cumulative

[ kyoo-myuh-luh-tiv, -ley-tiv ]

adjective

1. increasing or growing by accumulation or successive additions:

   the cumulative effect of one rejection after another.

2. formed by or resulting from accumulation or the addition of successive parts or elements.
3. of or relating to interest or dividends that, if not paid when due, become a prior claim for payment in the future:

   cumulative preferred stocks.

cumulative

/ ˈkjuːmjʊlətɪv /

adjective

1. growing in quantity, strength, or effect by successive additions or gradual steps

   cumulative pollution

2. gained by or resulting from a gradual building up

   cumulative benefits

3. finance
   1. (of preference shares) entitling the holder to receive any arrears of dividend before any dividend is distributed to ordinary shareholders
   2. (of dividends or interest) intended to be accumulated if not paid when due
4. statistics
   1. (of a frequency) including all values of a variable either below or above a specified value
   2. (of error) tending to increase as the sample size is increased

Derived Forms

• ˈcumulatively, adverb
• ˈcumulativeness, noun

Other Words From

• cumu·la·tive·ly adverb
• cumu·la·tive·ness noun
• un·cumu·la·tive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cumulative¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; cumulate + -ive

Example Sentences

Of course the participants of the sport are at higher risk for the cumulative effects of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy.

From The Daily Beast

Yet the cumulative efforts of this massive force had virtually no impact on the course of the war.

From The Daily Beast

In fact, this number represents the cumulative number of deaths in the U.S. from people diagnosed with AIDS, through 2010.

From The Daily Beast

In 2010 the cumulative number of deaths from HIV in the U.S. was 636,048, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

From The Daily Beast

Scientists have shown that the impact of repetitive concussions is cumulative--one builds on the other.

From The Daily Beast

More recently the cumulative system of voting has come into general favor.

From Project Gutenberg

Synaptic cells summed and integrated, cancelled and compared and with saucy assurance sent the findings on toward Cumulative.

From Project Gutenberg

The cumulative force of events had made him once more profoundly uncertain.

From Project Gutenberg

It is an insinuating and insidious ailment and its progress is cumulative.

From Project Gutenberg

Furthermore, the Homestead Act of 1862 gave new and cumulative impetus to the immigration which sought farming lands.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• aggregate
• increasing