disjunctive

UK: /dɪsˈdʒʌŋktɪv/ US: (dis jungk′tiv)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

dis•junc•tive  (dis jungk′tiv), adj. 

1. serving or tending to disjoin;
   separating;
   dividing;
   distinguishing.
2. Grammar
   • syntactically setting two or more expressions in opposition to each other, as but in poor but happy, or expressing an alternative, as or in this or that.
   • not syntactically dependent upon some particular expression.
3. Philosophy [Logic.]
   • Philosophy characterizing propositions that are disjunctions.
   • (of a syllogism) containing at least one disjunctive proposition as a premise.

n. 

4. a statement, course of action, etc., involving alternatives.
5. Philosophy [Logic.] disjunction (def. 2a).
6. Grammar a disjunctive word.

• Late Latin disjunctīvus placed in opposition, equivalent. to Latin disjunct(us) (see disjunct) + -īvus -ive
• late Middle English 1400–50

dis•junc′tive•ly, adv. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

disjunctive / dɪsˈdʒʌŋktɪv/ adjective

1. serving to disconnect or separate
2. denoting a word, esp a conjunction, that serves to express opposition or contrast: but in the sentence She was poor but she was honest
3. Also: alternative relating to, characterized by, or containing disjunction

noun

1. a disjunctive word, esp a conjunction
2. a disjunctive proposition; disjunction

disˈjunctively adverb