additive

adjective ad·di·tive \ ˈa-də-tiv \

Updated on: 23 May 2018

Definition of additive

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

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additively

adverb

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additivity

play \ˌa-də-ˈti-və-tē\ noun

See additive defined for kids

Examples of additive in a Sentence

certain drugs have additive effects when taken in conjunction with each other that one doesn't see when any one is used alone

Recent Examples of additive from the Web

Ketamine augments the brain's ability to change, which could explain why talk therapy might be additive.

— moises velasquez-manoff, WIRED, "Ketamine Stirs Up Hope—and Controversy—as a Depression Drug," 8 May 2018
To me, doing something additive to the DC Universe and affirmative of its ongoing legacy of superheroics with many faces, which the God of Superheroes notes in the finale, is an honorable achievement.

— graeme mcmillan, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Justice League of America' Writer Dissects a Year of Storytelling," 27 Apr. 2018
And auto-industry designers use additive manufacturing techniques to rework the shape of a fender.

— chris morris, Fortune, "Your Next Home Could Be 3D-Printed," 23 Apr. 2018
The best part of making comics as a team is that back and forth excitement as the story expands with each creative partner's additive concepts.

— will nevin, OregonLive.com, "Interview | Writer Ryan O'Sullivan, artist Plaid Klaus go inside Image Comics' 'Void Trip'," 16 Apr. 2018
Last year, Auburn was named as one of only eight universities in the world by General Electric for its additive education program.

— william thornton, AL.com, "Auburn University establishing two additive manufacturing centers," 20 Mar. 2018
The scientists fed fatty foods to one group of mice, and a second group ate non-fatty fish oil additive foods.

— susan scutti, CNN, "Health effects of fish oil: Where do we stand?," 1 Mar. 2018
Needle exchange workers say the strips have revealed the presence of fentanyl not only in white powder form but also as an additive to black-tar heroin and even in such non-opioids as methamphetamine and crack/cocaine.

— pauline bartolone, Washington Post, "California To Drug Users: We’ll Pay For You To Test Your Dope," 5 Feb. 2018
The patrols were intended to be additive to the Anchorage Police Department, something like a mall security detail.

— author: charles wohlforth | opinion, Anchorage Daily News, "Is downtown Anchorage dying, being killed, or just a bit under the weather?," 21 Feb. 2018

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.

Origin and Etymology of additive

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1648

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

additive Synonyms

Other Mathematics and Statistics Terms

abscissa, denominator, divisor, equilateral, exponent, hypotenuse, logarithm, oblique, radii, rhomb

additive

noun

Definition of additive

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

food additives

See additive defined for English-language learners

Examples of additive in a Sentence

a gasoline additive to reduce pollution

Recent Examples of additive from the Web

Machine learning's most common role, then, is additive.

— lily hay newman, WIRED, "AI Can Help Cybersecurity—If It Can Fight Through the Hype," 29 Apr. 2018
Regardless, acrylamide isn’t an industrial additive.

— New York Times, "California, Coffee and Cancer: One of These Doesn’t Belong," 23 Apr. 2018
Kearney gives customers a pure, sweet taste of chocolate because there are no additives or preservatives.

— patricia dillon, Houston Chronicle, "Inside Look: local chocolate business prepares for Valentine's Day," 7 Feb. 2018
Skip the pricey soaps (which are often loaded with icky additives and chemicals) and opt for a quick DIY version.

— Southern Living, "This Little Trick Will Instantly Make Your Kitchen a Happier Place," 4 Feb. 2018
The cause of death, on Nov. 30, was marked by the medical examiner's office as an overdose of fentanyl, the potent synthetic additive that dealers mix with heroin.

— michael wilson, Anchorage Daily News, "An addict dies in a New York school restroom. He was a teacher.," 27 Jan. 2018
The biofuel that powered the white Audi A4 around the circuit near Paris originated at Global Bioenergies’s demo plant in Leuna, Germany, and was converted by the country’s Fraunhofer Institute into gasoline additives.

— Bloomberg.com, "Your Regular Audi Could Run on Straw Soon," 17 Apr. 2018
Those chemicals easily vaporize and are common additives in perfumes.

— warren cornwall, Science | AAAS, "Malaria infection creates a ‘human perfume’ that makes us more attractive to mosquitoes," 16 Apr. 2018
Premium products are made from No. 1 grade seafood and natural ingredients and are free of preservatives, dyes and unhealthy additives.

— special to the oregonian, OregonLive.com, "Gerry Frank's picks: Where to eat, drink and visit in Astoria," 14 Apr. 2018

Origin and Etymology of additive

derivative of ¹additive

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1901

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Other Food Terms

Reuben, calamari, chuck, curry, edamame, foie gras, hummus, leaven, nonpareil, peel

ADDITIVE Defined for English Language Learners

additive

noun

Definition of additive for English Language Learners

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

ADDITIVE Defined for Kids

additive

noun ad·di·tive \ ˈa-də-tiv \

Definition of additive for Students

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

Medical Dictionary

additive

adjective ad·di·tive \ ˈad-ət-iv \

medical Definition of additive

: 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

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additively

adverb

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additivity

play \ˌad-ə-ˈtiv-ət-ē\ noun, plural additivities

additive

noun

medical Definition of additive

: 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