connective

American  

[kuh-nek-tiv] / kəˈnɛk tɪv /

adjective

1. serving or tending to connect.

   connective remarks between chapters.

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noun

1. something that connects.

2. Grammar. a word used to connect words, phrases, clauses, and sentences, as a conjunction.

3. Botany. the tissue joining the two cells of the anther.

connective British  

/ ˌkɒnɛkˈtɪvɪtɪ, kəˈnɛktɪv /

adjective

1. serving to connect or capable of connecting

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noun

1. a thing that connects

2. grammar logic

   1. a less common word for conjunction

   2. any word that connects phrases, clauses, or individual words

   3. a symbol used in a formal language in the construction of compound sentences from simpler sentences, corresponding to terms such as or, and, not, etc, in ordinary speech

3. botany the tissue of a stamen that connects the two lobes of the anther

4. anatomy a nerve-fibre bundle connecting two nerve centres

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonconnectivity
  noun
• nonconnective
  adjective
• preconnective
  adjective
• nonconnectively
  adverb
• quasi-connective
  adjective
• connectively
  adverb
• quasi-connectively
  adverb
• connectivity
  noun

Etymology

Origin of connective

First recorded in 1645–55; connect + -ive

Explanation

Something that's connective connects or attaches things to each other. In grammar, connective words such as "like" or "than" connect clauses or phrases. A connective device on your computer, like a modem, connects it with the Internet, and connective tissue in your body connects organs, tissues, bones, muscles, and other body parts to each other. Sometimes a connective word or conjunction is also called a connective. The word comes from the verb connect, from the Latin root conectere, "join together."

Example Sentences

The company, which once manufactured lightbulbs for Thomas Edison, has attracted demand from many hyperscalers for its fiber-optic cables, a key connective tissue for AI infrastructure.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026

This quantum software will serve as the so-called connective tissue in hybrid models linking quantum systems with classical machines.

From Barron's • May 5, 2026

“I don’t think people can appreciate how she is very much the connective tissue to a lot of what we are seeing that has taken place.”

From Salon • Mar. 19, 2026

It supports and strengthens skin, nails, bones and connective tissues, including tendons and cartilage.

From BBC • Feb. 26, 2026

The IOI skyscrapers were the three tallest buildings in the city, mighty towers of steel and mirrored glass joined by dozens of connective walkways and elevator trams.

From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline