retentive

UK: /rɪˈtɛntɪv/ US: /rɪˈtɛntɪv/ ,(ri ten′tiv)

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

re•ten•tive /rɪˈtɛntɪv/   adj. 

1. tending to retain.
2. able to remember well:
   a retentive memory.
re•ten•tive•ness, n. [uncountable] See -ten-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

re•ten•tive  (ri ten′tiv), adj. 

1. tending or serving to retain something.
2. having power or capacity to retain.
3. having power or ability to remember;
   having a good memory.

• Medieval Latin retentīvus, equivalent. to Latin retent(us) (see retention) + -īvus -ive
• Middle French
• Middle English retentif 1325–75

re•ten′tive•ly, adv. 
re•ten′tive•ness, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

retentive / rɪˈtɛntɪv/ adjective

1. having the capacity to retain or remember

reˈtentively adverb

reˈtentiveness noun