Meanings
comparative more abstractive · superlative most abstractive
- Having an abstracting nature or tendency; tending to separate; tending to be withdrawn.First known use First attested in the late 15ᵗʰ century.
The researcher proposed an abstractive model for text summarization.
2 more examples
Unlike extractive methods, abstractive summarization generates new phrasing.
The essay was praised for its abstractive qualities, showing insight rather than repetition.
- Derived by abstraction; belonging to abstraction.First known use First attested in the late 15ᵗʰ century.
Synonyms & antonyms
adjectiveof an abstracting nature or having the power of abstracting
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Latinabstractus“drawn away”
- Medieval Latinabstractivus
- Middle Englishabstractif
- Englishabstractive
From Middle English abstractif, from Medieval Latin abstractivus, from Latin abstractus (“drawn away”) + -ivus (“-ive”). Equivalent to abstract + -ive.
More words from Middle English, Medieval Latin, Latin
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Dutch abstraherend, aftrekbaar
- abstraherendhaving an abstracting nature or tendency
- aftrekbaarhaving an abstracting nature or tendency
- abstractderived by abstraction
- afgetrokkenderived by abstraction
Finnish abstraktiivinen, abstraktiivinen
- abstraktiivinenhaving an abstracting nature or tendency
- abstraktiivinenderived by abstraction
Italian astrattivo
- astrattivohaving an abstracting nature or tendency
Polish abstrakcyjny, abstrakcyjny
- abstrakcyjnyhaving an abstracting nature or tendency
- abstrakcyjnyderived by abstraction
Portuguese abstrativo
- abstrativohaving an abstracting nature or tendency
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with abstractive
Cite this entry
abstractive. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/abstractive
“abstractive.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/abstractive. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “abstractive,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/abstractive.
Source: abstractive on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.