contextual
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of contextual
1805–15; < Latin contextu-, stem of contextus context + -al 1
Explanation
Something contextual relies on its context or setting to make sense. If you touch someone and shout "You're it!" in a game of tag, people get it, but if you're in the grocery store tapping strangers on the shoulder and yelling at them, it's less contextual. You can use the adjective contextual to describe what something means as it relates to a place, or meaning in a written text. If someone asks you what contextual reason you have for choosing an answer after reading a chapter, for example, you'll have an opinion in the context of what you read — it is contextual because it came out of the text. Activities are contextual too: riding a skateboard in a dance studio is not contextual, but doing ballet there would be.
Vocabulary lists containing contextual
Symbolism and Allegory & Idea or Theme
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Turtles All the Way Down
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Form & Symbolism and Allusion
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The frames will operate on Google’s Gemini AI model and work with Android’s “extended reality” operating system to provide contextual, real-time assistance.
From Barron's • May 19, 2026
That also has unsettling contextual implications that the writers can’t gloss over.
From Salon • Mar. 29, 2026
In a footnote of a news release at the time, Samsung pledged to “serve contextual or non-personal ads” and respect data privacy.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026
But the launch of dedicated health AI services will make it more personalized and contextual.
From MarketWatch • Jan. 21, 2026
We will always reach for a “dispositional” explanation for events, as opposed to a contextual explanation.
From "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
