supportive

American  

[suh-pawr-tiv, -pohr-] / səˈpɔr tɪv, -ˈpoʊr- /

adjective

1. giving support.

2. providing sympathy or encouragement.

   His family was supportive of his attempts to be a writer.

3. providing additional help, information, etc.; auxiliary.

   manufacturers of supportive materials.

4. Medicine/Medical. helping to maintain a normal physiological balance, as by the intravenous administration of required nutriment.

---

Other Word Forms

• nonsupportive adjective
• supportiveness noun
• unsupportive adjective

Etymology

Origin of supportive

First recorded in 1585–95; support + -ive

Example Sentences

Inconveniently for the anti-Shriver crowd, many readers enjoy Shriver’s novels, whether they are aware of, supportive of or indifferent to her politics.

From The Wall Street Journal

"The Lions District Governors have been briefed and are supportive," he told the BBC.

From BBC

In December 2024, Lord Mandelson was appointed as the UK's ambassador to the US but was sacked less than a year later, when it emerged he had sent supportive messages to Epstein following the conviction.

From BBC

As a former Fed board governor, Warsh wasn’t supportive of low interest rates.

From Barron's

The report followed comments last week from US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who appeared supportive of Alberta's independence push.

From Barron's