connective

1 of 2

adjective

con·​nec·​tive kə-ˈnek-tiv How to pronounce connective (audio)
: serving to connect
connectively adverb

connective

2 of 2

noun

: something that connects: such as
a
: a linguistic form that connects words or word groups
b
: a logical term (such as or, if-then, and, not) or a symbol for it that relates propositions in such a way that the truth or falsity of the resulting statement is determined by the truth or falsity of the components

Examples of connective in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
The Coen brothers, however, have found the connective filmmaking tissue that intertwines all these ideas and have consistently explored the fact that being human is absurd, surreal, realistic, and abstract all at once. Tim Moffatt, EW.com, 26 Jan. 2024 But any scenes pairing Mendes with Olin and Tomei, both captivating performers in their respective roles, truly light a fire under the proceedings, making the dialogue crackle and the connective conflicts percolate. Courtney Howard, Variety, 7 Feb. 2024 In rope bondage, practitioners all over the world equate closeness with an intimate, connective way of tying—whereas styles that exhibit a larger distance are often seen as disconnected or tormenting, for better or worse, in being that far apart. Hazlitt, 6 Dec. 2023 This handle is different from typically squeeze triggers in that there’s no connective spring in the middle, so there’s no chance of any parts slipping out of place and makes cleaning a breeze. Michelle Love, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Jan. 2024 As a cultural purveyor, Anthony is interested in documenting the now to create an artistic legacy that draws a connective thread between the past and the future. Photovogue, Vogue, 6 Nov. 2023 Regional initiatives to lower trade barriers and build connective infrastructure, such as the African Continental Free Trade Area, are also useful. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Foreign Affairs, 8 June 2023 The thrill of being a part of a 10-year connective journey, and the march toward the battle with Thanos over two Avengers movies, had the geeks hyped and the non-comic-heads intrigued. David Betancourt, Washington Post, 16 Nov. 2023 What are some the other connective threads that this team shares? Cori Murray, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Aug. 2023
Noun
This tough connective has a silvery look. Rita Nader Heikenfeld, The Enquirer, 24 Feb. 2023

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

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1660, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1751, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of connective was circa 1660

Dictionary Entries Near connective

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

connective

1 of 2 adjective
con·​nec·​tive kə-ˈnek-tiv How to pronounce connective (audio)
: connecting or tending to connect
connectively adverb

connective

2 of 2 noun
: something that connects
especially : a word or expression (as a conjunction or a relative pronoun) that connects words or word groups

More from Merriam-Webster on connective

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