qualitative

adjective

qual·​i·​ta·​tive ˈkwä-lə-ˌtā-tiv 

: of, relating to, or involving quality or kind

qualitatively adverb

Examples of qualitative in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Another reason these factors are more qualitative than quantitative is that when a ball is flashed across the box, and there is nobody there to finish, it will be chalked up as an inaccurate pass, not a chance created. —Mark Carey, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2026

Yes, there’s a qualitative element to humans. —Megan Poinski, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026

The quantitative score is combined with a qualitative assessment and editorial review, performed by CNBC staff, who read every submission on the way to finalizing the selection of this year’s fifty disruptors. —Cnbc.com Staff, CNBC, 6 Jan. 2026

This book is a summation of both quantitative data and qualitative data. —Harvard Business Review, 30 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1607, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing qualitative

• qualitative analysis

Rhymes for qualitative

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

Kids Definition

qualitative

adjective

qual·​i·​ta·​tive ˈkwäl-ə-ˌtāt-iv 

: of, relating to, or involving quality or kind

qualitatively adverb

Medical Definition

qualitative

adjective

qual·​i·​ta·​tive ˈkwäl-ə-ˌtāt-iv 

: of, relating to, or involving quality or kind

qualitative changes

qualitatively adverb