substantively

American  

[suhb-stuhn-tiv-lee] / ˈsʌb stən tɪv li /

adverb

1. in a way that has to do with the meaning, subject matter, or essential nature of something.

   These guidelines and the current accessibility standards for transportation vehicles are substantively the same.

   I'm not qualified to substantively evaluate the scholar’s argument.

2. to a large degree; significantly.

   This is a small difference, though, and not substantively meaningful.

   While constrained by congressional statutes, federal agencies can substantively shape the policies within their jurisdiction.

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Other Word Forms

• nonsubstantively adverb

Etymology

Origin of substantively

substantive + -ly

Example Sentences

"It is disappointing that the British government continues to show no willingness to substantively consider this issue and has failed to take the decisive action needed to provide meaningful support to the hospitality sector here."

From BBC • Apr. 6, 2026

Absent any major correction to the white-collar services sector of the labor market akin to that of the 2008-09 global financial crisis, this group’s incomes are unlikely to be substantively dented.

From Barron's • Dec. 4, 2025

When it became clear NASA’s funding for JPL would not substantively change in 2025, the lab laid off an additional 325 employees.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 19, 2025

The best that could be said for many other once thriving industries is that they didn’t lose much—but they didn’t grow substantively, either.

From Slate • Sep. 10, 2025

Its true office" wrote Joseph Story in his Commentaries, "is to expound the nature and extent and application of the powers actually conferred by the Constitution, and not substantively to create them.

From The Constitution of the United States of America: Analysis and Interpretation Annotations of Cases Decided by the Supreme Court of the United States to June 30, 1952 by Corwin, Edward Samuel