affective

adjective

af·​fec·​tive a-ˈfek-tiv 

1

: relating to, arising from, or influencing feelings or emotions : emotional

cognitive and affective symptoms

the novel's affective death scene

2

: expressing emotion

affective language

behaviors that elicit affective reactions

affectively adverb

affectivity

ˌa-ˌfek-ˈti-və-tē 

noun

Examples of affective in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This affective arousal aids and abets relational conflict by accelerating it. —Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025

The stories of those characters—particularly the aunt—are incredibly affective and beautifully realized. —The New Yorker, New Yorker, 20 Aug. 2025

This study may help explain why the medications work and could inspire new non-addictive treatments for affective pain disorders, the researchers say. —Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 July 2025

The sensory component refers to the physical sensation of pain, encompassing its intensity, location, quality, and duration, whereas the affective aspect encompasses the emotional side of pain, including the unpleasantness associated with it, such as suffering and the desire to alleviate it. —New Atlas, 11 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English affectif, borrowed from Middle French, borrowed from Late Latin affectīvus, from Latin affectus, past participle of afficere "to produce an effect on, exert an influence on" + -īvus -ive — more at affect entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing affective

• affective disorder
• schizo-affective
• seasonal affective disorder

Rhymes for affective

• advective
• collective
• connective
• convective
• corrective
• defective
• detective
• directive
• effective
• elective
• infective
• injective

Medical Definition

affective

adjective

af·​fec·​tive a-ˈfek-tiv 

: relating to, arising from, or influencing feelings or emotions : emotional

affective symptoms

affectively adverb

affectivity

ˌaf-ˌek-ˈtiv-ət-ē 

noun

plural affectivities