irretentive

American

[ir-i-ten-tiv] / ˌɪr ɪˈtɛn tɪv /

adjective

not retentive; lacking power to retain, especially mentally.

irretentive British

/ ˌɪrɪˈtɛntɪv /

adjective

not retentive

"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

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Etymology

Origin of irretentive

First recorded in 1740–50; ir- ² + retentive

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

With nothing of her sisters' superficial cleverness, with a mind that worked slowly, and a memory irretentive, she had a genuine desire to instruct herself, and that in a solid way.

From The Emancipated by Gissing, George

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023