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.

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Other Word Forms

Derived 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

The judge added Ong's dismissal was "substantively and procedurally unfair".

From BBC • May 5, 2026

Officials from The Terraces have disputed many of the state investigators’ findings, both substantively and procedurally.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 12, 2025

"An entire clause of a sentence" substantively possessed, is sufficiently like "the meaning of a lady's dress, &c."

From The Grammar of English Grammars by Brown, Goold