additive

1 of 2

adjective

ad·​di·​tive ˈa-də-tiv How to pronounce additive (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or characterized by addition
an additive process
2
: produced by addition
3
: characterized by, being, or producing effects (such as drug responses or gene products) that when the causative factors act together are the sum of their individual effects
additively adverb
additivity noun

additive

2 of 2

noun

: a substance added to another in relatively small amounts to effect a desired change in properties
food additives

Examples of additive in a Sentence

Adjective certain drugs have additive effects when taken in conjunction with each other that one doesn't see when any one is used alone Noun a gasoline additive to reduce pollution
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
If Zaslav is also looking for buyers for Warner Bros. Discovery, an activist's pitch to sell the company may not be additive. Alex Sherman, CNBC, 8 Aug. 2024 The signs and the sirens are both additive measures, designed to be used with all of the tools officials used during the Camp Fire. Colleen Hagerty, Rolling Stone, 9 Oct. 2024
Noun
These marble-sized balls are then crushed and mixed with additives like gypsum to create the cement. Lara Williams, The Mercury News, 5 Nov. 2024 For example, the whitening agent titanium dioxide in soups and dairy products can build up in the body and even damage DNA. European countries take a much more precautionary approach to additives in their food, Benesh says. Jonquilyn Hill, Vox, 5 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for additive 

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

borrowed from Late Latin additīvus, from Latin additus (past participle of addere "to add") + -īvus -ive

Noun

derivative of additive entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1648, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1901, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of additive was in 1648

Dictionary Entries Near additive

Cite this Entry

“Additive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/additive. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

additive

1 of 2 adjective
ad·​di·​tive ˈad-ət-iv How to pronounce additive (audio)
: relating to or produced by addition
additively adverb

additive

2 of 2 noun
: a substance added to another in small amounts to give or improve desirable qualities or decrease unwanted qualities
a gasoline additive
additives which color, flavor, or preserve food

Medical Definition

additive

1 of 2 adjective
ad·​di·​tive ˈad-ət-iv How to pronounce additive (audio)
: having or relating to a value or effect that is the sum of individual values or effects: as
a
: relating to the sum of the pharmacological responses produced by the concurrent administration of two or more drugs capable of producing the same kind of effect
b
: having a genetic effect that is the sum of the individual effects
additively adverb
additivity noun
plural additivities

additive

2 of 2 noun
: a substance added to another in relatively small amounts to effect a desired change in properties
especially : an agent added to a foodstuff to improve color, flavor, texture, or keeping qualities

More from Merriam-Webster on additive

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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