Dictionary.com
definitions
  • synonyms

contextual

[kuh n-teks-choo-uh l]
See more synonyms for contextual on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. of, relating to, or depending on the context.
Show More

Origin of contextual

1805–15; < Latin contextu-, stem of contextus context + -al1
Related formscon·tex·tu·al·ly, adverbnon·con·tex·tu·al, adjectivenon·con·tex·tu·al·ly, adverb
Can be confusedcontextual contractual
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for contextual

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • The keenness of the polemic, in this and in the contextual chapters, shows how real and imminent the danger was.

British Dictionary definitions for contextual

contextual

adjective
  1. relating to, dependent on, or using contextcontextual criticism of a book
Show More
Derived Formscontextually, adverb
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

Word Origin and History for contextual

adj.

c.1820, from context on model of textual, etc. In philosophy, contextual definition is recorded from 1934, along with contextualization, contextualize. Related: Contextualized.

Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper