inflectional

[ in-flek-shuh-nl ]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or used in inflection:

   an inflectional ending.

2. Linguistics. pertaining to or noting a language, as Latin, characterized by the use of inflection, especially morphemic fusion or irregular morphophonemic alternation. Compare agglutinative ( def 2 ), isolating.

Other Words From

• in·flection·al·ly adverb
• nonin·flection·al adjective
• nonin·flection·al·ly adverb
• prein·flection·al adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of inflectional¹

First recorded in 1825–35; inflection + -al ¹

Example Sentences

Sometimes applied also to such inflectional prefixes as the ge- of the German perfect participle.—adjs.

From Project Gutenberg

The inflectional or formal elements of language are usually derived from words expressing accessory ideas.

From Project Gutenberg

Reval Esthonian, which preserves more carefully the full inflectional forms and pays greater attention to the laws of euphony, is recognized as the literary language.

From Project Gutenberg

As already hinted, the English language, in the wide sense, presents three main stages of development—Old, Middle and Modern—distinguished by their inflectional characteristics.

From Project Gutenberg

It is clear that the idioms of the second group were once isolating, and that inflectional idioms have passed through both the former states.

From Project Gutenberg