substantive

C1 · Advanced Law Formal · Technical

adj. related to the actual laws and rights themselves, rather than the rules for how a court works.

adj. relating to the essential legal principles and rules of right, as opposed to procedural law.

“The judge focused on the substantive issues of the case rather than the paperwork errors.”

“Substantive law defines the rights and obligations of citizens, whereas procedural law establishes the machinery for enforcing those rights.”

C2 · Proficiency Formal · Technical

adj. describing a job title or rank that is permanent and official.

adj. referring to a rank or appointment that is permanent and legally held, rather than temporary or honorary.

“After serving as the acting director for a year, she finally received a substantive appointment.”

“The officer held the substantive rank of Major, though he was serving in a temporary capacity as a Lieutenant Colonel during the mission.”

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Technology Formal · Technical

n. a word or group of words that functions as a noun in a sentence.

n. a noun, or a word or phrase functioning as a noun; historically used to distinguish 'noun substantive' from 'noun adjective'.

“In the phrase 'the poor', the word 'poor' is used as a substantive.”

“The grammarian argued that the gerund functions as a substantive within the clause, taking on the role of the direct object.”

C2 · Proficiency Science Technical

adj. describing a dye that stays on fabric without needing extra chemicals to fix it.

adj. referring to a dye that does not require a mordant to be made fast to the material being dyed.

“Indigo is a substantive dye that bonds directly to cotton fibres.”

“The laboratory tested several substantive dyes to determine their lightfastness on synthetic textiles without the addition of metallic salts.”