disjunctive

[ dis-juhngk-tiv ]

/ dɪsˈdʒʌŋk tɪv /

adjective

serving or tending to disjoin; separating; dividing; distinguishing.

Grammar.

syntactically setting two or more expressions in opposition to each other, as but in poor but happy, or expressing an alternative, as or in this or that.
not syntactically dependent upon some particular expression.

Logic.

characterizing propositions that are disjunctions.
(of a syllogism) containing at least one disjunctive proposition as a premise.

noun

a statement, course of action, etc., involving alternatives.

Logic. disjunction(def 2a).

Grammar. a disjunctive word.

Nearby words

Origin of disjunctive

1400–50; late Middle English < Late Latin disjunctīvus placed in opposition, equivalent to Latin disjunct(us) (see disjunct) + -īvus -ive

Related formsdis·junc·tive·ly, adverbnon·dis·junc·tive, adjectivenon·dis·junc·tive·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for disjunctive

Conjunctions are divided into two sorts, the Copulative and Disjunctive.
English Grammar in Familiar Lectures|Samuel Kirkham
In fact, the disjunctive judgment involves the identification of the practical problem.
Studies in Logical Theory|John Dewey
The facilities for wreaking final vengeance upon each other was a disjunctive irony divided equally between them.
The Red Debt|Everett MacDonald
This must have been the case especially when the habitation of a species is extensive, and yet more when it is disjunctive.
Origin of Cultivated Plants|Alphonse De Candolle

Thus the disjunctive conclusion is as bad for an opponent as the categorical one in a Simple Dilemma.
Logic|Carveth Read

British Dictionary definitions for disjunctive

disjunctive

/ (dɪsˈdʒʌŋktɪv) /

adjective

serving to disconnect or separate

grammar

denoting a word, esp a conjunction, that serves to express opposition or contrast: but in the sentence She was poor but she was honest
denoting an inflection of pronouns in some languages that is used alone or after a preposition, such as moi in French

Also: alternative logic relating to, characterized by, or containing disjunction

noun

grammar

a disjunctive word, esp a conjunction
a disjunctive pronoun

logic a disjunctive proposition; disjunction

Derived Formsdisjunctively, adverb

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