ENGLISH
REFERENCE

depressive

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //dɪˈpɹɛsɪv// UK //dɪpɹˈɛsɪv// de·pres·sive

adj. describing something that makes you feel very sad or a person who often feels this way. It can also describe a medical condition that causes long-lasting sadness.

adj. relating to or suffering from clinical depression; having the tendency to lower spirits or cause gloom. Often used in medical contexts or to describe the mood of artistic works.


SIMPLE

The rainy weather and grey sky felt quite depressive.

CONTEXTUAL

Doctors monitored the patient for depressive symptoms after the major surgery.

COMPLEX

The novel's depressive atmosphere is established through its descriptions of decaying industrial landscapes and the protagonist's persistent sense of isolation.

Origin

From French dépressif or Medieval Latin depressivus. By surface analysis, depress + -ive.

Usage

Often used predicatively after linking verbs like 'be' or 'become', or attributively before nouns like 'episode' or 'disorder'.

Pitfall

He feels very depressive today.He feels very depressed today.Learners often use 'depressive' to describe a temporary mood, but 'depressed' is the correct adjective for the feeling; 'depressive' usually describes a clinical condition or an atmosphere.

© 2026 English Reference