# abortive

/əˈbɔɹtɪv/ (US) · /ɐbˈɔːtɪv/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/abortive
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. unsuccessful attempt

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

failing to produce the intended result; stopped before it was finished.

For teachers: failing to achieve the intended objective; brought to a premature end without success.

- The rebels made an abortive attempt to take over the government building.
- The company's abortive entry into the European market resulted in significant financial losses and a complete restructuring of the international division.

Usage: Commonly collocates with nouns like 'attempt', 'effort', 'mission', or 'coup'.

### 2. incomplete development

adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical

not fully developed or failing to grow properly.

For teachers: imperfectly formed or developed; failing to reach a mature or functional state.

- The plant had several abortive flowers that never fully opened.
- The researcher noted several abortive organs in the specimen, suggesting a genetic mutation that halted development in the embryonic stage.

Usage: Used primarily in botany, biology, and medicine to describe structures that stop growing.

### 3. halting a disease

adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical

stopping a disease from getting worse or finishing its normal course.

For teachers: acting to cut short or arrest the natural progress of a disease or infection.

- Early treatment provided an abortive effect on the spreading infection.
- The administration of the new antiviral drug proved to be an effective abortive therapy, preventing the patient from developing full-blown symptoms.

Usage: Typically describes a treatment or the course of an illness that ends prematurely.

## Examples

- The mission was an abortive attempt to reach the summit.
- The researchers noted that the abortive results of the first trial led them to revise their hypothesis for the next phase.
- The abortive nature of the early negotiations suggested that neither party was willing to compromise on the core issues of territorial sovereignty and economic integration.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.