English Reference
adjective · noun

depressive

adj. · n.
US /dɪˈpɹɛsɪv/ UK /dɪpɹˈɛsɪv/ de·pres·sive UK spelling depressives

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    adj.making you feel very sad or without hope.

    adj.tending to cause depression or a dispiriting atmosphere.

    Simple

    The gray weather and empty streets had a depressive effect on his mood.

    In context

    The documentary offered a depressive look at the industrial decline of the region, leaving the audience with little sense of hope for the future.

    dispiritinggloomybleak
  2. 02 C1 Advanced Technical Medicine

    adj.connected to the medical condition of depression.

    adj.relating to or characteristic of the clinical psychological state of depression.

    Simple

    She was diagnosed with a depressive disorder after struggling for several months.

    In context

    The patient exhibited classic depressive symptoms, including persistent lethargy and a marked loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities.

  3. 03 C2 Proficiency FormalTechnical Medicine

    n.a person who suffers from the medical condition of depression.

    n.a person suffering from clinical depression. Often used in medical or historical contexts.

    Simple

    The clinic provides specialized support groups for depressives and their families.

    In context

    Early twentieth-century literature often portrayed the chronic depressive as a tragic figure misunderstood by a fast-paced society.

Usage depressive symptoms

He voiced depressive donkey Eeyore in TV animation The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh from the late 1980s as well as numerous related shows, films and games.

BBC News· 27 Aug 2026

It made it easy to communicate and solve problems." When she was unable to access the drug for two weeks, she says she experienced depressive episodes and suicidal thoughts.

BBC News· 18 Aug 2026

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

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

This entry
Origin la-med depressivus
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated