qualitative

qual·i·ta·tive
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UK/ˈkwɒl.ɪ.tə.tɪv/US/ˈkwɑ.ləˌteɪ.tɪv/US[ˈkwɑ.ləˌteɪ.ɾɪv]Canada/ˈkwɒl.əˌteɪ.tɪv/

adjective

Of descriptions or distinctions based on some quality rather than on some quantity.

“Near-synonyms: nonquantitative, unquantitative”

Similar
nonquantitativeunquantitativesoft
Opposite
nonqualitativeunqualitativequantitative
CommonScrabble 23
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Word of the Day · Jun 20, 2022

Meanings

adjectivequalitative (comparative more qualitative, superlative most qualitative)

comparative more qualitative · superlative most qualitative

  1. Of descriptions or distinctions based on some quality rather than on some quantity.

    Near-synonyms: nonquantitative, unquantitative

    1 more example

    You may recall that I made a qualitative post about our level 100 talents a little more than a month ago. Now let’s look at them qualitatively.

    2014 November 12, Theck, “Paladinning in Warlords of Draenor”, in Sacred Duty

    Synonyms: nonquantitative, unquantitative · Antonyms: nonqualitative, unqualitative

  2. chemistryOf a form of analysis that yields the identity of a compound.
  3. Nigeriahigh-quality
nounqualitative (plural qualitatives)

plural qualitatives

  1. Something qualitative.

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveOf descriptions or distinctions based on some quality rather than on some quantity.

Similar
nonquantitativeunquantitative
Opposite
nonqualitativeunqualitative

More synonyms by meaning

adjectiveinvolving distinctions based on qualities

Similar
soft
Opposite
quantitative
Also see
nonquantitativesoft

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

From Late Latin (or Medieval Latin) quālitātīvus. Equivalent to quality + -ative.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Afrikaans kwalitatief, kwalitatief
  • kwalitatiefof descriptions or distinctions based on some quality rather than on some quantity
  • kwalitatief(chemistry) of a form of analysis that yields the identity of a compound
Bulgarian ка́чествен, качествен
  • ка́чествен (káčestven)of descriptions or distinctions based on some quality rather than on some quantity
  • качествен (kačestven)(chemistry) of a form of analysis that yields the identity of a compound
Catalan qualitatiu, qualitatiu
  • qualitatiuof descriptions or distinctions based on some quality rather than on some quantity
  • qualitatiu(chemistry) of a form of analysis that yields the identity of a compound
Chinese Mandarin 性質的 /性质的, 質的 /质的
  • 性質的 /性质的 (xìngzhì de)of descriptions or distinctions based on some quality rather than on some quantity
  • 質的 /质的 (zhì de)of descriptions or distinctions based on some quality rather than on some quantity
  • 定性的 (dìngxìng de)(chemistry) of a form of analysis that yields the identity of a compound
Czech kvalitativní, kvalitativní
  • kvalitativníof descriptions or distinctions based on some quality rather than on some quantity
  • kvalitativní(chemistry) of a form of analysis that yields the identity of a compound
Danish kvalitativ
  • kvalitativof descriptions or distinctions based on some quality rather than on some quantity
Dutch kwalitatief
  • kwalitatiefof descriptions or distinctions based on some quality rather than on some quantity
Esperanto kvalita
  • kvalitaof descriptions or distinctions based on some quality rather than on some quantity
Estonian kvalitatiivne
  • kvalitatiivneof descriptions or distinctions based on some quality rather than on some quantity
Finnish laadullinen, kvalitatiivinen
  • laadullinenof descriptions or distinctions based on some quality rather than on some quantity
  • kvalitatiivinen(chemistry) of a form of analysis that yields the identity of a compound
French qualitatif, qualitatif
  • qualitatifof descriptions or distinctions based on some quality rather than on some quantity
  • qualitatif(chemistry) of a form of analysis that yields the identity of a compound
German qualitativ, qualitativ
  • qualitativof descriptions or distinctions based on some quality rather than on some quantity
  • qualitativ(chemistry) of a form of analysis that yields the identity of a compound
Greek ποιοτικός
  • ποιοτικός (poiotikós)of descriptions or distinctions based on some quality rather than on some quantity
Icelandic eigindlegur
  • eigindlegurof descriptions or distinctions based on some quality rather than on some quantity
Italian qualitativo, qualitativo
  • qualitativoof descriptions or distinctions based on some quality rather than on some quantity
  • qualitativo(chemistry) of a form of analysis that yields the identity of a compound
Korean 질적
  • 질적 (jiljeok)of descriptions or distinctions based on some quality rather than on some quantity
Lithuanian kokybinis
  • kokybinisof descriptions or distinctions based on some quality rather than on some quantity
Māori inekounga
  • inekoungaof descriptions or distinctions based on some quality rather than on some quantity
Norwegian Bokmål kvalitativ, kvalitativ
  • kvalitativof descriptions or distinctions based on some quality rather than on some quantity
  • kvalitativ(chemistry) of a form of analysis that yields the identity of a compound
Polish jakościowy, jakościowy
  • jakościowyof descriptions or distinctions based on some quality rather than on some quantity
  • jakościowy(chemistry) of a form of analysis that yields the identity of a compound
Portuguese qualitativo, qualitativo
  • qualitativoof descriptions or distinctions based on some quality rather than on some quantity
  • qualitativo(chemistry) of a form of analysis that yields the identity of a compound
Romanian calitativ, calitativ
  • calitativof descriptions or distinctions based on some quality rather than on some quantity
  • calitativ(chemistry) of a form of analysis that yields the identity of a compound
Russian ка́чественный, ка́чественный
  • ка́чественный (káčestvennyj)of descriptions or distinctions based on some quality rather than on some quantity
  • ка́чественный (káčestvennyj)(chemistry) of a form of analysis that yields the identity of a compound
Spanish cualitativo, cualitativo
  • cualitativoof descriptions or distinctions based on some quality rather than on some quantity
  • cualitativo(chemistry) of a form of analysis that yields the identity of a compound
Swedish kvalitativ, kvalitativ
  • kvalitativof descriptions or distinctions based on some quality rather than on some quantity
  • kvalitativ(chemistry) of a form of analysis that yields the identity of a compound
  • kvalitativt(chemistry) of a form of analysis that yields the identity of a compound
Turkish kalitatif, nitel
  • kalitatifof descriptions or distinctions based on some quality rather than on some quantity
  • nitelof descriptions or distinctions based on some quality rather than on some quantity
Ukrainian я́кісний
  • я́кісний (jákisnyj)of descriptions or distinctions based on some quality rather than on some quantity
Vietnamese tính chất, chất
  • tính chấtof descriptions or distinctions based on some quality rather than on some quantity
  • chấtof descriptions or distinctions based on some quality rather than on some quantity
  • phẩm chấtof descriptions or distinctions based on some quality rather than on some quantity
  • định tính(chemistry) of a form of analysis that yields the identity of a compound
Cite this entry
APA

qualitative. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/qualitative

MLA

“qualitative.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/qualitative. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “qualitative,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/qualitative.

Source: qualitative on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.