constructive

[ kuhn-struhk-tiv ]
See synonyms for: constructiveconstructively on Thesaurus.com

adjective
  1. helping to improve; promoting further development or advancement (opposed to destructive): constructive criticism.

  2. of, relating to, or of the nature of construction; structural.

  1. deduced by inference or interpretation; inferential: constructive permission.

  2. Law. denoting an act or condition not directly expressed but inferred from other acts or conditions.

Origin of constructive

1
1670–80; <Medieval Latin constrūctīvus, equivalent to Latin constrūct(us) (see construct) + īvus -ive

Other words for constructive

Other words from constructive

  • con·struc·tive·ly, adverb
  • con·struc·tive·ness, noun
  • non·con·struc·tive, adjective
  • non·con·struc·tive·ly, adverb
  • non·con·struc·tive·ness, noun
  • qua·si-con·struc·tive, adjective
  • qua·si-con·struc·tive·ly, adverb
  • un·con·struc·tive, adjective
  • un·con·struc·tive·ly, adverb

Words Nearby constructive

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How to use constructive in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for constructive

constructive

/ (kənˈstrʌktɪv) /


adjective
  1. serving to build or improve; positive: constructive criticism

  2. law deduced by inference or construction; not expressed but inferred

  1. law having a deemed legal effect: constructive notice

  2. another word for structural

Derived forms of constructive

  • constructively, adverb
  • constructiveness, noun

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