additive

1 of 2

adjective

ad·​di·​tive ˈa-də-tiv How to pronounce additive (audio)
Synonyms of additivenext
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
additivity
ˌa-də-ˈti-və-tē How to pronounce additive (audio)
noun

additive

2 of 2

noun

: a substance added to another in relatively small amounts to effect a desired change in properties
food additives

Synonyms

Adjective

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
From streamlining workflows to enhancing customer engagement, AI agents will be additive, not disruptive, becoming essential tools in a restaurant’s digital arsenal. — Savneet Singh, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025 Potassium bromate is an additive sometimes used in bread and other baked goods to strengthen the texture of the dough. — Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025
Noun
There are nine color additives approved by the FDA for use in food, according to the agency’s site. — Renée Onque, CNBC, 14 Mar. 2025 The Infinity formulation is pH-optimized, and free of additives, oil, fragrances, and flavors. — Malia Griggs, Glamour, 14 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for additive

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

borrowed from Late Latin additīvus, from Latin additus (past participle of addere "to add") + -īvus -ive

Noun

derivative of additive entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1648, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1901, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of additive was in 1648

Phrases Containing additive

Browse Nearby Words

additive
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Cite this Entry

“Additive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/additive. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

additive

1 of 2 adjective
ad·​di·​tive ˈad-ət-iv How to pronounce additive (audio)
: 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 How to pronounce additive (audio)
: 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
additivity
ˌad-ə-ˈtiv-ət-ē How to pronounce additive (audio)
noun
plural additivities

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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Nglish: Translation of additive for Spanish Speakers

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