Word
connective
Phoneticscon·nec·tive, stress on the second syllable
US/kəˈnɛktɪv/
UK/kənˈɛktɪv/
Definitions
01grammar
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Academic
n. a word or phrase that joins parts of a sentence or different sentences together.
n. a word or phrase that links clauses or sentences to provide cohesion, such as conjunctions or conjunctive adverbs.
“You should use a connective like 'however' to show the contrast between these two ideas.”
“The student's essay lacked logical flow because she failed to use appropriate connectives between her main arguments.”
Usage
Commonly used in academic writing instruction to refer to cohesive devices.
Synonyms
02anatomy
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Medicine Technical
n. a type of tissue in the body that supports or joins other tissues and organs.
n. a shortened form of 'connective tissue', referring to the fibrous tissue that supports, binds, or separates other tissues or organs.
“The doctor explained that the injury affected the connective around the joint.”
“The biopsy revealed a significant degradation of the connective within the patient's lower lumbar region.”
Usage
Often functions as a shorthand for 'connective tissue' in medical contexts.
03logic
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Mathematics Academic · Technical
n. a symbol or word that joins two statements to create a new one.
n. a truth-functional operator that joins two or more propositions to form a compound proposition.
“In this equation, the symbol represents a logical connective.”
“The professor demonstrated how the truth table changes depending on which logical connective is applied to the premises.”
Synonyms
04serving to join
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. used to describe something that joins two or more things together.
adj. serving or tending to connect; functioning as a link between separate parts.
“The architect designed a connective hallway between the two main buildings.”
“The study explores the connective role of social media in modern political movements.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “connective” in context.
Real-World Examples
“Those materials were most likely prepared by boiling animal skin and connective tissue.” “The evidence suggests these were made using animal hides and connective tissues rather than bones alone.” Etymology
For connexive, borrowed from Latin connexīvus. Displacement of x by ct in Latin loanwords is very common. Compare connect, connectivum, connection.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Domains
- 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944EikenEikenTest in Practical English ProficiencyThe English proficiency test from the Eiken Foundation of Japan, widely taken by Japanese students. Grades run from 5 to 1, with Pre-1 and Pre-2 between them.Pre-1
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/connective