performative

[ per-fawr-muh-tiv ]

adjective

1. Philosophy, Linguistics. (of an expression or statement) performing an act by the very fact of being uttered, as with the expression “I promise,” that performs the act of promising. Compare constative ( def 1 ).
2. relating to the performance of behaviors associated with a particular social role or identity:

   He reflects on his mother's performative femininity, remembering the times he witnessed her adorning herself with eyeshadow, bracelets, and belts.

3. relating to ways of behaving that exhibit a socially acceptable belief, trait, or quality, often making a superficial impression:

   Performative wokeness enables privileged people to reap the social benefits of wokeness without actually undertaking the necessary legwork to combat inequality.

noun

1. a performative utterance. Compare constative ( def 2 ).speech act ( def ).

performative

/ pəˈfɔːmətɪv /

adjective

1. 1. denoting an utterance that constitutes some act, esp the act described by the verb. For example, I confess that I was there is itself a confession, and so is performative in the narrower sense, while I'd like you to meet … (effecting an introduction) is performative only in the looser sense See also locutionary act illocution perlocution
   2. ( as noun )

      that sentence is a performative

2. 1. denoting a verb that may be used as the main verb in such an utterance
   2. ( as noun )

      ``promise'' is a performative

Derived Forms

• perˈformatively, adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of performative¹

First recorded in 1950–55; perform + -ative

Example Sentences

Former President Trump’s performative faux populism, paid for an oligarch like Elon Musk, spoke to enough of this cohort that the Democrats' rust belt strategy collapsed with some union households going red and millions who opted to stay home.

From Salon

The comedian’s satire pokes fun at conservatives and progressives in era of petty outrage and performative politics.

From Los Angeles Times

A not-insignificant amount of Trump’s support is predicated on that notion that his outrageous rhetoric and belligerent policy proposals are merely performative — Trump being Trump, to use the shorthand.

From Los Angeles Times

“That was what elevated this whole experience even more. It kind of became a performative, theatrical new dimension I didn’t even think about. That was amazing to me,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

“There’s obviously the tribalism involved, there’s the performative aspect of it,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times