accretive

American  

[uh-kree-tiv] / əˈkri tɪv /

Also accretionary

adjective

1. increasing by natural growth or gradual addition.

   Not only in manufacturing, but also in other sectors, there is an accretive demand for plastics.

2. growing together from separate or disparate parts into a single whole.

   By making room for reports of single experiments and minor technical advances, journals have made the chaos of science accretive.

3. contributing to the growth or increase of something, especially profit.

   Increased penetration of overseas markets will be accretive to the company’s earnings.

   Effective presentation of data is greatly accretive to helping understand trends and insights.

---

Other Word Forms

• nonaccretive adjective

Etymology

Origin of accretive

First recorded in 1655–65; from Late Latin accretivus, equivalent to Latin accrēt(us) “grown” + -īvus -ive ( def. ), see accretion ( def. )

Example Sentences

Buybacks aren’t inherently bad; they’ve been phenomenally accretive for shareholders who stayed the course.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 21, 2026

The acquisition is expected to close in the second quarter of this year, Credo said, and the company expects the deal will be accretive to its adjusted earnings per share in fiscal 2027.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 14, 2026

The deal, which is subject to regulatory and shareholder approvals, should be materially earnings accretive from the second year of the acquisition, NLB said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

It said there’s “no downside” given the existing stake is significantly value accretive.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 16, 2026

Many more estates of the Church had come into the hands of this highly accretive family in the half century that had passed since the destruction of the monasteries.

From The Historic Thames by Belloc, Hilaire