recursive

American  

[ri-kur-siv] / rɪˈkɜr sɪv /

adjective

1. pertaining to or using a rule or procedure that can be applied repeatedly.

2. Mathematics, Computers. pertaining to or using the mathematical process of recursion.

   a recursive function; a recursive procedure.

---

Usage

What does recursive mean? Something that’s recursive is looped, especially in a way that allows a process to keep repeating. Recursive has very specific meanings in math, computer programming, and linguistics, but in each case it involves some form of repetition, especially when part of a sequence or formula relies on previous parts. Such a process is called recursion. Example: The program is recursive: once it finishes its search function, it automatically begins again at the beginning.

Other Word Forms

• recursively adverb
• recursiveness noun

Etymology

Origin of recursive

First recorded in 1935–40; recurs(ion) + -ive

Explanation

Something that is recursive has to do with a procedure or rule that is repeated. Think of something that "reoccurs" over and over again, like those fun house mirrors that are angled to present an infinite number of images. The adjective recursive comes from the Latin recurrere. The idea of something being recursive was first used in mathematics in 1934, its most famous application being in the recursive geometry of fractals, images that, when broken down, are created by exact copies of the whole, a continuing process. Another example of a recursive process is the Droste effect, in which a picture contains an exact copy of the picture, which contains a smaller copy, and so on. Dizzy yet?

Example Sentences

Once AI is building better AI, the loop feeds on itself, a process known as recursive self-improvement.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 2, 2026

In this lyrical memoir, Toews explores her writing career with storytelling that is at once propulsive and recursive, using her work as evidence of both her success and her inability to escape her past.

From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2025

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, we’ve heard a lot of recursive testimony over the past week, and I think it’s safe to say we’ve all learned a lot about A.I.

From Slate • Jun. 24, 2023

Particularly in its recursive moments of erasure, Lusitano’s experience as a historical figure illustrates the kind of collective activity that has traditionally excluded composers of African descent from classical music’s conventional performance and academic institutions.

From New York Times • Jan. 5, 2023

Unfortunately, it’s only a legend; the recursive title was dreamed up by the linguist Robin Lakoff for a satire of a linguistics journal.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker

Related Words

• circular
• looping
• recurrent
• repeated