adjective

UK: /ˈædʒɪktɪv/ US: /ˈædʒɪktɪv/ ,(aj′ik tiv)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

ad•jec•tive /ˈædʒɪktɪv/   n. [countable]

1. Grammar a member of a class of words that describe nouns, as nice in a nice day, or beautiful in She is very beautiful.Abbr.: adj.

adj. 

2. Grammar of, relating to, or functioning as an adjective;
   adjectival:
   an adjective phrase.

See -jec-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ad•jec•tive  (aj′ik tiv), n. 

1. Grammar any member of a class of words that in many languages are distinguished in form, as partly in English by having comparative and superlative endings, or by functioning as modifiers of nouns, as good, wise, perfect.

adj. 

2. Grammar pertaining to or functioning as an adjective;
   adjectival:
   the adjective use of a noun.
3. not able to stand alone;
   dependent.
4. Law concerning methods of enforcement of legal rights, as pleading and practice (opposed to substantive).
5. Textiles (of dye colors) requiring a mordant or the like to render them permanent (opposed to substantive).

• Late Latin adjectīvum, neuter of adjectīvus, equivalent. to adject(us) attached, added, past participle of ad(j)icere (ad- ad- + -jec-, combining form of jac- throw + -tus past participle suffix) + -īvus -ive
• Middle English 1350–1400

ad′jec•tive•ly, adv. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

adjective / ˈædʒɪktɪv/ noun

1. a word imputing a characteristic to a noun or pronoun
2. (as modifier): an adjective phrase
   Abbreviation: adj

adjective

1. additional or dependent

Etymology: 14th Century: from Late Latin adjectīvus attributive, from adjicere to throw to, add, from ad- to + jacere to throw; in grammatical sense, from the Latin phrase nōmen adjectīvum attributive noun

adjectival / ˌædʒɪkˈtaɪv^əl/ adjective