English Explanatory Dictionary

constructive

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Relating to or causing construction.
  2. Carefully considered and meant to be helpful.
  3. Serving a useful purpose.
  4. Deemed after the fact to exist or to have occurred, despite the formal process not having been followed; often when there was no intention to do so at the time.
  5. Not direct or expressed, but inferred.

Pronunciation

/kənˈstɹʌktɪv/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-constructive.wav

Word forms

constructive more constructive most constructive

Etymology

From Latin cōnstrūctīvus. By surface analysis, construct + -ive.

Synonyms

productive helpful useful

Antonyms

destructive

Derived words

coconstructive constructive criticism constructive dismissal constructive eviction constructive force constructive fraud constructive interference constructive logic constructively constructive malice constructive memory constructiveness constructive notice constructive treason constructive trust constructivism constructivist constructivization constructivize deconstructive inconstructive misconstructive nonconstructive preconstructive superconstructive unconstructive visuoconstructive
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