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
: 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
Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025
One of those is the additive titanium dioxide, which forced companies to seek alternatives.12 Skittles, for example, had to change its formula in Europe.
—Emily Nadal, Parents, 24 Apr. 2025
Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 1 May 2025
Her solutions are simple ones: stick to a routine, stay hydrated, eat organically where possible to avoid pesticides, chemicals, additives, preservatives, and other synthetic add-ins, and stay on a consistent sleeping regime.
—Catharine Kaufman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for additive
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Adjective
As with the birds in Audubon’s ornithological books, the simple additive intensity is compelling, as minute piles upon minute.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025
One of those is the additive titanium dioxide, which forced companies to seek alternatives.12 Skittles, for example, had to change its formula in Europe.
—Emily Nadal, Parents, 24 Apr. 2025
Noun
Local grocers were a wild west of unlabeled additives, untested chemicals, and inedible fillers.
—Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 1 May 2025
Her solutions are simple ones: stick to a routine, stay hydrated, eat organically where possible to avoid pesticides, chemicals, additives, preservatives, and other synthetic add-ins, and stay on a consistent sleeping regime.
—Catharine Kaufman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for additive
Cite this Entry
“Additive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/additive. Accessed 18 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
additive
1 of 2 adjective
ad·di·tive
ˈad-ət-iv 
: 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
: 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
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
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