noun

additive

AD-ih-tihv

noun

A substance added to something else in small amounts to change or improve it.

"The food contains no artificial additives."

"Fuel additives can improve engine performance."

adjective

Relating to or produced by addition.

"The effects of the two drugs were additive rather than one canceling the other out."

How to Use Additive

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA small extra ingredient mixed in to change a product's properties, or (as an adjective) something that works by simple addition.

Common pairings

food additive chemical additive additive effect

more additive comparative, additives plural, most additive superlative

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The food contains no artificial _____.

From Late Latin additivus, based on the stem of Latin addere, "to add."

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