appointive

adjective

ap·​point·​ive ə-ˈpȯin-tiv 

: of, relating to, or filled by appointment

an appointive office

Examples of appointive in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

These Black women paved the way for others who would, in the decades that followed, gain political power through elective and appointive offices. — Foreign Affairs, 13 Oct. 2020

An ordinance was voted on, 3-2, to change the appointive power from the mayor to a majority of the City Council. — Laura Groch jan. 29, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Jan. 2023

Currently, the charter does not authorize the mayor to make interim appointments of appointive and administrative officers to vacant positions. — Christina Hall, Freep.com, 5 Nov. 2025

Jackson fancies himself an American Sadat, performing the most sensitive, high-profile diplomatic missions for the president but without the accountability of appointive office. — Gail Sheehy, Vanity Fair, 20 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1845, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

appointive

adjective

ap·​point·​ive ə-ˈpȯint-iv 

: of, relating to, or filled by appointment

an appointive office