ascriptive

[ uh-skrip-tiv ]

adjective

1. pertaining to, involving, or indicating ascription, especially the ascribing of qualities or characteristics.

Other Words From

• as·criptive·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of ascriptive¹

1640–50; ascript(ion) + -ive; compare Latin a ( d ) scrīptīvus supernumerary, descriptive, proscriptive ( def )

Example Sentences

But socialism is like liberalism, conservatism, fascism or communism — it’s an ideology and a political position more than an ascriptive characteristic or identity-based group.

From Salon

I could not understand why being Jamaican — an ascriptive identity I inherited through an accident of birth — assigned me a to group identity I shared with people with whom I had little in common, save the same nationality.

From Salon

In the final chapter, he describes the deplorable situation in his country created by “ascriptive rights”: rights that “just depend on being able to assert that one belongs to a group or part of the country to be able to lay claim to positions of authority or power.”

From Science Magazine

In his view America offers “ascriptive citizenship”, which means that access to rights, power and privileges are determined by race, gender, ethnicity and religion.

From Salon

How does Smith’s distinction between egalitarian and ascriptive citizenship shed light on the relationship between race and the law?

From Salon