connective

American  

[kuh-nek-tiv] / kəˈnɛk tɪv /

adjective

1. serving or tending to connect.

   connective remarks between chapters.

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noun

1. something that connects.

2. Grammar. a word used to connect words, phrases, clauses, and sentences, as a conjunction.

3. Botany. the tissue joining the two cells of the anther.

connective British  

/ ˌkɒnɛkˈtɪvɪtɪ, kəˈnɛktɪv /

adjective

1. serving to connect or capable of connecting

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noun

1. a thing that connects

2. grammar logic

   1. a less common word for conjunction

   2. any word that connects phrases, clauses, or individual words

   3. a symbol used in a formal language in the construction of compound sentences from simpler sentences, corresponding to terms such as or, and, not, etc, in ordinary speech

3. botany the tissue of a stamen that connects the two lobes of the anther

4. anatomy a nerve-fibre bundle connecting two nerve centres

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonconnectivity
  noun
• nonconnective
  adjective
• preconnective
  adjective
• nonconnectively
  adverb
• quasi-connective
  adjective
• connectively
  adverb
• quasi-connectively
  adverb
• connectivity
  noun

Etymology

Origin of connective

First recorded in 1645–55; connect + -ive

Explanation

Something that's connective connects or attaches things to each other. In grammar, connective words such as "like" or "than" connect clauses or phrases. A connective device on your computer, like a modem, connects it with the Internet, and connective tissue in your body connects organs, tissues, bones, muscles, and other body parts to each other. Sometimes a connective word or conjunction is also called a connective. The word comes from the verb connect, from the Latin root conectere, "join together."

Example Sentences

Shares soared 12% on Wednesday after Nvidia announced plans to invest $500 million in the glassmaker to expand manufacturing of fiber optics, a key connective tissue for AI infrastructure.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026

This quantum software will serve as the so-called connective tissue in hybrid models linking quantum systems with classical machines.

From Barron's • May 5, 2026

“I don’t think people can appreciate how she is very much the connective tissue to a lot of what we are seeing that has taken place,” Chukwu said.

From Salon • Mar. 19, 2026

It supports and strengthens skin, nails, bones and connective tissues, including tendons and cartilage.

From BBC • Feb. 26, 2026

The key linguistic couplers are connective words like because, so, and but.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker