additive

adjective

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ad·di·tive | \ ˈa-də-tiv

Definition of additive

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

additive

noun

Definition of additive (Entry 2 of 2)

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

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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: Adjective The dazzling array of new products means that innovation is multiplicative and not additive for economic growth. — Philip Cross, National Review, "Innovation: Elusive, Hard to Measure but Essential," 30 Dec. 2020 Traditional green and red antifreezes rely on inorganic additive technology, which adds phosphates and silicates to prevent corrosion in your cooling system. — Mike Allen, Popular Mechanics, "How to Maintain and Flush a Cooling System So Your Car Doesn’t Overheat," 27 Aug. 2020 The controversy was over Tawianese President Tsai Ing-wen's decision to allow imports of US pork containing ractopamine, an animal feed additive that is banned in a number of countries including China and the European Union. — Julia Hollingsworth, CNN, "Taiwan lawmakers throw pig guts in protest over meat imports," 28 Nov. 2020 Sugars include types of carbohydrates that can naturally occur in some foods, but are also an additive in certain foods and drinks. — Stefani Sassos, Ms, Rdn, Cso, Good Housekeeping, "What Is a No-Sugar Diet? A Nutritionist Explains the Trend's Benefits," 9 Nov. 2020 Advocates and health officials say the continued rise of the potent additive fentanyl is one reason the city has been unable to stem the tide, along with the isolation and despair caused by the coronavirus pandemic. — Fenit Nirappil, Washington Post, "Despite efforts by Bowser, D.C. Council, record number of opioid deaths this year," 5 Dec. 2020 Burke said the survey also found that about 30 percent of arrestees of all ages thought marijuana was physically additive. — Gary Warth, San Diego Union-Tribune, "SANDAG report finds more local arrestees using marijuana after legalization," 28 Nov. 2020 The markings on the vertical axis show an increase by a power of 10 instead of an additive increase of, say 1,000 more cases. — Rhett Allain, Wired, "What's a Semi-Log Plot and How Can You Use It for Covid Data?," 27 Nov. 2020 Somsak Thepsuthin said tests which turned purple in the presence of ketamine hydrochloride reacted the same to trisodium phosphate -- a chemical which can be used as a food additive and cleaning agent which is all that had been found so far. — Reuters, CNN, "Thailand's $1 billion ketamine bust a 'misunderstanding' as officials fail to find drugs," 24 Nov. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun The mat is coated in an antimicrobial additive that helps prevent mould and mildew from building up. — Zoe Malin, NBC News, "Best last-minute gifts 2020: Best last-minute holiday gift ideas," 16 Dec. 2020 The researchers identified a chemical called 6PPD, a common rubber additive aimed at making car tires last longer, that transforms into deadly 6PPD-quinone when unleashed in nature, reports Lynda V. Maps of the Seattle Times. — Alex Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, "Researchers Reveal Why Seattle Salmon Bite the Dust After Rainstorms," 7 Dec. 2020 Banned in at least 160 countries around the world, according to Randox Food Diagnostics, the additive is used by U.S. pig farmers to increase the amount of lean meat on hogs. — Tyler Van Dyke, Washington Examiner, "Taiwanese lawmakers throw punches and pig intestines over pork import ban," 27 Nov. 2020 Edmondson wonders how this additive would function in the real world, where concrete must withstand vibrations, for instance, and endure exposure to contaminants. — Sophie Bushwick, Scientific American, "New Bio-Inspired Molecule Helps Concrete Resist Freeze Damage," 14 Sep. 2020 To test it, the team mixed several batches of concrete, including one control, one with air bubbles and a few with different concentrations of the PEG-PVA additive. — Sophie Bushwick, Scientific American, "New Bio-Inspired Molecule Helps Concrete Resist Freeze Damage," 14 Sep. 2020 Parts like the door seal are treated with Microban, an additive that helps prevent the growth of odor-causing bacteria, so there's no need to leave the door ajar. — Carolyn Forte, Good Housekeeping, "GH Seal Spotlight: GE Appliances UltraFresh Front Load Washer with OdorBlock," 1 Oct. 2020 The adjuvanted flu vaccine is made with MF59 adjuvant, an additive that triggers a stronger immune response to vaccination. — Claire Gillespie, Health.com, "What Is the High-Dose Flu Vaccine, and Who Can Get It? Here's What Infectious Disease Experts Say," 24 Sep. 2020 Quinoa’s not just a thing to fill your belly, an additive for a healthy grain bowl or an afterthought in a granola bar — it’s an ingredient that deserves to be cooked with respect. — Kristen Hartke, Washington Post, "Embracing quinoa’s nutty flavor is the key to unlocking its potential," 14 Sep. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'additive.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

15 Jan 2021

Cite this Entry

“Additive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/additive. Accessed 22 Jan. 2021.

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More Definitions for additive

additive

noun

English Language Learners Definition of additive

: something (such as a chemical) that is added in small amounts to a substance to improve it in some way

See the full definition for additive in the English Language Learners Dictionary

additive

noun

ad·di·tive | \ ˈa-də-tiv

Kids Definition of additive

: a substance added to another in small amounts The gasoline additive improves engine performance.

additive

adjective

ad·di·tive | \ ˈad-ət-iv

Medical Definition of additive

(Entry 1 of 2)

: 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

additive

noun

Medical Definition of additive (Entry 2 of 2)

: 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

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