adjective

1 of 2

noun

ad·​jec·​tive ˈa-jik-tiv How to pronounce adjective (audio)
 also  ˈa-jə-tiv
: a word belonging to one of the major form classes in any of numerous languages and typically serving as a modifier of a noun to denote a quality of the thing named, to indicate its quantity or extent, or to specify a thing as distinct from something else
The word red in "the red car" is an adjective.

adjective

2 of 2

adjective

1
: of, relating to, or functioning as an adjective
an adjective clause
2
: not standing by itself : dependent
3
: requiring or employing a mordant
adjective dyes
4
: procedural
adjective law
adjectively adverb

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What is an adjective?

Adjectives describe or modify—that is, they limit or restrict the meaning of—nouns and pronouns. They may name qualities of all kinds: huge, red, angry, tremendous, unique, rare, etc.

An adjective usually comes right before a noun: "a red dress," "fifteen people." When an adjective follows a linking verb such as be or seem, it is called a predicate adjective: "That building is huge," "The workers seem happy." Most adjectives can be used as predicate adjectives, although some are always used before a noun. Similarly, a few adjectives can only be used as predicate adjectives and are never used before a noun.

Some adjectives describe qualities that can exist in different amounts or degrees. To do this, the adjective will either change in form (usually by adding -er or -est) or will be used with words like more, most, very, slightly, etc.: "the older girls," "the longest day of the year," "a very strong feeling," "more expensive than that one." Other adjectives describe qualities that do not vary—"nuclear energy," "a medical doctor"—and do not change form.

The four demonstrative adjectivesthis, that, these, and those—are identical to the demonstrative pronouns. They are used to distinguish the person or thing being described from others of the same category or class. This and these describe people or things that are nearby, or in the present. That and those are used to describe people or things that are not here, not nearby, or in the past or future. These adjectives, like the definite and indefinite articles (a, an, and the), always come before any other adjectives that modify a noun.

An indefinite adjective describes a whole group or class of people or things, or a person or thing that is not identified or familiar. The most common indefinite adjectives are: all, another, any, both, each, either, enough, every, few, half, least, less, little, many, more, most, much, neither, one (and two, three, etc.), other, several, some, such, whole.

The interrogative adjectives—primarily which, what, and whose—are used to begin questions. They can also be used as interrogative pronouns.

Which horse did you bet on? = Which did you bet on?

What songs did they sing? = What did they sing?

Whose coat is this? = Whose is this?

The possessive adjectivesmy, your, his, her, its, our, their—tell you who has, owns, or has experienced something, as in "I admired her candor, "Our cat is 14 years old," and "They said their trip was wonderful."

Nouns often function like adjectives. When they do, they are called attributive nouns.

When two or more adjectives are used before a noun, they should be put in proper order. Any article (a, an, the), demonstrative adjective (that, these, etc.), indefinite adjective (another, both, etc.), or possessive adjective (her, our, etc.) always comes first. If there is a number, it comes first or second. True adjectives always come before attributive nouns. The ordering of true adjectives will vary, but the following order is the most common:

opinion wordsizeageshapecolornationalitymaterial.

Participles are often used like ordinary adjectives. They may come before a noun or after a linking verb. A present participle (an -ing word) describes the person or thing that causes something; for example, a boring conversation is one that bores you. A past participle (usually an -ed word) describes the person or thing who has been affected by something; for example, a bored person is one who has been affected by boredom.

They had just watched an exciting soccer game.

The instructions were confusing.

She's excited about the trip to North Africa.

Several confused students were asking questions about the test.

The lake was frozen.

Examples of adjective in a Sentence

Noun The words blue in “the blue car,” deep in “the water is deep,” and tired in “I'm very tired” are adjectives.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Describing the warm, fuzzy optimism of an Idles record requires only the most pretentious adjectives — ebullience, exultation, jubilation — words that Idles frontman Joe Talbot would likely laugh at heartily before offering a pint to anyone who said them. Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 15 Feb. 2024 Those details illuminate elements of a character more effectively than just stating an adjective. Rachel Kurzius, Washington Post, 14 Feb. 2024 Annual is most frequently used as an adjective describing an event that happens once a year. Chris McKeown, The Enquirer, 13 Jan. 2024 Romantic, old-world, and authentic are some of the adjectives used to describe this intimate restaurant overlooking North Square, with its cobblestones and historic buildings that transport you back in time. Maya Kachroo-Levine, Travel + Leisure, 12 Feb. 2024 Three adjectives that describe a good dip: warm, creamy and melty. Matt Brooks, Washington Post, 6 Feb. 2024 List three adjectives that best describe yourself: Passionate, persistent, sassy How would your friends describe you? Dalton Ross, EW.com, 5 Feb. 2024 The answer to this week’s contest crossword is an adjective that does not describe most contest crossword solvers. WSJ, 11 Jan. 2024 This adjective can be used to describe someone who is long-winded with their speech 2. CNN, 25 Jan. 2024
Adjective
Meanwhile, dad as an adjective hints at someone shorn of all responsibilities. Saul Austerlitz, The Atlantic, 5 Mar. 2024 Padam became our favorite verb, noun, adjective, a way of life. Jason Lamphier, EW.com, 17 Dec. 2023 Premiere for the debut of a movie; premier is a title for a government’s leader, or an adjective meaning important. WSJ, 28 Dec. 2023 In my Oxford English Dictionary both words take up several pages each in all their iterations (etymology, evolution in use, noun, adjective, adverb, etc.). Lisa Z. Lindahl, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023 When planning your trip, that adjective, immense, is essential to remember. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 27 July 2023 Noun; adjective; verb. Someone whose style is born from the female gaze. Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, 13 Sep. 2023 Transgender Transgender, often shortened to trans, is an adjective used to describe someone whose gender identity does not align with the gender they were assigned at birth. Thaddeus Cramer, Parents, 13 Sep. 2023 That tension between adverb and adjective conveys a subtlety and disquiet reflected in the images. Mark Feeney, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Aug. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'adjective.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English adjectif, borrowed from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French adjectyf, borrowed from Late Latin adjectīvum, from neuter of adjectivus adjective entry 2 (as translation of Greek epítheton)

Adjective

Middle English adjectif, borrowed from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French adjectyf, borrowed from Late Latin adjectīvus, from Latin adjectus (past participle of adjicere "to throw at, attach, contribute, add to (in speech or writing)," from ad- ad- + jacere "to throw") + -īvus -ive — more at jet entry 3

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of adjective was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near adjective

Cite this Entry

“Adjective.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adjective. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

adjective

noun
ad·​jec·​tive
ˈaj-ik-tiv
: a word that modifies a noun by describing a quality of the thing named, indicating its quantity or extent, or specifying a thing as distinct from something else
adjective adjective
adjectival
ˌaj-ik-ˈtī-vəl
adjective or noun
adjectivally
-və-lē
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on adjective

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