connective

[ kuh-nek-tiv ]

adjective

1. serving or tending to connect:

   connective remarks between chapters.

noun

1. something that connects.
2. Grammar. a word used to connect words, phrases, clauses, and sentences, as a conjunction.
3. Botany. the tissue joining the two cells of the anther.

connective

/ ˌkɒnɛkˈtɪvɪtɪ; kəˈnɛktɪv /

adjective

1. serving to connect or capable of connecting

noun

1. a thing that connects
2. grammar logic
   1. a less common word for conjunction
   2. any word that connects phrases, clauses, or individual words
   3. a symbol used in a formal language in the construction of compound sentences from simpler sentences, corresponding to terms such as or, and, not, etc, in ordinary speech
3. botany the tissue of a stamen that connects the two lobes of the anther
4. anatomy a nerve-fibre bundle connecting two nerve centres

Derived Forms

• conˈnectively, adverb
• connectivity, noun

Other Words From

• con·nective·ly adverb
• con·nec·tiv·i·ty [kon-ek-, tiv, -i-tee], noun
• noncon·nective adjective noun
• noncon·nective·ly adverb
• noncon·nec·tivi·ty noun
• precon·nective adjective
• quasi-con·nective adjective
• quasi-con·nective·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of connective¹

First recorded in 1645–55; connect + -ive

Example Sentences

Doing so eliminates momentum and is therefore easier on the joints and connective tissue — one reason many fans of slo-mo training are in their golden years.

From Los Angeles Times

The chances of experiencing prolapse also goes up in general with age, as estrogen levels decrease the strength of the connective tissues in the area during perimenopause.

From Salon

The following day she was transferred to Broadway Animal Hospital for emergency surgery, where a piece of connective tissue was found to be compromising her colon.

From Los Angeles Times

“I don’t believe that the infrastructure and the sense of community and the connective tissue can be done under the existing structure,” Soboroff said.

From Los Angeles Times

“I think people always mistook some of the flash for the glue, the connective nature of the locker room, the way Sean is,” said team president Kevin Demoff while standing in a jubilant locker room.

From Los Angeles Times