new tasks.InvokeFunction(fn, {
           payload: {
             foo: sfn.JsonPath.stringAt('$.bar'),
           },
         }),
-      }),
+      })),
     });
 
     Template.fromStack(stack).hasResourceProperties('AWS::StepFunctions::StateMachine', {
diff --git a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/lambda/run-lambda-task.test.ts b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/lambda/run-lambda-task.test.ts
index 9ff46be34b2a2..679a75ba535a4 100644
--- a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/lambda/run-lambda-task.test.ts
+++ b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/lambda/run-lambda-task.test.ts
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ describeDeprecated('run lambda task', () => {
       }),
     });
     new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'SM', {
-      definition: task,
+      definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
     });
 
     expect(stack.resolve(task.toStateJson())).toEqual({
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ describeDeprecated('run lambda task', () => {
       }),
     });
     new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'SM', {
-      definition: task,
+      definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
     });
 
     expect(stack.resolve(task.toStateJson())).toEqual({
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ describeDeprecated('run lambda task', () => {
       task: new tasks.RunLambdaTask(fn),
     });
     new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'SM', {
-      definition: task,
+      definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
     });
 
     expect(stack.resolve(task.toStateJson())).toEqual({
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ describeDeprecated('run lambda task', () => {
       }),
     });
     new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'SM', {
-      definition: task,
+      definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
     });
 
     expect(stack.resolve(task.toStateJson())).toEqual({
diff --git a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/start-execution.test.ts b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/start-execution.test.ts
index 5006a253013a3..229638f1b9b81 100644
--- a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/start-execution.test.ts
+++ b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/start-execution.test.ts
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ let child: sfn.StateMachine;
 beforeEach(() => {
   stack = new Stack();
   child = new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'ChildStateMachine', {
-    definition: sfn.Chain.start(new sfn.Pass(stack, 'PassState')),
+    definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(sfn.Chain.start(new sfn.Pass(stack, 'PassState'))),
   });
 });
 
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ describeDeprecated('StartExecution', () => {
     });
 
     new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'ParentStateMachine', {
-      definition: task,
+      definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
     });
 
     expect(stack.resolve(task.toStateJson())).toEqual({
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ describeDeprecated('StartExecution', () => {
     });
 
     new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'ParentStateMachine', {
-      definition: task,
+      definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
     });
 
     expect(stack.resolve(task.toStateJson())).toEqual({
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ describeDeprecated('StartExecution', () => {
     });
 
     new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'ParentStateMachine', {
-      definition: task,
+      definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
     });
 
     expect(stack.resolve(task.toStateJson())).toEqual({
diff --git a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/stepfunctions/invoke-activity.test.ts b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/stepfunctions/invoke-activity.test.ts
index c754775793aad..04137893c6d7a 100644
--- a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/stepfunctions/invoke-activity.test.ts
+++ b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/stepfunctions/invoke-activity.test.ts
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ test('Activity can be used in a Task', () => {
   const activity = new sfn.Activity(stack, 'Activity');
   const task = new StepFunctionsInvokeActivity(stack, 'Task', { activity });
   new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'SM', {
-    definition: task,
+    definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
   });
 
   // THEN
diff --git a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/stepfunctions/start-execution.test.ts b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/stepfunctions/start-execution.test.ts
index e21ee044937fe..67bdf340d9af4 100644
--- a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/stepfunctions/start-execution.test.ts
+++ b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions-tasks/test/stepfunctions/start-execution.test.ts
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ let child: sfn.StateMachine;
 beforeEach(() => {
   stack = new Stack();
   child = new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'ChildStateMachine', {
-    definition: sfn.Chain.start(new sfn.Pass(stack, 'PassState')),
+    definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(sfn.Chain.start(new sfn.Pass(stack, 'PassState'))),
   });
 });
 
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ test('Execute State Machine - Default - Request Response', () => {
   });
 
   new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'ParentStateMachine', {
-    definition: task,
+    definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
   });
 
   expect(stack.resolve(task.toStateJson())).toEqual({
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ test('Execute State Machine - Run Job', () => {
   });
 
   new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'ParentStateMachine', {
-    definition: task,
+    definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
   });
 
   expect(stack.resolve(task.toStateJson())).toEqual({
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ test('Execute State Machine - Wait For Task Token', () => {
   });
 
   new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'ParentStateMachine', {
-    definition: task,
+    definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
   });
 
   expect(stack.resolve(task.toStateJson())).toEqual({
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ test('Execute State Machine - Associate With Parent - Input Provided', () => {
   });
 
   new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'ParentStateMachine', {
-    definition: task,
+    definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
   });
 
   expect(stack.resolve(task.toStateJson())).toMatchObject({
@@ -246,7 +246,7 @@ test('Execute State Machine - Associate With Parent - Input Not Provided', () =>
   });
 
   new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'ParentStateMachine', {
-    definition: task,
+    definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
   });
 
   expect(stack.resolve(task.toStateJson())).toMatchObject({
diff --git a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions/README.md b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions/README.md
index f944e0627c617..57e6b61d47665 100644
--- a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions/README.md
+++ b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions/README.md
@@ -95,6 +95,18 @@ existing one as well.
 Set the `removalPolicy` prop to `RemovalPolicy.RETAIN` if you want to retain the execution
 history when CloudFormation deletes your state machine.
 
+Alternatively you can specify an existing step functions definition by providing a string or a file that contains the ASL JSON.
+
+```ts
+new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'StateMachineFromString', {
+  definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromString('{"StartAt":"Pass","States":{"Pass":{"Type":"Pass","End":true}}}'),
+});
+
+new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'StateMachineFromFile', {
+  definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromFile('./asl.json'),
+});
+```
+
 ## State Machine Data
 
 An Execution represents each time the State Machine is run. Every Execution has [State Machine
diff --git a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions/lib/state-machine.ts b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions/lib/state-machine.ts
index 1a46d90c49eba..fb7fc5a007ca6 100644
--- a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions/lib/state-machine.ts
+++ b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions/lib/state-machine.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import { StateGraph } from './state-graph';
 import { StatesMetrics } from './stepfunctions-canned-metrics.generated';
 import { CfnStateMachine } from './stepfunctions.generated';
 import { IChainable } from './types';
+import * as s3_assets from '../../aws-s3-assets';
 import * as cloudwatch from '../../aws-cloudwatch';
 import * as iam from '../../aws-iam';
 import * as logs from '../../aws-logs';
@@ -90,8 +91,19 @@ export interface StateMachineProps {
 
   /**
    * Definition for this state machine
+   * @deprecated use definitionBody: DefinitionBody.fromChainable()
    */
-  readonly definition: IChainable;
+  readonly definition?: IChainable;
+
+  /**
+   * Definition for this state machine
+   */
+  readonly definitionBody?: DefinitionBody;
+
+  /**
+   * substitutions for the definition body aas a key-value map
+   */
+  readonly definitionSubstitutions?: { [key: string]: string };
 
   /**
    * The execution role for the state machine service
@@ -400,6 +412,13 @@ export class StateMachine extends StateMachineBase {
       physicalName: props.stateMachineName,
     });
 
+    if (props.definition && props.definitionBody) {
+      throw new Error('Cannot specify definition and definitionBody at the same time');
+    }
+    if (!props.definition && !props.definitionBody) {
+      throw new Error('You need to specify either definition or definitionBody');
+    }
+
     if (props.stateMachineName !== undefined) {
       this.validateStateMachineName(props.stateMachineName);
     }
@@ -408,8 +427,7 @@ export class StateMachine extends StateMachineBase {
       assumedBy: new iam.ServicePrincipal('states.amazonaws.com'),
     });
 
-    const graph = new StateGraph(props.definition.startState, `State Machine ${id} definition`);
-    graph.timeout = props.timeout;
+    const definitionBody = props.definitionBody ?? DefinitionBody.fromChainable(props.definition!);
 
     this.stateMachineType = props.stateMachineType ?? StateMachineType.STANDARD;
 
@@ -417,18 +435,15 @@ export class StateMachine extends StateMachineBase {
       stateMachineName: this.physicalName,
       stateMachineType: props.stateMachineType ?? undefined,
       roleArn: this.role.roleArn,
-      definitionString: Stack.of(this).toJsonString(graph.toGraphJson()),
       loggingConfiguration: props.logs ? this.buildLoggingConfiguration(props.logs) : undefined,
       tracingConfiguration: props.tracingEnabled ? this.buildTracingConfiguration() : undefined,
+      ...definitionBody.bind(this, this.role, props),
+      definitionSubstitutions: props.definitionSubstitutions,
     });
     resource.applyRemovalPolicy(props.removalPolicy, { default: RemovalPolicy.DESTROY });
 
     resource.node.addDependency(this.role);
 
-    for (const statement of graph.policyStatements) {
-      this.addToRolePolicy(statement);
-    }
-
     this.stateMachineName = this.getResourceNameAttribute(resource.attrName);
     this.stateMachineArn = this.getResourceArnAttribute(resource.ref, {
       service: 'states',
@@ -621,3 +636,84 @@ export interface IStateMachine extends IResource, iam.IGrantable {
    */
   metricTime(props?: cloudwatch.MetricOptions): cloudwatch.Metric;
 }
+
+/**
+ * Partial object from the StateMachine L1 construct properties containing definition information
+ */
+export interface DefinitionConfig {
+  readonly definition?: any;
+  readonly definitionString?: string;
+  readonly definitionS3Location?: CfnStateMachine.S3LocationProperty;
+}
+
+
+export abstract class DefinitionBody {
+
+  public static fromFile(path: string, options: s3_assets.AssetOptions): DefinitionBody {
+    return new FileDefinitionBody(path, options);
+  }
+
+  public static fromString(definition: string): DefinitionBody {
+    return new StringDefinitionBody(definition);
+  }
+
+  public static fromChainable(chainable: IChainable): DefinitionBody {
+    return new ChainDefinitionBody(chainable);
+  }
+
+  public abstract bind(scope: Construct, sfnPrincipal: iam.IPrincipal, sfnProps: StateMachineProps): DefinitionConfig;
+
+}
+
+export class FileDefinitionBody extends DefinitionBody {
+
+  constructor(public readonly path: string, private readonly options: s3_assets.AssetOptions = { }) {
+    super();
+  }
+
+  public bind(scope: Construct, _sfnPrincipal: iam.IPrincipal, _sfnProps: StateMachineProps): DefinitionConfig {
+    const asset = new s3_assets.Asset(scope, 'DefinitionBody', {
+      path: this.path,
+      ...this.options,
+    });
+    return {
+      definitionS3Location: {
+        bucket: asset.s3BucketName,
+        key: asset.s3ObjectKey,
+      },
+    };
+  }
+
+}
+
+export class StringDefinitionBody extends DefinitionBody {
+
+  constructor(public readonly body: string) {
+    super();
+  }
+
+  public bind(_scope: Construct, _sfnPrincipal: iam.IPrincipal, _sfnProps: StateMachineProps): DefinitionConfig {
+    return {
+      definitionString: this.body,
+    };
+  }
+}
+
+export class ChainDefinitionBody extends DefinitionBody {
+
+  constructor(public readonly chainable: IChainable) {
+    super();
+  }
+
+  public bind(scope: Construct, sfnPrincipal: iam.IPrincipal, sfnProps: StateMachineProps): DefinitionConfig {
+    const graph = new StateGraph(this.chainable.startState, 'State Machine definition');
+    graph.timeout = sfnProps.timeout;
+    for (const statement of graph.policyStatements) {
+      sfnPrincipal.addToPrincipalPolicy(statement);
+    }
+    return {
+      definitionString: Stack.of(scope).toJsonString(graph.toGraphJson()),
+    };
+  }
+
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions/test/state-machine-fragment.test.ts b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions/test/state-machine-fragment.test.ts
index b3438a1693ff2..693b8781298e7 100644
--- a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions/test/state-machine-fragment.test.ts
+++ b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions/test/state-machine-fragment.test.ts
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ describe('State Machine Fragment', () => {
     const fragment2 = new ParallelMachineFragment(stack, 'Fragment 2').prefixStates();
 
     new stepfunctions.StateMachine(stack, 'State Machine', {
-      definition: fragment1.next(fragment2),
+      definitionBody: stepfunctions.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(fragment1.next(fragment2)),
     });
 
     // THEN
diff --git a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions/test/state-machine-resources.test.ts b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions/test/state-machine-resources.test.ts
index fb231ad43041a..0f9a268afe55e 100644
--- a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions/test/state-machine-resources.test.ts
+++ b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions/test/state-machine-resources.test.ts
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ describe('State Machine Resources', () => {
 
     // WHEN
     new stepfunctions.StateMachine(stack, 'SM', {
-      definition: task,
+      definitionBody: stepfunctions.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
     });
 
     // THEN
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ describe('State Machine Resources', () => {
 
     // WHEN
     new stepfunctions.StateMachine(stack, 'SM', {
-      definition: para,
+      definitionBody: stepfunctions.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(para),
     });
 
     // THEN
@@ -107,13 +107,13 @@ describe('State Machine Resources', () => {
       Catch: undefined,
       InputPath: '$',
       Parameters:
-             {
-               'input.$': '$',
-               'stringArgument': 'inital-task',
-               'numberArgument': 123,
-               'booleanArgument': true,
-               'arrayArgument': ['a', 'b', 'c'],
-             },
+        {
+          'input.$': '$',
+          'stringArgument': 'inital-task',
+          'numberArgument': 123,
+          'booleanArgument': true,
+          'arrayArgument': ['a', 'b', 'c'],
+        },
       OutputPath: '$.state',
       Type: 'Task',
       Comment: undefined,
@@ -153,10 +153,10 @@ describe('State Machine Resources', () => {
       Catch: undefined,
       InputPath: '$',
       Parameters:
-             {
-               a: 'aa',
-               b: 'bb',
-             },
+        {
+          a: 'aa',
+          b: 'bb',
+        },
       OutputPath: '$.state',
       Type: 'Task',
       Comment: undefined,
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ describe('State Machine Resources', () => {
     const stack = new cdk.Stack();
     const task = new FakeTask(stack, 'Task');
     const stateMachine = new stepfunctions.StateMachine(stack, 'StateMachine', {
-      definition: task,
+      definitionBody: stepfunctions.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
     });
     const role = new iam.Role(stack, 'Role', {
       assumedBy: new iam.ServicePrincipal('lambda.amazonaws.com'),
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ describe('State Machine Resources', () => {
     const stack = new cdk.Stack();
     const task = new FakeTask(stack, 'Task');
     const stateMachine = new stepfunctions.StateMachine(stack, 'StateMachine', {
-      definition: task,
+      definitionBody: stepfunctions.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
       stateMachineType: stepfunctions.StateMachineType.EXPRESS,
     });
     const role = new iam.Role(stack, 'Role', {
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ describe('State Machine Resources', () => {
     const stack = new cdk.Stack();
     const task = new FakeTask(stack, 'Task');
     const stateMachine = new stepfunctions.StateMachine(stack, 'StateMachine', {
-      definition: task,
+      definitionBody: stepfunctions.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
     });
     const role = new iam.Role(stack, 'Role', {
       assumedBy: new iam.ServicePrincipal('lambda.amazonaws.com'),
@@ -317,7 +317,7 @@ describe('State Machine Resources', () => {
     const stack = new cdk.Stack();
     const task = new FakeTask(stack, 'Task');
     const stateMachine = new stepfunctions.StateMachine(stack, 'StateMachine', {
-      definition: task,
+      definitionBody: stepfunctions.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
     });
     const role = new iam.Role(stack, 'Role', {
       assumedBy: new iam.ServicePrincipal('lambda.amazonaws.com'),
@@ -351,7 +351,7 @@ describe('State Machine Resources', () => {
     const stack = new cdk.Stack();
     const task = new FakeTask(stack, 'Task');
     const stateMachine = new stepfunctions.StateMachine(stack, 'StateMachine', {
-      definition: task,
+      definitionBody: stepfunctions.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
     });
     const role = new iam.Role(stack, 'Role', {
       assumedBy: new iam.ServicePrincipal('lambda.amazonaws.com'),
@@ -412,7 +412,7 @@ describe('State Machine Resources', () => {
     const stack = new cdk.Stack();
     const task = new FakeTask(stack, 'Task');
     const stateMachine = new stepfunctions.StateMachine(stack, 'StateMachine', {
-      definition: task,
+      definitionBody: stepfunctions.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
     });
     const role = new iam.Role(stack, 'Role', {
       assumedBy: new iam.ServicePrincipal('lambda.amazonaws.com'),
@@ -643,13 +643,13 @@ describe('State Machine Resources', () => {
       InputPath: '$',
       OutputPath: '$.state',
       Parameters:
-             {
-               'input.$': '$',
-               'stringArgument': 'inital-task',
-               'numberArgument': 123,
-               'booleanArgument': true,
-               'arrayArgument': ['a', 'b', 'c'],
-             },
+        {
+          'input.$': '$',
+          'stringArgument': 'inital-task',
+          'numberArgument': 123,
+          'booleanArgument': true,
+          'arrayArgument': ['a', 'b', 'c'],
+        },
       Type: 'Pass',
       Comment: undefined,
       Result: undefined,
@@ -673,7 +673,7 @@ describe('State Machine Resources', () => {
     expect(taskState).toEqual({
       End: true,
       Parameters:
-      { 'input.$': '$.myField' },
+          { 'input.$': '$.myField' },
       Type: 'Pass',
     });
   }),
@@ -690,7 +690,7 @@ describe('State Machine Resources', () => {
       ],
     });
     new stepfunctions.StateMachine(stack, 'StateMachine', {
-      definition: task,
+      definitionBody: stepfunctions.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
     });
 
     // THEN
diff --git a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions/test/state-machine.test.ts b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions/test/state-machine.test.ts
index 87e8f09947839..4dd9b3c374dde 100644
--- a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions/test/state-machine.test.ts
+++ b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions/test/state-machine.test.ts
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import * as cdk from '../../core';
 import * as sfn from '../lib';
 
 describe('State Machine', () => {
-  test('Instantiate Default State Machine', () => {
+  test('Instantiate Default State Machine with deprecated definition', () => {
     // GIVEN
     const stack = new cdk.Stack();
 
@@ -24,6 +24,66 @@ describe('State Machine', () => {
     });
   }),
 
+  test('Instantiate Default State Machine with string definition', () => {
+    // GIVEN
+    const stack = new cdk.Stack();
+
+    // WHEN
+    new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'MyStateMachine', {
+      stateMachineName: 'MyStateMachine',
+      definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromString('{"StartAt":"Pass","States":{"Pass":{"Type":"Pass","End":true}}}'),
+    });
+
+    // THEN
+    Template.fromStack(stack).hasResourceProperties('AWS::StepFunctions::StateMachine', {
+      StateMachineName: 'MyStateMachine',
+      DefinitionString: '{"StartAt":"Pass","States":{"Pass":{"Type":"Pass","End":true}}}',
+    });
+  }),
+
+  test('Instantiate fails with old and new definition specified', () => {
+    // GIVEN
+    const stack = new cdk.Stack();
+
+    // FAIL
+    expect(() => {
+      new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'MyStateMachine', {
+        stateMachineName: 'MyStateMachine',
+        definition: sfn.Chain.start(new sfn.Pass(stack, 'Pass')),
+        definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(sfn.Chain.start(new sfn.Pass(stack, 'Pass2'))),
+      });
+    }).toThrowError('Cannot specify definition and definitionBody at the same time');
+  }),
+
+  test('Instantiate fails with no definition specified', () => {
+    // GIVEN
+    const stack = new cdk.Stack();
+
+    // FAIL
+    expect(() => {
+      new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'MyStateMachine', {
+        stateMachineName: 'MyStateMachine',
+      });
+    }).toThrowError('You need to specify either definition or definitionBody');
+  }),
+
+  test('Instantiate Default State Machine', () => {
+    // GIVEN
+    const stack = new cdk.Stack();
+
+    // WHEN
+    new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'MyStateMachine', {
+      stateMachineName: 'MyStateMachine',
+      definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(sfn.Chain.start(new sfn.Pass(stack, 'Pass'))),
+    });
+
+    // THEN
+    Template.fromStack(stack).hasResourceProperties('AWS::StepFunctions::StateMachine', {
+      StateMachineName: 'MyStateMachine',
+      DefinitionString: '{"StartAt":"Pass","States":{"Pass":{"Type":"Pass","End":true}}}',
+    });
+  }),
+
   test('Instantiate Standard State Machine', () => {
     // GIVEN
     const stack = new cdk.Stack();
@@ -31,7 +91,7 @@ describe('State Machine', () => {
     // WHEN
     new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'MyStateMachine', {
       stateMachineName: 'MyStateMachine',
-      definition: sfn.Chain.start(new sfn.Pass(stack, 'Pass')),
+      definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(sfn.Chain.start(new sfn.Pass(stack, 'Pass'))),
       stateMachineType: sfn.StateMachineType.STANDARD,
     });
 
@@ -51,7 +111,7 @@ describe('State Machine', () => {
     // WHEN
     new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'MyStateMachine', {
       stateMachineName: 'MyStateMachine',
-      definition: sfn.Chain.start(new sfn.Pass(stack, 'Pass')),
+      definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(sfn.Chain.start(new sfn.Pass(stack, 'Pass'))),
       stateMachineType: sfn.StateMachineType.EXPRESS,
     });
 
@@ -72,7 +132,7 @@ describe('State Machine', () => {
     const createStateMachine = (name: string) => {
       new sfn.StateMachine(stack, name + 'StateMachine', {
         stateMachineName: name,
-        definition: sfn.Chain.start(new sfn.Pass(stack, name + 'Pass')),
+        definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(sfn.Chain.start(new sfn.Pass(stack, name + 'Pass'))),
         stateMachineType: sfn.StateMachineType.EXPRESS,
       });
     };
@@ -98,7 +158,7 @@ describe('State Machine', () => {
     // GIVEN
     const stack = new cdk.Stack();
     const newStateMachine = new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'dummyStateMachineToken', {
-      definition: sfn.Chain.start(new sfn.Pass(stack, 'dummyStateMachineTokenPass')),
+      definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(sfn.Chain.start(new sfn.Pass(stack, 'dummyStateMachineTokenPass'))),
     });
 
     // WHEN
@@ -109,7 +169,7 @@ describe('State Machine', () => {
     expect(() => {
       new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'TokenTest-StateMachine', {
         stateMachineName: nameContainingToken,
-        definition: sfn.Chain.start(new sfn.Pass(stack, 'TokenTest-StateMachinePass')),
+        definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(sfn.Chain.start(new sfn.Pass(stack, 'TokenTest-StateMachinePass'))),
         stateMachineType: sfn.StateMachineType.EXPRESS,
       });
     }).not.toThrow();
@@ -117,7 +177,7 @@ describe('State Machine', () => {
     expect(() => {
       new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'ValidNameTest-StateMachine', {
         stateMachineName: validName,
-        definition: sfn.Chain.start(new sfn.Pass(stack, 'ValidNameTest-StateMachinePass')),
+        definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(sfn.Chain.start(new sfn.Pass(stack, 'ValidNameTest-StateMachinePass'))),
         stateMachineType: sfn.StateMachineType.EXPRESS,
       });
     }).not.toThrow();
@@ -131,7 +191,7 @@ describe('State Machine', () => {
     const logGroup = new logs.LogGroup(stack, 'MyLogGroup');
 
     new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'MyStateMachine', {
-      definition: sfn.Chain.start(new sfn.Pass(stack, 'Pass')),
+      definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(sfn.Chain.start(new sfn.Pass(stack, 'Pass'))),
       logs: {
         destination: logGroup,
         level: sfn.LogLevel.FATAL,
@@ -188,7 +248,7 @@ describe('State Machine', () => {
 
     // WHEN
     new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'MyStateMachine', {
-      definition: sfn.Chain.start(new sfn.Pass(stack, 'Pass')),
+      definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(sfn.Chain.start(new sfn.Pass(stack, 'Pass'))),
       tracingEnabled: true,
     });
 
@@ -229,7 +289,7 @@ describe('State Machine', () => {
 
     // WHEN
     const sm = new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'MyStateMachine', {
-      definition: sfn.Chain.start(new sfn.Pass(stack, 'Pass')),
+      definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(sfn.Chain.start(new sfn.Pass(stack, 'Pass'))),
     });
     const bucket = new s3.Bucket(stack, 'MyBucket');
     bucket.grantRead(sm);
@@ -289,7 +349,7 @@ describe('State Machine', () => {
 
     // WHEN
     new sfn.StateMachine(stateMachineStack, 'MyStateMachine', {
-      definition: new FakeTask(stateMachineStack, 'fakeTask', { credentials: { role: sfn.TaskRole.fromRole(role) } }),
+      definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(new FakeTask(stateMachineStack, 'fakeTask', { credentials: { role: sfn.TaskRole.fromRole(role) } })),
     });
 
     // THEN
@@ -346,7 +406,7 @@ describe('State Machine', () => {
     // WHEN
     const role = iam.Role.fromRoleName(stack, 'Role', 'example-role');
     new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'MyStateMachine', {
-      definition: new FakeTask(stack, 'fakeTask', { credentials: { role: sfn.TaskRole.fromRole(role) } }),
+      definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(new FakeTask(stack, 'fakeTask', { credentials: { role: sfn.TaskRole.fromRole(role) } })),
     });
 
     // THEN
@@ -410,7 +470,7 @@ describe('State Machine', () => {
 
     // WHEN
     new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'MyStateMachine', {
-      definition: new FakeTask(stack, 'fakeTask', { credentials: { role: sfn.TaskRole.fromRoleArnJsonPath('$.RoleArn') } }),
+      definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(new FakeTask(stack, 'fakeTask', { credentials: { role: sfn.TaskRole.fromRoleArnJsonPath('$.RoleArn') } })),
     });
 
     // THEN
@@ -510,7 +570,7 @@ describe('State Machine', () => {
 
     // WHEN
     new sfn.StateMachine(stack, 'MyStateMachine', {
-      definition: new sfn.Pass(stack, 'Pass'),
+      definitionBody: sfn.DefinitionBody.fromChainable(new sfn.Pass(stack, 'Pass')),
       removalPolicy: cdk.RemovalPolicy.RETAIN,
     });
 
diff --git a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions/test/state.test.ts b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions/test/state.test.ts
index faaa2d8bf5115..bfa29d0fd032b 100644
--- a/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions/test/state.test.ts
+++ b/packages/aws-cdk-lib/aws-stepfunctions/test/state.test.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { FakeTask } from './fake-task';
 import * as assert from '../../assertions';
 import * as cdk from '../../core';
-import { JsonPath, StateMachine } from '../lib';
+import { DefinitionBody, JsonPath, StateMachine } from '../lib';
 
 test('JsonPath.DISCARD can be used to discard a state\'s output', () => {
   // GIVEN
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ test('JsonPath.DISCARD can be used to discard a state\'s output', () => {
     resultPath: JsonPath.DISCARD,
   });
   new StateMachine(stack, 'state-machine', {
-    definition: task,
+    definitionBody: DefinitionBody.fromChainable(task),
   });
 
   // WHEN