1
: of, relating to, or characterized by addition
an additive process
2
: produced by addition
3
: characterized by, being, or producing effects (such as drug responses or gene products) that when the causative factors act together are the sum of their individual effects
additively
adverb
: a substance added to another in relatively small amounts to effect a desired change in properties
food additives
Synonyms
Examples of additive in a Sentence
Adjective
certain drugs have additive effects when taken in conjunction with each other that one doesn't see when any one is used alone
Noun
a gasoline additive to reduce pollution
Recent Examples on the Web
Alex Sherman, CNBC, 8 Aug. 2024
The signs and the sirens are both additive measures, designed to be used with all of the tools officials used during the Camp Fire.
—Colleen Hagerty, Rolling Stone, 9 Oct. 2024
Lara Williams, The Mercury News, 5 Nov. 2024
For example, the whitening agent titanium dioxide in soups and dairy products can build up in the body and even damage DNA.
European countries take a much more precautionary approach to additives in their food, Benesh says.
—Jonquilyn Hill, Vox, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for additive 
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Adjective
If Zaslav is also looking for buyers for Warner Bros. Discovery, an activist's pitch to sell the company may not be additive.
—Alex Sherman, CNBC, 8 Aug. 2024
The signs and the sirens are both additive measures, designed to be used with all of the tools officials used during the Camp Fire.
—Colleen Hagerty, Rolling Stone, 9 Oct. 2024
Noun
These marble-sized balls are then crushed and mixed with additives like gypsum to create the cement.
—Lara Williams, The Mercury News, 5 Nov. 2024
For example, the whitening agent titanium dioxide in soups and dairy products can build up in the body and even damage DNA.
European countries take a much more precautionary approach to additives in their food, Benesh says.
—Jonquilyn Hill, Vox, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for additive
Dictionary Entries Near additive
Cite this Entry
“Additive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/additive. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
additive
1 of 2 adjective
ad·di·tive
ˈad-ət-iv 
: relating to or produced by addition
additively
adverb
additive
2 of 2 noun
: a substance added to another in small amounts to give or improve desirable qualities or decrease unwanted qualities
a gasoline additive
additives which color, flavor, or preserve food
Medical Definition
additive
1 of 2 adjective
ad·di·tive
ˈad-ət-iv
: having or relating to a value or effect that is the sum of individual values or effects: as
a
: relating to the sum of the pharmacological responses produced by the concurrent administration of two or more drugs capable of producing the same kind of effect
b
: having a genetic effect that is the sum of the individual effects
additively
adverb
additive
2 of 2 noun
: a substance added to another in relatively small amounts to effect a desired change in properties
especially
: an agent added to a foodstuff to improve color, flavor, texture, or keeping qualities
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