additive

adjective

Save Word

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

Other Words from additive Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More About additive

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 Los Angeles County Museum of Art has likewise been using them in this way, though, as of late, the museum’s QR code use has gone from techno-additive to grating digital tic. — Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2022 The chemical, commonly known as TCP, has numerous nonmilitary uses, including as a food additive. — Washington Post, 13 Dec. 2021 To use the seaweed additive in the trial, the farm had to get permission from the USDA to maintain its organic certification, said Blue Ocean Barns CEO Joan Salwen. — Tara Duggan, San Francisco Chronicle, 27 Oct. 2021 These investments were typically additive to overall law firm spend. — Dean Sonderegger, Forbes, 6 Oct. 2021 If this concept works at a $5 price target, there is nothing to say that it could not also be rolled out to many more locations as either an additive standalone storefront or as a concept within existing Dollar General stores themselves. — Chris Walton, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2021 Perhaps most notably, Taiwan voters rejected a proposal that would have banned imports of pork containing trace amounts of the additive ractopamine—a key obstacle to a free-trade agreement with the U.S. — Joyu Wang, WSJ, 18 Dec. 2021 And seaweed—specifically asparagopsis—is the feed additive that seems to inspire the most starry-eyed investors. — Lisa Held, Fortune, 8 Dec. 2021 The tonearm, designed by Frank Schröder of Berlin, is the first to use selective laser melting, an additive 3-D printing technology that allows for the manufacture of designs previously impossible to fabricate. — Robert Ross, Robb Report, 5 Dec. 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun In the best scenarios, QR codes have served as an additive. — Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2022 During February’s record-breaking freeze in Texas, major petrochemical plants shut down, leading to a shortage of resin, a plastic additive used in paint. — Washington Post, 23 Dec. 2021 By introducing an additive to plastics, the plastics can be degraded. — Natalia Scherbakoff, Forbes, 6 Oct. 2021 The country’s regulators have granted full market authorization to Bovaer, a feed additive produced by Dutch nutrition giant Royal DSM NV. — BostonGlobe.com, 9 Sep. 2021 Wisconsin ethanol producers and grain farmers are feeling the pain from coronavirus as plummeting demand for gasoline reduces the need for the fuel additive made from corn. — Bill Glauber, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2021 Mustard is a modern additive to the dish, included after the plant was imported to Africa from North America during the trans-Atlantic slave trade. — James Patterson, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Aug. 2021 Their natural antioxidant properties make tannins a healthy additive to livestock feed, and they have even been touted as a natural alternative to antibiotics. — Washington Post, 16 July 2021 Some companies are working to divert plastic from landfills and put it to better use, such as an additive for mortar and asphalt. — Dylan Taylor-lehman, Popular Mechanics, 29 July 2021

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.

History and Etymology for additive

Adjective

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

Noun

derivative of additive entry 1

Learn More About additive

Dictionary Entries Near additive

addition theorem

additive

additive identity

Statistics for additive

Last Updated

27 Jan 2022

Cite this Entry

“Additive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/additive. Accessed 28 Jan. 2022.

Style: MLA

MLA

Chicago

APA

Merriam-Webster Check Mark Icon

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

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

Other Words from additive

additively adverb

additivity \ ˌad-ə-ˈtiv-ət-ē

\ noun, plural additivities

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