Word
abstractive
Phoneticsab·strac·tive
AcademicFormal
Definition
adj. describing something that is difficult to understand or not based on real facts. It can also describe a way of writing or speaking that is very formal and uses complex ideas.
adj. relating to abstraction or the use of abstract concepts; difficult to interpret or lacking concrete detail. Often describes a style of writing that is overly complex or formal.
Examples
“The professor's abstractive style made the lecture hard to follow.”
“The report was criticized for being too abstractive, using technical jargon that confused the general public.”
“While the theory is abstractive in its initial formulation, its practical applications in engineering are remarkably straightforward and intuitive.”
Examples
simple
“The professor's abstractive style made the lecture hard to follow.”
contextual
“The report was criticized for being too abstractive, using technical jargon that confused the general public.”
complex
“While the theory is abstractive in its initial formulation, its practical applications in engineering are remarkably straightforward and intuitive.”
Etymology
From Middle English abstractif, from Medieval Latin abstractivus, from Latin abstractus (“drawn away”) + -ivus (“-ive”). Equivalent to abstract + -ive.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Rare
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/abstractive