associative

adjective

as·​so·​cia·​tive ə-ˈsō-shē-ˌā-tiv 

-sē-, 

-shə-tiv 

1

: of or relating to association especially of ideas or images

2

: dependent on or acquired by association or learning

3

: of, having, or being the property of combining to the same mathematical result regardless of the grouping of an expression's elements given that the order of those elements is preserved

addition is associative since (a + b) + c = a + (b + c)

associatively adverb

associativity

ə-ˌsō-shē-ə-ˈti-və-tē 

-sē-, 

-shə-ˈti-

noun

Examples of associative in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Duckart’s second album, Death in the Business of Whaling, further develops his creative identity by adding a little mystery, opting for abstract, free-associative musings over straightforwardly confessional songwriting. —Hannah Jocelyn, Pitchfork, 28 Jan. 2026

What feels like a feature-length version of his TV episodic, which uses an associative editing style to ask big and small questions about New York City life, centers on the filmmaker’s own quest to make a documentary about the cement-and-sad aggregate material. —Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 28 Jan. 2026

How unreliable memory is, and how abrupt, fragmented and also associative. —Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 21 Jan. 2026

Coursing beneath is something like Earl’s free-associative pep talk to the world and himself. —Jenn Pelly, Time, 4 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1801, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing associative

• associative learning
• associative neuron

Rhymes for associative

• allocative
• appellative
• commutative
• connotative
• copulative
• degradative
• dissipative
• educative
• exudative
• facultative
• imitative
• infiltrative

Kids Definition

associative

adjective

as·​so·​cia·​tive ə-ˈsō-shē-ˌāt-iv  -sē- 

-shət-iv

1

: of or relating to association

2

: of, having, or being the property of producing the same mathematical value no matter how an expression's elements are grouped so long as the order of those elements is the same

addition is associative since (a + b) + c = a + (b + c)

associatively adverb

associativity

ə-ˌsō-shē-ə-ˈtiv-ət-ē 

-ˌsō-sē-, 

-ˌsō-shə-ˈtiv-

noun

Medical Definition

associative

adjective

as·​so·​cia·​tive ə-ˈsō-s(h)ē-ˌāt-iv  -shət-iv 

1

: of or relating to association especially of ideas or images

an associative symbol

2

a

: dependent on or characterized by association

an associative reaction

b

: acquired by a process of learning

an associative reflex