disjunctive

1 of 2

adjective

dis·​junc·​tive dis-ˈjəŋ(k)-tiv 

1

a

: relating to, being, or forming a logical disjunction

b

: expressing an alternative or opposition between the meanings of the words connected

the disjunctive conjunction or

c

: expressed by mutually exclusive alternatives joined by or

disjunctive pleading

2

: marked by breaks or disunity

a disjunctive narrative sequence

3

of a pronoun form : stressed and not attached to the verb as an enclitic or proclitic

disjunctively adverb

disjunctive

2 of 2

noun

: a disjunctive conjunction

Did you know?

Disjunctive comes to us from disjunctus, the past participle of the Latin verb disjungere, meaning "to disjoin," and it is commonly used to describe things marked by breaks or separation, as in "a disjunctive account of events." Some people may be familiar with disjunctive conjunctions-like or, either… or, but, and though-which express an alternative or opposition between the meanings of the words connected. The opposite of such conjunctions are copulative conjunctions, which unite words or phrases-the principal one in English being and. In linguistics, disjunctive may also denote a vowel inserted in the body of a word to aid in pronunciation. For example, the schwa sometimes found in athlete is considered disjunctive.

Examples of disjunctive in a Sentence

Adjective

“Or” and “but” are disjunctive conjunctions.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Formally, through the long sentence-line where attention is held, released, and reined in again through the minimal music in an alternating conjunctive and disjunctive space of discourse. —Literary Hub, 6 Apr. 2026

Banks summons these wretched souls in disjunctive hush-speak, stringing together psalms for sullen people: I’m allowed to suffer. —Samuel Hyland, Pitchfork, 11 Mar. 2026

Commonly understood as a kind of optical binding agent, color consolidates the otherwise disjunctive syntactic elements of Caro’s sculpture into a unified whole. —Gordon Hughes, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2026

While Horn and Cal have become too comfortable living in their privileged refuge, Leone clarifies its disjunctive place within the surrounding environment just by embracing her role as a conspicuous presence. —Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 10 Sep. 2025

The stump, which is jagged, with sharp strips of tree and bark stretching upward, is just one of the painting’s disjunctive elements. —Hilton Als, The New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2024

Noun

The mobiles, displayed in disjunctive, nonchronological sequences, ring an undivided space, and precise spotlights cast frolicking shadows on white and blue walls. —Jason Farago, New York Times, 8 June 2017

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

circa 1530, in the meaning defined above

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!