purposive

[ pur-puh-siv ]
See synonyms for purposive on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. having, showing, or acting with a purpose, intention, or design.

  2. adapted to a purpose or end.

  1. serving some purpose.

  2. determined; resolute.

  3. of or characteristic of purpose.

Origin of purposive

1
First recorded in 1850–55; purpose + -ive

Other words from purposive

  • pur·pos·ive·ly, adverb
  • pur·pos·ive·ness, noun
  • non·pur·pos·ive, adjective
  • non·pur·pos·ive·ly, adverb
  • non·pur·pos·ive·ness, noun
  • pre·pur·pos·ive, adjective
  • sem·i·pur·pos·ive, adjective
  • sem·i·pur·pos·ive·ly, adverb
  • sem·i·pur·pos·ive·ness, noun
  • un·pur·pos·ive, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use purposive in a sentence

  • Darwin has given us in his theory of selection a mechanical explanation of the apparent design and purposiveness in this.

    The Wonders of Life | Ernst Haeckel
  • Baer, especially, has laid stress on the purposiveness of all vital movement.

    The Wonders of Life | Ernst Haeckel
  • But this purposiveness may be only formal and subjective, or real and objective.

  • The Realism of the purposiveness of nature is also either physical or hyperphysical.

  • Consequently the Fatalism of purposiveness is at the same time an Idealism.

British Dictionary definitions for purposive

purposive

/ (ˈpɜːpəsɪv) /


adjective
  1. relating to, having, or indicating conscious intention

  2. serving a purpose; useful

Derived forms of purposive

  • purposively, adverb
  • purposiveness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012