cumulative

American  

[kyoo-myuh-luh-tiv, -ley-tiv] / ˈkyu myə lə tɪv, -ˌleɪ tɪv /

adjective

1. increasing or growing by accumulation or successive additions.

   the cumulative effect of one rejection after another.

2. formed by or resulting from accumulation or the addition of successive parts or elements.

3. of or relating to interest or dividends that, if not paid when due, become a prior claim for payment in the future.

   cumulative preferred stocks.

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cumulative British  

/ ˈkjuːmjʊlətɪv /

adjective

1. growing in quantity, strength, or effect by successive additions or gradual steps

   cumulative pollution

2. gained by or resulting from a gradual building up

   cumulative benefits

3. finance

   1. (of preference shares) entitling the holder to receive any arrears of dividend before any dividend is distributed to ordinary shareholders

   2. (of dividends or interest) intended to be accumulated if not paid when due

4. statistics

   1. (of a frequency) including all values of a variable either below or above a specified value

   2. (of error) tending to increase as the sample size is increased

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Other Word Forms

• cumulatively adverb
• cumulativeness noun
• uncumulative adjective

Etymology

Origin of cumulative

First recorded in 1595–1605; cumulate + -ive

Compare meaning

How does cumulative compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• cumulative vs. accumulative

Example Sentences

Barr said the cumulative effect of recent changes amounts to a $117 billion reduction in that cushion across the banking system.

From Barron's

According to Malik, the Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia, these attacks all have a cumulative effect.

From BBC

"Cumulative trauma, cumulative adverse experiences and ongoing instability and unpredictability certainly put these children at higher risk... of developing psychiatric disorders and negative mental health outcomes," Evelyne Baroud, a child and adolescent psychiatrist told AFP.

From Barron's

The amount that some people spend every month on their “stacks”—the numerous capsules, powders and injections they take in the hopes of achieving a cumulative, self-optimizing effect.

From The Wall Street Journal

From beauty lovers to masculinity influencers, everyone is boasting about their “stacks”—the numerous capsules, powders and injections they take regularly in the hopes of achieving a cumulative, self-optimizing effect.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• aggregate
• increasing