English Reference
adjective

argumentative

adj.
US /ˌɑɹɡjəˈmɛntətɪv/ UK /ˌɑːɡjuːmˈɛntətˌɪv/ ar·gu·men·ta·tive

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    often disagreeing with people or liking to start arguments.

    tending to argue or be fond of disputing; often carries a negative connotation regarding a person's temperament.

    Simple

    He became very argumentative after a few drinks and started shouting at his friends.

    In context

    The manager found the new employee difficult to train because he was reflexively argumentative whenever he received constructive feedback.

  2. 02 C1 Advanced AcademicFormal

    showing a clear line of reasoning to prove an idea.

    relating to or characterized by the presentation of logical arguments or formal reasoning.

    Simple

    The students had to write an argumentative essay about the benefits of renewable energy.

    In context

    The professor praised the student's argumentative rigour, noting that each claim was supported by empirical evidence and sound logical transitions.

    discursiveanalyticallogical

From Late Middle English argumentatif (“syllogistic, sophistic”), from Old French argumentatif, argumentative (modern French argumentatif (“argumentative”)) and Medieval Latin, Late Latin argūmentātīvus, from Latin argūmentātor + -īvus (suffix forming adjectives).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Latin argūmentātor
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated