qualitative

[kwol-i-tey-tiv]

adjective

1. pertaining to or concerned with quality or qualities.

qualitative

/ ˈkwɒlɪtətɪv, -ˌteɪ- /

adjective

1. involving or relating to distinctions based on quality or qualities Compare quantitative

Other Word Forms

• qualitatively adverb
• nonqualitative adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of qualitative¹

First recorded in 1600–10; from Late Latin quālitātīvus, equivalent to quālitāt- (stem of quālitās ) quality + -īvus -ive

Example Sentences

“Best of” lists usually incorporate qualitative and quantitative factors.

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Green accepts that life today has qualitative improvements over, say, 1955.

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“Israel is struggling to maintain its qualitative military edge also because we are in a growing quantitative disadvantage,” Hulata said.

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If an F-35 sale to the Saudis goes forward, a law passed by Congress requires that the U.S. maintain Israel’s “qualitative military edge.”

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The U.S. has a longstanding policy, which is codified in congressional legislation, to maintain Israel’s “qualitative military edge” in the Middle East.

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