recursive

adjective

re·​cur·​sive ri-ˈkər-siv 

1

: of, relating to, or involving recursion

a recursive function in a computer program

2

: of, relating to, or constituting a procedure that can repeat itself indefinitely

a recursive rule in a grammar

recursively adverb

recursiveness noun

Examples of recursive in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In math a recursive function or method calls itself and is not just iterative and repetitive; the part requires the whole. —Cindy Juyoung Ok june 26, Literary Hub, 26 June 2025

That's neat in a recursive technological horror kind of way. —ArsTechnica, 13 June 2025

This compresses multiple proofs into one through recursive zk-SNARKs, like stacking blocks into a single structure. —Ayush Gupta, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024

The bottom of the second presented a different, but equally recursive Red Sox problem. —Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 7 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

earlier, "recurring repeatedly," from Latin recursus, past participle of recurrere "to run back, run in the opposite direction, return" + -ive; in given senses as translation of German rekurrent or rekursiv — more at recur

First Known Use

1934, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for recursive

• aversive
• coercive
• discursive
• dispersive
• immersive
• subversive
• cursive