augmentative

American  

[awg-men-tuh-tiv] / ɔgˈmɛn tə tɪv /

adjective

1. serving to augment.

2. Grammar. pertaining to or productive of a form denoting increased size or intensity. In Spanish the augmentative suffix -ón is added to a word (as silla “chair”) to indicate increased size, as in sillón “armchair.”

---

noun

1. Grammar. an augmentative element or formation.

augmentative British  

/ ɔːɡˈmɛntətɪv /

adjective

1. tending or able to augment

2. grammar

   1. denoting an affix that may be added to a word to convey the meaning large or great; for example, the suffix -ote in Spanish, where hombre means man and hombrote big man

   2. denoting a word formed by the addition of an augmentative affix

---

noun

1. grammar an augmentative word or affix

Usage

What does augmentative mean? Augmentative is used to describe things that augment or are intended to augment something—add to it in a way that makes it bigger or better.The general sense of augment is used in a variety of contexts where something is literally or figuratively increased in size, number, shape, value, or quality or in some other way.A process to add something to a material to make it stronger could be described as augmentative. Additional learning materials used by a teacher to supplement the textbook could be described as augmentative.Augmentative is also used in a much more specific way in the context of grammar, but its general sense is much more commonly used.Example: The addition of new materials to the collection is meant to be augmentative—they are not meant to replace the existing items.

Other Word Forms

• augmentatively adverb
• nonaugmentative adjective
• unaugmentative adjective

Etymology

Origin of augmentative

1495–1505; augment + -ative; replacing augmentatif < Middle French

Example Sentences

There is no doubt that AI is augmentative technology in areas such as internet search, data query and logic tasks such as writing computer code.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 5, 2025

Jason sometimes uses an augmentative and alternative communication or AAC device, but it is not his preferred way of communicating — as he can now tell us via the letterboard.

From Salon • Aug. 28, 2024

They advocate for services and support like occupational therapy, speech pathology, and augmentative and alternative communication, especially for those who are nonverbal or need assistance communicating.

From Washington Post • Sep. 19, 2019

We therefore chose to work with the sense of touch instead to communicate augmentative cues.

From Slate • Mar. 22, 2018

The vegetable possesses the qualities of the mineral plus the augmentative virtue or power of growth.

From The Promulgation of Universal Peace by `Abdu'l-Bahá