Which statement correctly defines a composite number?

A composite number is defined as a whole number greater than one that has more than two distinct positive divisors, meaning it can be divided evenly by numbers other than one and itself. This characteristic distinguishes composite numbers from prime numbers, which have exactly two distinct positive divisors: one and the number itself.

Since a composite number has factors in addition to these, it aligns with the definition provided in the statement. Thus, a whole number that is not prime encompasses all composite numbers along with the number one, which is a special case as it is neither prime nor composite. However, the focus on composite numbers specifically makes the correct statement clearly identifiable as one that captures the essence of what defines composite numbers.