DETERMINATIVE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does determinative mean? 

• DETERMINATIVE (noun)
  The noun DETERMINATIVE has 2 senses:

1. one of a limited class of noun modifiers that determine the referents of noun phrases

2. a determining or causal element or factor

  Familiarity information: DETERMINATIVE used as a noun is rare.

• DETERMINATIVE (adjective)
  The adjective DETERMINATIVE has 1 sense:

1. having the power or quality of deciding

  Familiarity information: DETERMINATIVE used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DETERMINATIVE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

One of a limited class of noun modifiers that determine the referents of noun phrases

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

determinative; determiner

Hypernyms ("determinative" is a kind of...):

closed-class word; function word (a word that is uninflected and serves a grammatical function but has little identifiable meaning)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "determinative"):

article ((grammar) a determiner that may indicate the specificity of reference of a noun phrase)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A determining or causal element or factor

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

causal factor; determinant; determinative; determiner; determining factor

Context example:

education is an important determinant of one's outlook on life

Hypernyms ("determinative" is a kind of...):

cognitive factor (something immaterial (as a circumstance or influence) that contributes to producing a result)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "determinative"):

clincher; decisive factor (a point or fact or remark that settles something conclusively)

influence (a cognitive factor that tends to have an effect on what you do)

Derivation:

determinative (having the power or quality of deciding)

• DETERMINATIVE (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Having the power or quality of deciding

Synonyms:

deciding; determinant; determinative; determining

Context example:

the determinative (or determinant) battle

Similar:

decisive (determining or having the power to determine an outcome)

Derivation:

determinative (a determining or causal element or factor)