consumptive

1 of 2

adjective

con·​sump·​tive kən-ˈsəm(p)-tiv 

1

: tending to consume

2

: of, relating to, or affected with consumption

consumptively adverb

consumptive

2 of 2

noun

: a person affected with consumption

Examples of consumptive in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The Interior Department, meantime, has announced plans to repeal a Biden-era policy that elevated conservation as an official use of public lands, on equal footing with mining, grazing, energy extraction and other consumptive activities. —John Leos, AZCentral.com, 11 Sep. 2025

This is known as consumptive use. —Caitlin Looby, jsonline.com, 20 Aug. 2025

Noun

Immediate steps should be taken to reduce current consumptive uses in the Upper and Lower Basins. —Shaun McKinnon, AZCentral.com, 16 Sep. 2025

Holman described two kinds of activities children engage in: generative and consumptive. —Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1588, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

1666, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for consumptive

• presumptive

Kids Definition

consumptive

1 of 2 adjective

con·​sump·​tive kən-ˈsəm(p)-tiv 

: of, relating to, or affected with consumption

consumptive

2 of 2 noun

: a person who has consumption

Medical Definition

consumptive

1 of 2 adjective

con·​sump·​tive -ˈsəm(p)-tiv 

: of, relating to, or affected with consumption

a consumptive cough

a consumptive child

consumptively adverb

consumptive

2 of 2 noun

: an individual affected with consumption