English Reference
Adjective

situational

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˌsɪtʃuˈeɪʃənəɫ/ UK /sˌɪtʃuːˈeɪʃənəl/ sit·u·a·tion·al

adj.describing something that depends on the specific time, place, or set of facts you are in.

adj.relating to or determined by the specific circumstances of a particular time or place. Often used to contrast environmental factors with fixed or internal traits.


SIMPLE

The best choice is often situational.

CONTEXTUAL

Whether you should wear a suit or jeans is situational and depends entirely on the office culture.

COMPLEX

Psychologists argue that human behavior is frequently situational, meaning that even a normally honest person might act differently when faced with extreme pressure or unique environmental constraints.

Usage

Commonly used in academic and professional contexts to describe variables that change based on context.

Like street robbers , online romance scammers can be influenced both positively and negatively by a range of situational cues that serve as incentives or deterrents.

The Conversation· 2 Sept 2026

From situation + -al.

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

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated