1
: of, relating to, or characterized by addition
an additive process
2
: produced by addition
3
: characterized by, being, or producing effects (such as drug responses or gene products) that when the causative factors act together are the sum of their individual effects
additively
adverb
: a substance added to another in relatively small amounts to effect a desired change in properties
food additives
Synonyms
Examples of additive in a Sentence
Adjective
certain drugs have additive effects when taken in conjunction with each other that one doesn't see when any one is used alone
Noun
a gasoline additive to reduce pollution
Recent Examples on the Web
Merve Ceylan, Health, 2 Nov. 2024
If Zaslav is also looking for buyers for Warner Bros. Discovery, an activist's pitch to sell the company may not be additive.
—Alex Sherman, CNBC, 8 Aug. 2024
Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 22 Nov. 2024
It is used as a food additive to preserve fresh vegetables, seafood, oils, flour, and syrup.
—Merve Ceylan, Health, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for additive 
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Adjective
It is also added to food products as an additive (E551) and comes in supplement form.
—Merve Ceylan, Health, 2 Nov. 2024
If Zaslav is also looking for buyers for Warner Bros. Discovery, an activist's pitch to sell the company may not be additive.
—Alex Sherman, CNBC, 8 Aug. 2024
Noun
These additives, along with high levels of sugar, salt and fat, help create the overwhelming lure of ultraprocessed foods.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 22 Nov. 2024
It is used as a food additive to preserve fresh vegetables, seafood, oils, flour, and syrup.
—Merve Ceylan, Health, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for additive
Dictionary Entries Near additive
Cite this Entry
“Additive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/additive. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
additive
1 of 2 adjective
ad·di·tive
ˈad-ət-iv 
: relating to or produced by addition
additively
adverb
additive
2 of 2 noun
: a substance added to another in small amounts to give or improve desirable qualities or decrease unwanted qualities
a gasoline additive
additives which color, flavor, or preserve food
Medical Definition
additive
1 of 2 adjective
ad·di·tive
ˈad-ət-iv
: having or relating to a value or effect that is the sum of individual values or effects: as
a
: relating to the sum of the pharmacological responses produced by the concurrent administration of two or more drugs capable of producing the same kind of effect
b
: having a genetic effect that is the sum of the individual effects
additively
adverb
additive
2 of 2 noun
: a substance added to another in relatively small amounts to effect a desired change in properties
especially
: an agent added to a foodstuff to improve color, flavor, texture, or keeping qualities
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