qualitative

[kwol-i-tey-tiv]

adjective

1. pertaining to or concerned with quality or qualities.

qualitative

/ ˈkwɒlɪtətɪv, -ˌteɪ- /

adjective

1. involving or relating to distinctions based on quality or qualities Compare quantitative

Other Word Forms

• qualitatively adverb
• nonqualitative adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of qualitative¹

First recorded in 1600–10; from Late Latin quālitātīvus, equivalent to quālitāt- (stem of quālitās ) quality + -īvus -ive

Example Sentences

Museveni added that he wanted Uganda to take a "qualitative leap", and become a "high upper middle income country".

From BBC

Nearly all long-run economic polling data or qualitative study on economic well-being conclude that most Americans exist in a nearly permanent state of economic dissatisfaction, though not always in an outright crisis.

From Salon

Last month, Argyri co-authored a qualitative study of people who had gone through challenging experiences found some people gained more compassion for others in the process and wanted to give back after their experience.

From Salon

Featherstone, who is now coordinating the Palisades fire recovery, said Parks’ requests received “a qualitative negative response,” and suggested that there was a lack of understanding or appreciation of the import of EMD’s role.

From Los Angeles Times

But there’s a qualitative difference with a spiteful, foul-mouthed, score-settling president leading by acrid example.

From Los Angeles Times