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

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

Between every frame a disjunctive gap intrudes, subdividing the whole back into its parts, and thereby confronting the viewer with the plethora of copy culture, a barely manageable immensity of data. —Jan Tumlir, Artforum, 1 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

Her disjunctive narrative structure merely retreads magical realism — in which Flora’s gaggle of daughters and housekeeper Italia (Carol Duarte), who hides a biracial child, might be superstitious illusions, a way to sentimentalize what is troublesome. —Armond White, National Review, 3 Apr. 2024

In his second year at Cambridge, Gunn fell in love with an American, Mike Kitay, who became his lifelong partner, or rather companion, for, rather to Kitay’s chagrin, the disjunctive Gunn was not cut out for a monogamous relationship. —Mark Ford, The New York Review of Books, 25 May 2022

The full conquest of Ukraine would, on the other hand, be rightly seen as a truly disjunctive event. —David Faris, The Week, 22 Feb. 2022

Jude, however, doesn’t merge these disjunctive threads into a totalizing whole. —Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 26 Nov. 2021

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

1530, in the meaning defined above

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