inductive

[ in-duhk-tiv ]
See synonyms for inductive on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. of, relating to, or involving electrical induction or magnetic induction.

  2. operating by induction: an inductive machine.

  1. of, relating to, or employing logical induction: inductive reasoning.

  2. Embryology. eliciting the action of an embryonic inducer.

  3. serving to induce; leading or influencing (usually followed by to).

Origin of inductive

1
From the Late Latin word inductīvus, dating back to 1600–10. See induct, -ive

confusables note For inductive

3. See deductive.

Other words from inductive

  • in·duc·tive·ly, adverb
  • in·duc·tive·ness, noun
  • an·ti-in·duc·tive, adjective
  • an·ti-in·duc·tive·ly, adverb
  • an·ti-in·duc·tive·ness, noun
  • pre·in·duc·tive, adjective
  • sem·i-in·duc·tive, adjective
  • un·in·duc·tive, adjective

Words Nearby inductive

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use inductive in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for inductive

inductive

/ (ɪnˈdʌktɪv) /


adjective
  1. relating to, involving, or operated by electrical or magnetic induction: an inductive reactance

  2. logic maths of, relating to, or using induction: inductive reasoning

  1. serving to induce or cause

  2. a rare word for introductory

  3. biology producing a reaction within an organism, esp induction in embryonic tissue

Derived forms of inductive

  • inductively, adverb
  • inductiveness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012