transitivity

T1R1A1N1S1I1T1I1V4I1T1Y4
/ˌtɹænzɪˈtɪvɪti/

noun

The degree in which any one verb can take or govern objects.

“The hypothetical syllogism inference rule states the transitivity of implication.”

Similar
transitiveness
Opposite
intransitivity
OriginFrench transitivité →
UncommonScrabble 18
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Meanings

nountransitivity (countable and uncountable, plural transitivities)

plural transitivities

  1. countableuncountablegrammarThe degree in which any one verb can take or govern objects.

    There are 3 cardinal degrees of transitivity of any one verb: intransitive, monotransitive and ditransitive.

  2. countableuncountablehuman sciencesThe property of being transitive.

    The hypothetical syllogism inference rule states the transitivity of implication.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounthe grammatical relation created by a transitive verb

Similar
transitiveness
Opposite
intransitivity
Broader
grammatical relation
Also see
transitiveness

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Frenchtransitivité
  2. Englishtransitivity

From French transitivité. Morphologically transitive + -ity.

More words from French

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 及物性
  • 及物性 (jíwùxìng)the degree in which a verb can govern objects
Dutch overgankelijkheid, transitiviteit
  • overgankelijkheidthe degree in which a verb can govern objects
  • transitiviteitthe degree in which a verb can govern objects
Finnish transitiivisuus
  • transitiivisuusthe degree in which a verb can govern objects
French transitivité
  • transitivitéthe degree in which a verb can govern objects
German Transitivität
  • Transitivitätthe degree in which a verb can govern objects
Greek επαγωγή, μεταβατικότητα
  • επαγωγή (epagogí)the degree in which a verb can govern objects
  • μεταβατικότητα (metavatikótita)the degree in which a verb can govern objects
Italian transitività
  • transitivitàthe degree in which a verb can govern objects
Polish przechodniość, tranzytywność
  • przechodniośćthe degree in which a verb can govern objects
  • tranzytywnośćthe degree in which a verb can govern objects
Portuguese transitividade
  • transitividadethe degree in which a verb can govern objects
Romanian tranzitivitate
  • tranzitivitatethe degree in which a verb can govern objects
Russian перехо́дность, транзити́вность
  • перехо́дность (perexódnostʹ)the degree in which a verb can govern objects
  • транзити́вность (tranzitívnostʹ)the degree in which a verb can govern objects
Spanish transitividad
  • transitividadthe degree in which a verb can govern objects
Swedish transitivitet
  • transitivitetthe degree in which a verb can govern objects
Ukrainian перехі́дність, транзити́вність
  • перехі́дність (perexídnistʹ)the degree in which a verb can govern objects
  • транзити́вність (tranzytývnistʹ)the degree in which a verb can govern objects
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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