Pronunciation
- (US) IPA(key): /ˈsʌbstəntɪv/, /səbˈstæntɪv/
Adjective
substantive (comparative more substantive, superlative most substantive)
- Of the essence or essential element of a thing.
- Synonyms: essential, in essence
substantive information
2012 October 6, “The first presidential debate: Back in the centre, back in the game”, in The Economist:In one sense the first debate achieved the worst of all worlds: it managed to be technical, even dull, without being substantive or especially honest.
- (by extension) Constituting the substance of content rather than its style, and thus always nontrivial.
Substantive editing is never trivial, whereas some aspects of copyediting are trivial.
substantive changes made by the lawyers
- Having substance; enduring; solid; firm; substantial.
1836 [1829], William Hazlitt, “Definition of wit”, in Literary Remains of the Late William Hazlitt, page 19:Once more then, strength and magnitude are qualities which impress the imagination in a powerful and substantive manner;
- Synonyms: meaty, substantial
- Antonyms: superficial, trivial
- (law) Applying to essential legal principles and rules of right.
substantive law
- Antonyms: adjective, procedural
- (chemistry, of a dye) Not needing the use of a mordant to be made fast to that which is being dyed.
- Antonym: adjective
- Depending on itself; independent.
1627 (indicated as 1626), Francis [Bacon], “New Atlantis. A Worke Vnfinished.”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], London: […] William Rawley […]; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […], →OCLC, page 16:Hee therefore taking into Conſideration, how ſufficient and ſuſstantiue this Land was, to maintaine it ſelfe without any aid (at all) of the foreigner; […]
- (grammar) Of or pertaining to a substantive.
- Synonym: substantival
- (military, of a rank or appointment) Actually and legally held, as distinct from an acting, temporary or honorary rank or appointment
Translations
of the essence or essential element of a thing
having substance and prompting thought
law: applying to essential legal principles
of a dye that does not need the use of a mordant
military: actually and legally held
Noun
substantive (plural substantives)
- (grammar) Ellipsis of noun substantive or substantive noun; a noun or a group of words (a noun phrase) that act as a noun (in a sentence). [from 16th c.]
- Synonyms: (sensu stricto) noun, noun substantive
- Hypernym: (sensu lato) noun
1986, Harry Holtzman, Martin S[amuel] James, “The New Plastic in Painting (1917)”, in The New Art—The New Life: The Collected Writings of Piet Mondrian, Boston, Mass.: G. K. Hall & Co., →ISBN, part I (The De Stijl Years: 1917–24), page 27:The Dutch verb beelden and substantive beelding signify form-giving, creation, and by extension image—as do gestalten and Gestaltung in German, where Neo-Plastic[ism] is translated as Die neue Gestaltung.
- Part of a text that carries the meaning, such as words and their ordering.
- Coordinate term: accidental
- subst. (abbreviation used in lexicography and grammar)
See also
- (converting into or using as another part of speech:)
- adjectivize/adjectivise, adjective, adjectify
- adverbialize/adverbialise, (rare) adverb, (rare) adverbify, adverbize
- nominalize/nominalise, substantivize/substantivise, noun, (rare) nounify, (very rare) substantive
- verbalize/verbalise, (colloquial) verb, verbify