Definition of substantive
(Entry 1 of 2)
1
: having substance : involving matters of major or practical importance to all concerned
substantive discussions among world leaders
2
: considerable in amount or numbers : substantial
made substantive progress
b
: belonging to the substance of a thing : essential
c
: expressing existence
the substantive verb is the verb to be
4a
: having the nature or function of a noun
a substantive phrase
b
: relating to or having the character of a noun or pronominal term in logic
5
: creating and defining rights and duties
substantive law
— compare procedural
6
: requiring or involving no mordant
a substantive dyeing process
7
: being a totally independent entity
substantive
nounDefinition of substantive (Entry 2 of 2)
: noun
broadly
: a word or word group functioning syntactically as a noun
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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Time Traveler for substantive
The first known use of substantive was in the 14th century
See more words from the same century