correlative

[ kuh-rel-uh-tiv ]

adjective

1. so related that each implies or complements the other.
2. being in correlation; mutually related.
3. Grammar. answering to or complementing one another and regularly used in association, as either and or, not only and but.
4. Biology. (of a typical structure of an organism) found in correlation with another.

noun

1. either of two things, as two terms, that are correlative.
2. Grammar. a correlative expression.

correlative

/ kɒˈrɛlətɪv /

adjective

1. in mutual, complementary, or reciprocal relationship; corresponding
2. denoting words, usually conjunctions, occurring together though not adjacently in certain grammatical constructions, as for example neither and nor in such sentences as he neither ate nor drank

noun

1. either of two things that are correlative
2. a correlative word

Derived Forms

• corˈrelativeness, noun
• corˈrelatively, adverb

Other Words From

• cor·rela·tive·ly adverb
• cor·rela·tive·ness cor·rela·tivi·ty noun
• noncor·rela·tive adjective
• noncor·rela·tive·ly adverb
• noncor·rela·tive·ness noun
• uncor·rela·tive adjective
• uncor·rela·tive·ly adverb
• uncor·rela·tive·ness noun
• uncor·rela·tivi·ty noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of correlative¹

From the Medieval Latin word correlātīvus, dating back to 1520–30. See cor-, relative

Example Sentences

Because it is indeed difficult to separate the casual from the correlative, even the authors of the new Nature Climate Change agree that further research is needed to prove those links are more than correlation.

From Salon

Additional studies with larger cohorts of patients and correlative imaging beyond three months may help determine the therapeutic role of light in traumatic brain injury.

From Science Daily

Swan added, "Separating the causal from the correlative is extremely difficult, as you know!"

From Salon

Previous correlative results have also suggested that an MN-mediated innate immune response may slow cellular senescence and suppress cancer.

From Science Daily

Anderson, himself something of a master of counterintuitive alternatives, gives this idea its own fascinating cinematic correlative.

From Los Angeles Times