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formative
[ fawr-muh-tiv ]
/ ˈfɔr mə tɪv /
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adjective
noun
Grammar. a derivational affix, particularly one that determines the part of speech of the derived word, as -ness, in loudness, hardness, etc.
Linguistics. (in generative grammar) any element, as a word, affix, or inflectional ending, functioning as a minimal syntactic unit that can be used in forming larger constructions.
OTHER WORDS FOR formative
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Origin of formative
OTHER WORDS FROM formative
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH formative
formative , formidableWords nearby formative
format, formate, formation, formation dance, formation rules, formative, formative assessment, formative element, formboard, Formby, form class
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use formative in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for formative
formative
/ (ˈfɔːmətɪv) /
adjective
of or relating to formation, development, or growthformative years
shaping; mouldinga formative experience
(of tissues and cells in certain parts of an organism) capable of growth and differentiation
functioning in the formation of derived, inflected, or compound words
noun
an inflectional or derivational affix
(in generative grammar) any of the minimum units of a sentence that have syntactic function
Derived forms of formative
formatively, adverbformativeness, nounCollins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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