ad·he·sive
ad-ˈhē-siv 
-ziv
-ziv
əd-
1
: tending to remain in association or memory
3
: prepared for adhering
4
medical
: characterized by the formation of new fibrous tissue resulting from an inflammatory process
adhesive inflammations
adhesively
adverb
adhesiveness
noun
1
: an adhesive substance (such as glue or cement)
2
: a postage stamp with a gummed back
Synonyms
Examples of adhesive in a Sentence
Adjective
Cover the cut with an adhesive bandage.
walked barefoot through adhesive, clayey mud
Noun
You'll need a strong adhesive to attach the boards.
prefers postage stamps coated with adhesive so that she doesn't have to do any licking
Recent Examples on the Web
Lindsay Kimble, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024
What to Consider The adhesive mount is great on flat surfaces, but the front can peel up on curved dashboards.
—Maggie Slepian, Travel + Leisure, 10 Apr. 2024
In addition to adhesive stamps, Mulready envelopes, designed by painter William Mulready, were another attempt to streamline mail service around the same time.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Jan. 2024
Talking Buttons Try to Break the Pet-Human Language Barrier
After familiarizing both dogs and their owners with the laboratory, researchers used adhesive cream to attach EEG monitors to the dogs’ heads.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 25 Mar. 2024
This no-frills strip can be installed in minutes using the adhesive backing and clips to hold the lights firmly in place.
—Pamela Porter, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Mar. 2024
Fake eyelashes can sometimes lead mites to come and feast because (a) people sometimes avoid cleansing their eyes to prolong the life of their extensions and (b) extra adhesive around the lash line can trap bacteria and debris.
—Ali Finney, SELF, 15 Mar. 2024
Some users may experience skin irritation from the adhesive used.
—Rachel Murphy, Verywell Health, 1 Mar. 2024
Find it on Amazon This Screen Cleaning Pad Can Be Stored On Your Device
The gel adhesive on the back of the Screen Daddy sticks right onto your devices to stay ready for use.
—Katiee McKinstry, Rolling Stone, 21 Feb. 2024
Kara Nesvig, Allure, 20 Mar. 2024
Lightweight push buttons can often be secured with removable adhesive.
—Jenna Clark, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Feb. 2024
Beneath a construction crane, 100 solid wood pillars rise to meet a complex lattice of wood beams overhead, each piece notched into place without nails or adhesives, following the ancient rules of traditional Chinese joinery.
—Jay Cheshes, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Jan. 2024
This best-seller effectively snatches unwanted debris from clothing and upholstery without the use of sticky adhesives or wasteful sheets.
—Toni Sutton, Peoplemag, 30 Oct. 2023
Use repositionable adhesive to place cut doily details around the eggs.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 18 Mar. 2024
Cons The adhesive doesn’t stay on very well during the application process.
—Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 14 Mar. 2024
Neanderthals Evidence of Advanced Tool Making Other archeological findings observed the use of adhesives like tree resin and the aforementioned ochre from ancient human communities in Africa.
—Max Bennett, Discover Magazine, 22 Feb. 2024
The discovery of this early adhesive in what is now southwest France—consistent with past discoveries of similar substances made by early modern humans in Africa—supports theories that our Neanderthal relatives were more intelligent, adaptive and utilitarian than many give them credit for.
—Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Feb. 2024
Adjective
Simpson eventually exited the vehicle — in which the LAPD found makeup adhesive, a fake mustache and goatee, Simpson’s passport and a gun — and surrendered to authorities.
—Lindsay Kimble, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024
What to Consider The adhesive mount is great on flat surfaces, but the front can peel up on curved dashboards.
—Maggie Slepian, Travel + Leisure, 10 Apr. 2024
In addition to adhesive stamps, Mulready envelopes, designed by painter William Mulready, were another attempt to streamline mail service around the same time.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Jan. 2024
Talking Buttons Try to Break the Pet-Human Language Barrier
After familiarizing both dogs and their owners with the laboratory, researchers used adhesive cream to attach EEG monitors to the dogs’ heads.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 25 Mar. 2024
This no-frills strip can be installed in minutes using the adhesive backing and clips to hold the lights firmly in place.
—Pamela Porter, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Mar. 2024
Fake eyelashes can sometimes lead mites to come and feast because (a) people sometimes avoid cleansing their eyes to prolong the life of their extensions and (b) extra adhesive around the lash line can trap bacteria and debris.
—Ali Finney, SELF, 15 Mar. 2024
Some users may experience skin irritation from the adhesive used.
—Rachel Murphy, Verywell Health, 1 Mar. 2024
Find it on Amazon This Screen Cleaning Pad Can Be Stored On Your Device
The gel adhesive on the back of the Screen Daddy sticks right onto your devices to stay ready for use.
—Katiee McKinstry, Rolling Stone, 21 Feb. 2024
Noun
Williamson used Bold Hold Liquid Gold adhesive on the wig, then created body and volume in the hair with the Shark FlexStyle Blow Dryer.
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 20 Mar. 2024
Lightweight push buttons can often be secured with removable adhesive.
—Jenna Clark, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Feb. 2024
Beneath a construction crane, 100 solid wood pillars rise to meet a complex lattice of wood beams overhead, each piece notched into place without nails or adhesives, following the ancient rules of traditional Chinese joinery.
—Jay Cheshes, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Jan. 2024
This best-seller effectively snatches unwanted debris from clothing and upholstery without the use of sticky adhesives or wasteful sheets.
—Toni Sutton, Peoplemag, 30 Oct. 2023
Use repositionable adhesive to place cut doily details around the eggs.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 18 Mar. 2024
Cons The adhesive doesn’t stay on very well during the application process.
—Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 14 Mar. 2024
Neanderthals Evidence of Advanced Tool Making Other archeological findings observed the use of adhesives like tree resin and the aforementioned ochre from ancient human communities in Africa.
—Max Bennett, Discover Magazine, 22 Feb. 2024
The discovery of this early adhesive in what is now southwest France—consistent with past discoveries of similar substances made by early modern humans in Africa—supports theories that our Neanderthal relatives were more intelligent, adaptive and utilitarian than many give them credit for.
—Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'adhesive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
borrowed from Medieval Latin adhaesīvus, from Latin adhaesus (past participle of adhaerēre "to adhere") + -īvus -ive
Noun
derivative of adhesive entry 1
Phrases Containing adhesive
Dictionary Entries Near adhesive
Cite this Entry
“Adhesive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adhesive. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
adhesive
1 of 2 adjective
ad·he·sive
ad-ˈhē-siv
əd-,
-ziv
: tending to adhere : prepared for adhering
adhesiveness
noun
adhesive
2 of 2 noun
: an adhesive substance (as glue or cement)
Medical Definition
adhesive
2 of 2 noun1
: an adhesive substance
especially
: a substance (as glue, starch, paste, or mucilage) that bonds two materials together by adhering to the surface of each
2
More from Merriam-Webster on adhesive
Nglish: Translation of adhesive for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of adhesive for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about adhesive
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share