abortive

[uh-bawr-tiv]

adjective

1. failing to succeed; unsuccessful.

   an abortive rebellion; an abortive scheme.

   Synonyms: vain, unavailing, bootless, ineffectual, fruitless
   Antonyms: successful

2. born prematurely.

3. imperfectly developed; rudimentary.

4. Medicine/Medical.

   1. producing or intended to produce abortion; abortifacient.

   2. acting to halt progress of a disease.

5. Pathology.,  (of the course of a disease) short and mild without the usual, pronounced clinical symptoms.

6. Botany.,  (of seeds or pollen grains) imperfect; unable to germinate.

abortive

/ əˈbɔːtɪv /

adjective

1. failing to achieve a purpose; fruitless

2. (of organisms) imperfectly developed; rudimentary

3. causing abortion; abortifacient

Other Word Forms

• abortively adverb
• abortiveness noun
• nonabortive adjective
• nonabortively adverb
• nonabortiveness noun
• unabortive adjective
• unabortively adverb
• unabortiveness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of abortive¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English word from Latin word abortīvus. See abort, -ive

Example Sentences

But the abortive fracking efforts of the last decade or so have turned the former Tory MP into a sceptic.

From BBC

The result of Yoon's abortive martial law attempt was a political maelstrom from which South Korea is still reeling: a constitutional crisis that ended the former president's career and left his PPP in tatters.

From BBC

His abortive proposal to finagle nominees into office without Senate confirmation alienated legislators whose help he will need over the next four years.

From Los Angeles Times

On Saturday morning, four days after Yoon's abortive attempt to declare martial law, the president once again appeared on television.

From BBC

So it is possible the abortive flight over Kostyantynivka was one of Moscow’s first attempts to test its new weapon in combat conditions.

From BBC

Related Words

• failed 
• fruitless 
• futile 
• unsuccessful