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

<!--XBRL Document Created with Wdesk from Workiva-->
<!--Copyright 2023 Workiva-->
<!--r:2e7526fd-1bd5-4515-be49-87abece3b24c,g:ea75aac0-e769-497b-b5d2-0688ab8d393d-->
<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.centerpointenergy.com/role/CoverPageCoverPage" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="cnp-20230217.xsd#CoverPageCoverPage"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.centerpointenergy.com/role/CoverPageCoverPage" xlink:type="extended" id="i3e84ccbaa6bd486f9ea06acdf1374e94_CoverPageCoverPage">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_37839385-f781-4c47-a4db-f8398b888455" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2022/dei-2022.xsd#dei_EntityInformationLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentType_06a6d44f-c9a1-4dad-a9a7-ba1c234c415b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2022/dei-2022.xsd#dei_DocumentType"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_37839385-f781-4c47-a4db-f8398b888455" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentType_06a6d44f-c9a1-4dad-a9a7-ba1c234c415b" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_5824b6fe-2e63-4fcb-95b9-8b66735637e0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2022/dei-2022.xsd#dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_37839385-f781-4c47-a4db-f8398b888455" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_5824b6fe-2e63-4fcb-95b9-8b66735637e0" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_c34be8a1-4e89-44b2-bdb0-2ef49cbf1a44" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2022/dei-2022.xsd#dei_EntityRegistrantName"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_37839385-f781-4c47-a4db-f8398b888455" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_c34be8a1-4e89-44b2-bdb0-2ef49cbf1a44" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_cc778f0c-83e0-461e-814b-662eb502218d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2022/dei-2022.xsd#dei_EntityFileNumber"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_37839385-f781-4c47-a4db-f8398b888455" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_cc778f0c-83e0-461e-814b-662eb502218d" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_fec08d5d-79ec-4c26-9ed9-9b436aa87694" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2022/dei-2022.xsd#dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_37839385-f781-4c47-a4db-f8398b888455" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_fec08d5d-79ec-4c26-9ed9-9b436aa87694" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_b0adf9c3-a130-41ee-836e-f87489a5352d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2022/dei-2022.xsd#dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_37839385-f781-4c47-a4db-f8398b888455" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_b0adf9c3-a130-41ee-836e-f87489a5352d" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_6381f8a3-4aa0-42d7-9bbd-62ff6c92ffc3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2022/dei-2022.xsd#dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_37839385-f781-4c47-a4db-f8398b888455" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_6381f8a3-4aa0-42d7-9bbd-62ff6c92ffc3" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_74d6b0a4-45c6-4943-a0c5-e39a4fb22a23" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2022/dei-2022.xsd#dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_37839385-f781-4c47-a4db-f8398b888455" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_74d6b0a4-45c6-4943-a0c5-e39a4fb22a23" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_02be3e84-db10-4e42-aed4-d0ab2be59bcf" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2022/dei-2022.xsd#dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_37839385-f781-4c47-a4db-f8398b888455" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_02be3e84-db10-4e42-aed4-d0ab2be59bcf" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_75930a71-cc4b-45d3-9be3-3d3da7702687" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2022/dei-2022.xsd#dei_CityAreaCode"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_37839385-f781-4c47-a4db-f8398b888455" xlink:to="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_75930a71-cc4b-45d3-9be3-3d3da7702687" xlink:type="arc" order="9"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_fe44afbf-744b-40d7-9bc3-b0faa1091981" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2022/dei-2022.xsd#dei_LocalPhoneNumber"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_37839385-f781-4c47-a4db-f8398b888455" xlink:to="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_fe44afbf-744b-40d7-9bc3-b0faa1091981" xlink:type="arc" order="10"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_c9966572-62ce-463d-8912-50d7c8b2f85b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2022/dei-2022.xsd#dei_WrittenCommunications"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_37839385-f781-4c47-a4db-f8398b888455" xlink:to="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_c9966572-62ce-463d-8912-50d7c8b2f85b" xlink:type="arc" order="11"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_3ee22a3c-0fae-45f0-9f7e-2c7e2acde77f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2022/dei-2022.xsd#dei_SolicitingMaterial"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_37839385-f781-4c47-a4db-f8398b888455" xlink:to="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_3ee22a3c-0fae-45f0-9f7e-2c7e2acde77f" xlink:type="arc" order="12"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_5a126899-12dd-4460-b0db-531dc7febe46" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2022/dei-2022.xsd#dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_37839385-f781-4c47-a4db-f8398b888455" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_5a126899-12dd-4460-b0db-531dc7febe46" xlink:type="arc" order="13"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_17f83911-19d2-4512-81cc-ff0aedf1eda7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2022/dei-2022.xsd#dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_37839385-f781-4c47-a4db-f8398b888455" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_17f83911-19d2-4512-81cc-ff0aedf1eda7" xlink:type="arc" order="14"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_b5ff07bb-fc9b-4f01-9797-ad9b3fcb4478" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2022/dei-2022.xsd#dei_Security12bTitle"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_37839385-f781-4c47-a4db-f8398b888455" xlink:to="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_b5ff07bb-fc9b-4f01-9797-ad9b3fcb4478" xlink:type="arc" order="15"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_bd313f12-2c21-4aa7-8c9c-59b89a3ab005" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2022/dei-2022.xsd#dei_TradingSymbol"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_37839385-f781-4c47-a4db-f8398b888455" xlink:to="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_bd313f12-2c21-4aa7-8c9c-59b89a3ab005" xlink:type="arc" order="16"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_e906fecf-6e61-4d1b-94b1-d5e4d507e4c3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2022/dei-2022.xsd#dei_SecurityExchangeName"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_37839385-f781-4c47-a4db-f8398b888455" xlink:to="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_e906fecf-6e61-4d1b-94b1-d5e4d507e4c3" xlink:type="arc" order="17"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_d4ce956a-d914-464d-b14c-e0739ea37042" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2022/dei-2022.xsd#dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_37839385-f781-4c47-a4db-f8398b888455" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_d4ce956a-d914-464d-b14c-e0739ea37042" xlink:type="arc" order="18"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_5b060835-bbf6-4420-bf07-0246a48695ef" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2022/dei-2022.xsd#dei_AmendmentFlag"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_37839385-f781-4c47-a4db-f8398b888455" xlink:to="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_5b060835-bbf6-4420-bf07-0246a48695ef" xlink:type="arc" order="19"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_f3f61863-df43-4738-b506-242ac471e0ea" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2022/dei-2022.xsd#dei_EntityCentralIndexKey"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_37839385-f781-4c47-a4db-f8398b888455" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_f3f61863-df43-4738-b506-242ac471e0ea" xlink:type="arc" order="20"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_a2aac057-7659-42aa-a603-8bf7278a04e0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2022/dei-2022.xsd#dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_37839385-f781-4c47-a4db-f8398b888455" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_a2aac057-7659-42aa-a603-8bf7278a04e0" xlink:type="arc" order="21"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntitiesTable_934c79b0-fb07-4b59-833e-f6b0c2b90f0e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2022/dei-2022.xsd#dei_EntitiesTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityInformationLineItems_37839385-f781-4c47-a4db-f8398b888455" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntitiesTable_934c79b0-fb07-4b59-833e-f6b0c2b90f0e" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_357b3721-ee38-488d-883d-98ba74a74fdf" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2022/dei-2022.xsd#dei_LegalEntityAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntitiesTable_934c79b0-fb07-4b59-833e-f6b0c2b90f0e" xlink:to="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_357b3721-ee38-488d-883d-98ba74a74fdf" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_357b3721-ee38-488d-883d-98ba74a74fdf_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2022/dei-2022.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_357b3721-ee38-488d-883d-98ba74a74fdf" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_357b3721-ee38-488d-883d-98ba74a74fdf_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_13862b8c-1524-455d-8c37-cd53b2c5f905" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2022/dei-2022.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_357b3721-ee38-488d-883d-98ba74a74fdf" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_13862b8c-1524-455d-8c37-cd53b2c5f905" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_cnp_CenterPointEnergyHoustonElectricLLCMember_cffd030e-bfb9-4e66-9dec-8bd303ff104c" xlink:href="cnp-20230217.xsd#cnp_CenterPointEnergyHoustonElectricLLCMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityDomain_13862b8c-1524-455d-8c37-cd53b2c5f905" xlink:to="loc_cnp_CenterPointEnergyHoustonElectricLLCMember_cffd030e-bfb9-4e66-9dec-8bd303ff104c" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_cnp_CenterPointEnergyResourcesCorp.Member_7040709a-f58b-41d0-a213-ed63785f9de2" xlink:href="cnp-20230217.xsd#cnp_CenterPointEnergyResourcesCorp.Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityDomain_13862b8c-1524-455d-8c37-cd53b2c5f905" xlink:to="loc_cnp_CenterPointEnergyResourcesCorp.Member_7040709a-f58b-41d0-a213-ed63785f9de2" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_625f6b0f-2a3f-436c-a51d-586a19967ccd" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntitiesTable_934c79b0-fb07-4b59-833e-f6b0c2b90f0e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_625f6b0f-2a3f-436c-a51d-586a19967ccd" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_625f6b0f-2a3f-436c-a51d-586a19967ccd_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_625f6b0f-2a3f-436c-a51d-586a19967ccd" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_625f6b0f-2a3f-436c-a51d-586a19967ccd_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_8e218b33-b9ff-40dd-947e-4ca43d55c033" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_625f6b0f-2a3f-436c-a51d-586a19967ccd" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_8e218b33-b9ff-40dd-947e-4ca43d55c033" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockMember_e7ee936b-2992-4a01-b63a-5a3e4626c3ee" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2022/elts/us-gaap-2022.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_8e218b33-b9ff-40dd-947e-4ca43d55c033" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockMember_e7ee936b-2992-4a01-b63a-5a3e4626c3ee" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_cnp_DepositarysharesMember_7dfe8b59-914d-43eb-b928-b491c3df0bd2" xlink:href="cnp-20230217.xsd#cnp_DepositarysharesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_8e218b33-b9ff-40dd-947e-4ca43d55c033" xlink:to="loc_cnp_DepositarysharesMember_7dfe8b59-914d-43eb-b928-b491c3df0bd2" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_cnp_A9.15FirstMortgageBondsdue2021Member_f4ebec21-1337-438a-8571-4d1a3d3894ba" xlink:href="cnp-20230217.xsd#cnp_A9.15FirstMortgageBondsdue2021Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_8e218b33-b9ff-40dd-947e-4ca43d55c033" xlink:to="loc_cnp_A9.15FirstMortgageBondsdue2021Member_f4ebec21-1337-438a-8571-4d1a3d3894ba" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_cnp_A6.95GeneralMortgageBondsdue2033Member_26c93371-1141-4823-885f-e62f7cf60732" xlink:href="cnp-20230217.xsd#cnp_A6.95GeneralMortgageBondsdue2033Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_8e218b33-b9ff-40dd-947e-4ca43d55c033" xlink:to="loc_cnp_A6.95GeneralMortgageBondsdue2033Member_26c93371-1141-4823-885f-e62f7cf60732" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_cnp_A6.625SeniorNotesdue2037Member_69d2165a-ac0c-4090-ae67-298837c98a03" xlink:href="cnp-20230217.xsd#cnp_A6.625SeniorNotesdue2037Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_8e218b33-b9ff-40dd-947e-4ca43d55c033" xlink:to="loc_cnp_A6.625SeniorNotesdue2037Member_69d2165a-ac0c-4090-ae67-298837c98a03" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityListingsExchangeAxis_22f4eee0-2ba3-436a-8f7b-c75c41cf7bf1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2022/dei-2022.xsd#dei_EntityListingsExchangeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntitiesTable_934c79b0-fb07-4b59-833e-f6b0c2b90f0e" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityListingsExchangeAxis_22f4eee0-2ba3-436a-8f7b-c75c41cf7bf1" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_ExchangeDomain_22f4eee0-2ba3-436a-8f7b-c75c41cf7bf1_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2022/dei-2022.xsd#dei_ExchangeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityListingsExchangeAxis_22f4eee0-2ba3-436a-8f7b-c75c41cf7bf1" xlink:to="loc_dei_ExchangeDomain_22f4eee0-2ba3-436a-8f7b-c75c41cf7bf1_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_ExchangeDomain_2872b42a-9fdc-4f9a-aa53-14c2df15c494" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2022/dei-2022.xsd#dei_ExchangeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityListingsExchangeAxis_22f4eee0-2ba3-436a-8f7b-c75c41cf7bf1" xlink:to="loc_dei_ExchangeDomain_2872b42a-9fdc-4f9a-aa53-14c2df15c494" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_cnp_NewYorkStockExchangeMember_32e6db6e-07f0-4d47-b3db-b74ff621c872" xlink:href="cnp-20230217.xsd#cnp_NewYorkStockExchangeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_ExchangeDomain_2872b42a-9fdc-4f9a-aa53-14c2df15c494" xlink:to="loc_cnp_NewYorkStockExchangeMember_32e6db6e-07f0-4d47-b3db-b74ff621c872" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_cnp_ChicagoStockExchangeMember_c4887152-5c20-48dd-9d5e-7400585843bb" xlink:href="cnp-20230217.xsd#cnp_ChicagoStockExchangeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_ExchangeDomain_2872b42a-9fdc-4f9a-aa53-14c2df15c494" xlink:to="loc_cnp_ChicagoStockExchangeMember_c4887152-5c20-48dd-9d5e-7400585843bb" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
</link:linkbase>
