genitive

American  

[jen-i-tiv] / ˈdʒɛn ɪ tɪv /

adjective

1. (in certain inflected languages) noting a case of nouns, pronouns, or adjectives, used primarily to express possession, measure, or origin: as John's hat, week's vacation, duty's call.

2. noting an affix or other element characteristic of this case, or a word containing such an element.

3. similar to such a case form in function or meaning.

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noun

1. the genitive case.

2. a word in the genitive case.

3. a construction noting this case or the relationship usually expressed by it.

genitive British  

/ ˈdʒɛnɪtɪv, ˌdʒɛnɪˈtaɪvəl /

adjective

1. denoting a case of nouns, pronouns, and adjectives in inflected languages used to indicate a relation of ownership or association, usually translated by English of

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noun

1. 1. the genitive case

   2. a word or speech element in this case

Other Word Forms

• genitival
  adjective
• genitivally
  adverb
• ungenitive
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of genitive

1350–1400; Middle English < Medieval Latin genitīvus, equivalent to genit ( us ) (past participle of gignere to beget) + -īvus -ive

Example Sentences

The species name populi is a Latin singular noun in the genitive case meaning "of the people."

From Science Daily • Feb. 7, 2026

During the Force Majeure show, Izzard gets to grips with German sentence structure and declensions, earning knowing applause from the Berlin crowd for his perfect use of the fiendishly tricky genitive case at one stage.

From Reuters • Jan. 29, 2014

The genitive you are mine / is a phrase I cherished only when I'd moved on / and couldn't use it.

From The Guardian • Apr. 20, 2013

But add either an article, as in A daughter cooked dinner, or a genitive, as in Jenny’s daughter cooked dinner, and the sentence is complete.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker

But that has nothing to do with the antecedent being in the genitive case; it’s just as much of a problem in Sophie and her mother think she’s fat.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker

Related Words

• carnal
• erotic
• intimate
• passionate
• reproductive
• sensual