substantively

American  

[suhb-stuhn-tiv-lee] / ˈsʌb stən tɪv li /

adverb

1. in a way that has to do with the meaning, subject matter, or essential nature of something.

   These guidelines and the current accessibility standards for transportation vehicles are substantively the same.

   I'm not qualified to substantively evaluate the scholar’s argument.

2. to a large degree; significantly.

   This is a small difference, though, and not substantively meaningful.

   While constrained by congressional statutes, federal agencies can substantively shape the policies within their jurisdiction.

---

Other Word Forms

• nonsubstantively
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of substantively

substantive + -ly

Example Sentences

In fact he refers substantively to the czars in more than 3,000 addresses.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026

And it was a smashing success, not only politically, but substantively as well.

From Salon • May 14, 2026

None of the new information substantively undercuts the president's assertion that his friendship with Epstein ended around 2004.

From BBC • Feb. 4, 2026

Councilmember Bob Blumenfield raised warnings about the council’s vote on Tuesday, saying charter reform is substantively different from the 2021 redistricting process.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 27, 2026

The, since it belongs distinctively to substantives, is a sure indication that a word of verbal form is not used participially, but substantively.

From An English Grammar by Sewell, James Witt