Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

agentival

adjective
agen·​ti·​val | \ ¦ā-jən-¦tī-vəl\
variants: or agentive \ ˈā-​jən-​tiv \

Definition of agentival

: expressive of an agent or of agency : denoting the performer of an action agentive nouns an agentive suffix

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

First Known Use of agentival

1925, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for agentival

agent entry 1 + -ival (-ive entry 1 + -al entry 1), -ive entry 1

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about agentival

Statistics for agentival

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for agentival

The first known use of agentival was in 1925

See more words from the same year

Comments on agentival

What made you want to look up agentival? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

scavenger

Listen to the pronounciation of scavenger

one that collects or salvages junk

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Time Traveler Quiz: Which Word Came First?

  • time traveler quiz which word came first
  • Which came first?
Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games