associative

[ uh-soh-shee-ey-tiv, -see-, -shuh-tiv ]

See synonyms for associative on Thesaurus.com

adjective

pertaining to or resulting from association.
tending to associate or unite.

Mathematics, Logic.
- (of an operation on a set of elements) giving an equivalent expression when elements are grouped without change of order, as (a + b) + c = a + (b + c).
- having reference to this property: associative law of multiplication.

Origin of associative

First recorded in 1805–15; associate + -ive

Other words from associative

as·so·ci·a·tive·ly [uh-soh-shee-ey-tiv-lee, -uh-tiv-, -see-], /əˈsoʊ ʃiˌeɪ tɪv li, -ə tɪv-, -si-/, adverb
as·so·ci·a·tiv·i·ty [uh-soh-shee-uh-tiv-i-tee, -see-, -shuh-tiv-], /əˌsoʊ ʃi əˈtɪv ɪ ti, -si-, -ʃəˈtɪv-/, as·so·ci·a·tive·ness, noun
non·as·so·ci·a·tive, adjective
non·as·so·ci·a·tive·ly, adverb
sub·as·so·ci·a·tive, adjective
sub·as·so·ci·a·tive·ly, adverb
un·as·so·ci·a·tive, adjective
un·as·so·ci·a·tive·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use associative in a sentence

The absence of certain neurotransmitters makes the mind tend toward loose associative drifting during REM sleep, which may explain the often bizarre quality of our dreams during this sleep stage.
In our dreams, a theater of the unconscious | Nick Romeo | January 22, 2021 | Washington Post
It is the only sense that bypasses the thalamus and has almost immediate access to the core cortex—including the hypothalamus, involved in the processing of new memories and associative learning.
What Did the Past Smell Like? - Issue 93: Forerunners | Ann-Sophie Barwich | December 9, 2020 | Nautilus
As expected, they scored very highly on the assessment of internal focus, with 23 of the 25 subjects being classified as primarily associative.
The Myth of Synchronized Breathing | Alex Hutchinson | September 23, 2020 | Outside Online
It is subjected to certain conditions and, for example, to the rules of commutativity and associativity of addition.
The Foundations of Science: Science and Hypothesis, The Value of Science, Science and Method | Henri Poincar

British Dictionary definitions for associative

associative

/ (əˈsəʊʃɪətɪv) /

adjective

of, relating to, or causing association or union
maths logic
- being independent of the grouping of numbers, symbols, or terms within a given set, as in conjunction or in an expression such as (2 × 3) × 4 = 2 × (3 × 4)
- referring to this property: the associative laws of arithmetic

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for associative

associative

[ ə-sō′shə-tĭv ]

Of or relating to the property of an operation, such as addition or multiplication, which states that the grouping of numbers undergoing the operation does not change the result. For example, 3 + (4 + 5) is equal to (3 + 4) + 5. See also commutative distributive.

Browse