ablative

1 of 2

adjective (1)

ab·​la·​tive ˈa-blə-tiv 

: of, relating to, or being a grammatical case (see case entry 1 sense 3a) that typically marks a person, place, or thing from which someone or something else is separated or the source from which someone or something comes, and is also frequently used to indicate the cause of an event or condition or the instrument by which an action is accomplished see also ablative absolute

ablative noun

ablative

2 of 2

adjective (2)

ab·​la·​tive a-ˈblā-tiv 

1

: of or relating to ablation

2

: tending to ablate

ablative material on a nose cone

ablatively adverb

Examples of ablative in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Ask for the exact device, whether the treatment is ablative or nonablative, the intended depth, and the reaction to expect in week one. — Malana Vantyler, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2026

Ahead of the demo, SpaceX engineers reworked the rocket's heat shield, replacing the entire thermal protection system with newer tiles and a backup ablative layer. — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2026

Capsules commonly carry ablative shields made from materials designed to char and gradually wear away. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2026

The ablative heat shield, designed to char upon reentry while keeping the crew safe, had experienced unexpected losses of large chunks during a test flight in late 2022. — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 1 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective (1)

Middle English ablatif, borrowed from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French ablatif, borrowed from Latin ablātīvus, from ablātus, suppletive past participle of auferre "to carry away, remove" + -īvus -ive — more at ablate

Adjective (2)

ablate + -ive

First Known Use

Adjective (1)

circa 1500, in the meaning defined above

Adjective (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing ablative

• ablative absolute

Medical Definition

ablative

adjective

ab·​la·​tive a-ˈblā-tiv, ə- 

: relating to or involving surgical ablation

ablative treatment

ablative techniques