supportive

[ suh-pawr-tiv, -pohr- ]

adjective

1. giving support.
2. providing sympathy or encouragement:

   His family was supportive of his attempts to be a writer.

3. providing additional help, information, etc.; auxiliary:

   manufacturers of supportive materials.

4. Medicine/Medical. helping to maintain a normal physiological balance, as by the intravenous administration of required nutriment.

Other Words From

• sup·portive·ness noun
• nonsup·portive adjective
• unsup·portive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of supportive¹

First recorded in 1585–95; support + -ive

Example Sentences

He did not seem to perturbed, however, adding: “I am looking to be very supportive of his nomination.”

From Salon

The Senboku Hottokenai Network Project is an example initiative that gradually transformed vacant building stocks into supportive housing for older people, a group home for people with disabilities, and a community restaurant.

From Science Daily

Although the project is within city limits, it fell to the county to offer supportive services through its behavioral health services agency.

From Los Angeles Times

In September, the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, which has been broadly supportive of the expansion of the role, accepted a review was needed given the concerns being expressed.

From BBC

DuVernay and supportive lawmakers have argued that the phrase allowing slavery as a punishment for a crime permits prisons to force inmates to perform labor, many for as little as several cents an hour.

From Los Angeles Times