diff --git a/tools/goctl/api/swagger/properties.go b/tools/goctl/api/swagger/properties.go
index e5bf6d204..bf263fb5a 100644
--- a/tools/goctl/api/swagger/properties.go
+++ b/tools/goctl/api/swagger/properties.go
@@ -70,15 +70,40 @@ func propertiesFromType(ctx Context, tp apiSpec.Type) (spec.SchemaProperties, []
 			switch sampleTypeFromGoType(ctx, member.Type) {
 			case swaggerTypeArray:
 				schema.Items = itemsFromGoType(ctx, member.Type)
+				// Special handling for arrays with useDefinitions
+				if ctx.UseDefinitions {
+					// For arrays, check if the array element (not the array itself) contains a struct
+					if arrayType, ok := member.Type.(apiSpec.ArrayType); ok {
+						if structName, containsStruct := containsStruct(arrayType.Value); containsStruct {
+							// Set the $ref inside the items, not at the schema level
+							schema.Items = &spec.SchemaOrArray{
+								Schema: &spec.Schema{
+									SchemaProps: spec.SchemaProps{
+										Ref: spec.MustCreateRef(getRefName(structName)),
+									},
+								},
+							}
+						}
+					}
+				}
 			case swaggerTypeObject:
 				p, r := propertiesFromType(ctx, member.Type)
 				schema.Properties = p
 				schema.Required = r
-			}
-			if ctx.UseDefinitions {
-				structName, containsStruct := containsStruct(member.Type)
-				if containsStruct {
-					schema.SchemaProps.Ref = spec.MustCreateRef(getRefName(structName))
+				// For objects with useDefinitions, set $ref at schema level
+				if ctx.UseDefinitions {
+					structName, containsStruct := containsStruct(member.Type)
+					if containsStruct {
+						schema.SchemaProps.Ref = spec.MustCreateRef(getRefName(structName))
+					}
+				}
+			default:
+				// For non-array, non-object types, apply useDefinitions logic
+				if ctx.UseDefinitions {
+					structName, containsStruct := containsStruct(member.Type)
+					if containsStruct {
+						schema.SchemaProps.Ref = spec.MustCreateRef(getRefName(structName))
+					}
 				}
 			}
 
diff --git a/tools/goctl/api/swagger/swagger_test.go b/tools/goctl/api/swagger/swagger_test.go
index d9fa47a95..2493f175d 100644
--- a/tools/goctl/api/swagger/swagger_test.go
+++ b/tools/goctl/api/swagger/swagger_test.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package swagger
 import (
 	"testing"
 
+	"github.com/zeromicro/go-zero/tools/goctl/api/spec"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 )
 
@@ -23,3 +24,117 @@ func Test_pathVariable2SwaggerVariable(t *testing.T) {
 		assert.Equal(t, tc.expected, result)
 	}
 }
+
+func TestArrayDefinitionsBug(t *testing.T) {
+	// Test case for the bug where array of structs with useDefinitions
+	// generates incorrect swagger JSON structure
+
+	// Context with useDefinitions enabled
+	ctx := Context{
+		UseDefinitions: true,
+	}
+
+	// Create a test struct containing an array of structs
+	testStruct := spec.DefineStruct{
+		RawName: "TestStruct",
+		Members: []spec.Member{
+			{
+				Name: "ArrayField",
+				Type: spec.ArrayType{
+					Value: spec.DefineStruct{
+						RawName: "ItemStruct",
+						Members: []spec.Member{
+							{
+								Name: "ItemName",
+								Type: spec.PrimitiveType{RawName: "string"},
+								Tag:  `json:"itemName"`,
+							},
+						},
+					},
+				},
+				Tag: `json:"arrayField"`,
+			},
+		},
+	}
+
+	// Get properties from the struct
+	properties, _ := propertiesFromType(ctx, testStruct)
+
+	// Check that we have the array field
+	assert.Contains(t, properties, "arrayField")
+	arrayField := properties["arrayField"]
+
+	// Verify the array field has correct structure
+	assert.Equal(t, "array", arrayField.Type[0])
+	
+	// Check that we have items
+	assert.NotNil(t, arrayField.Items, "Array should have items defined")
+	assert.NotNil(t, arrayField.Items.Schema, "Array items should have schema")
+
+	// The FIX: $ref should be inside items, not at schema level
+	hasRef := arrayField.Ref.String() != ""
+	assert.False(t, hasRef, "Schema level should NOT have $ref")
+	
+	// The $ref should be in the items
+	hasItemsRef := arrayField.Items.Schema.Ref.String() != ""
+	assert.True(t, hasItemsRef, "Items should have $ref")
+	assert.Equal(t, "#/definitions/ItemStruct", arrayField.Items.Schema.Ref.String())
+
+	// Verify there are no other properties in the items when using $ref
+	assert.Nil(t, arrayField.Items.Schema.Properties, "Items with $ref should not have properties")
+	assert.Empty(t, arrayField.Items.Schema.Required, "Items with $ref should not have required")
+	assert.Empty(t, arrayField.Items.Schema.Type, "Items with $ref should not have type")
+}
+
+func TestArrayWithoutDefinitions(t *testing.T) {
+	// Test that arrays work correctly when useDefinitions is false
+	ctx := Context{
+		UseDefinitions: false, // This is the default
+	}
+
+	// Create the same test struct
+	testStruct := spec.DefineStruct{
+		RawName: "TestStruct",
+		Members: []spec.Member{
+			{
+				Name: "ArrayField",
+				Type: spec.ArrayType{
+					Value: spec.DefineStruct{
+						RawName: "ItemStruct",
+						Members: []spec.Member{
+							{
+								Name: "ItemName",
+								Type: spec.PrimitiveType{RawName: "string"},
+								Tag:  `json:"itemName"`,
+							},
+						},
+					},
+				},
+				Tag: `json:"arrayField"`,
+			},
+		},
+	}
+
+	properties, _ := propertiesFromType(ctx, testStruct)
+
+	assert.Contains(t, properties, "arrayField")
+	arrayField := properties["arrayField"]
+
+	// Should be array type
+	assert.Equal(t, "array", arrayField.Type[0])
+
+	// Should have items with full schema, no $ref
+	assert.NotNil(t, arrayField.Items)
+	assert.NotNil(t, arrayField.Items.Schema)
+
+	// Should NOT have $ref at schema level
+	assert.Empty(t, arrayField.Ref.String(), "Schema should not have $ref when useDefinitions is false")
+
+	// Should NOT have $ref in items either
+	assert.Empty(t, arrayField.Items.Schema.Ref.String(), "Items should not have $ref when useDefinitions is false")
+
+	// Should have full schema properties in items
+	assert.Equal(t, "object", arrayField.Items.Schema.Type[0])
+	assert.Contains(t, arrayField.Items.Schema.Properties, "itemName")
+	assert.Equal(t, []string{"itemName"}, arrayField.Items.Schema.Required)
+}