ENGLISH
REFERENCE

contextual

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˌkɑnˈtɛksˌtʃuəɫ// UK //kəntˈɛkstʃuːəl// con·tex·tu·al

adj. relating to the situation or information that surrounds something. It helps you understand the full meaning of a word or event by looking at what is around it.

adj. relating to the circumstances that form the setting for an event, statement, or idea. Often used to describe information that is necessary for full comprehension of a specific element.


SIMPLE

The meaning of this word depends on its contextual clues.

CONTEXTUAL

The historian argued that the leader's controversial decisions must be viewed in their contextual framework of wartime necessity.

COMPLEX

While the raw data provides a baseline for analysis, a contextual interpretation is required to account for the socio-economic variables that influenced the participants' responses.

Origin

From context + -ual.

Usage

Typically used attributively before a noun; often pairs with 'clues', 'information', or 'factors'.

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