substantive
Americannoun
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a noun.
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a pronoun or other word or phrase functioning or inflected like a noun.
adjective
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Grammar.
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pertaining to substantives.
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used in a sentence like a noun.
a substantive adjective.
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expressing existence.
“to be” is a substantive verb.
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having independent existence; independent.
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belonging to the real nature or essential part of a thing; essential.
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real or actual.
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of considerable amount or quantity.
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possessing substance; having practical importance, value, or effect.
substantive issues under discussion.
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Law. pertaining to the rules of right which courts are called on to apply, as distinguished from rules of procedure (adjective ).
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(of dye colors) attaching directly to the material without the aid of a mordant (adjective ).
noun
adjective
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of, relating to, containing, or being the essential element of a thing
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having independent function, resources, or existence
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of substantial quantity
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solid in foundation or basis
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grammar denoting, relating to, or standing in place of a noun
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relating to the essential legal principles administered by the courts, as opposed to practice and procedure Compare adjective
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(of a dye or colour) staining the material directly without use of a mordant
Other Word Forms
- nonsubstantive adjective
- nonsubstantiveness noun
- substantival adjective
- substantivally adverb
- substantively adverb
- substantiveness noun
- unsubstantive adjective
Etymology
Origin of substantive
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Late Latin substantīvus, equivalent to Latin substant(ia) substance + -īvus -ive
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.
But accepting that “where they are” is a degraded information ecosystem designed to reward the worst impulses in human nature means admitting that there is no possibility of rebuilding something more substantive.
From Salon
A first day of trilateral talks in the Emirati capital on Wednesday concluded with Kyiv describing the negotiations as "substantive and productive", though there was no apparent breakthrough.
From Barron's
None of the new information substantively undercuts the president's assertion that his friendship with Epstein ended around 2004.
From BBC
In contrast, if we instead see substantive breakthroughs that could guarantee years of strong demand, Taiwan’s longer-term outlook could remain bright.
From Barron's
Just as in Pretti’s case, Noem and other senior administration officials justified the incident within hours of her death by impugning the victim’s motives without producing substantive evidence.
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
