constructive
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
useful and intended to help or improve something.
serving a useful purpose or helping to improve a situation; often used to describe feedback or criticism that offers solutions.
Simple“The teacher gave me some constructive advice on how to improve my essay.”
In context“Instead of merely pointing out flaws, the manager provided constructive feedback that helped the team refine their workflow for the next quarter.”
UsageCommonly collocates with 'criticism', 'feedback', 'advice', or 'dialogue'.
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
treated as true or real by a court, even if it did not actually happen in a simple way.
legally deemed to exist or to have occurred by operation of law, regardless of the actual intent or literal facts.
Simple“The company had constructive knowledge of the problem because their employees saw it happen.”
In context“The court ruled that the employer's actions amounted to constructive dismissal, as the hostile work environment forced the employee to resign against their will.”
UsageFrequently appears in terms like 'constructive notice', 'constructive knowledge', or 'constructive dismissal'.
Teacher's tipThis is a highly specialized legal sense; learners should be aware that it means 'treated as if it were true' in a courtroom context.
Usage constructive criticism global · constructive historical · constructive immediate
“Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.”
From Latin cōnstrūctīvus. By surface analysis, construct + -ive.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.