affective

adjective

af·​fec·​tive a-ˈfek-tiv How to pronounce affective (audio)
1
: relating to, arising from, or influencing feelings or emotions : emotional
cognitive and affective symptoms
the novel's affective death scene
2
: expressing emotion
affective language
behaviors that elicit affective reactions
affectively adverb
affectivity noun

Examples of affective in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Food addiction is highly prevalent among individuals with mental health conditions, especially in those with eating disorders, affective (mood) disorders, and personality disorders.10 Some of the most common include binge eating disorder, bulimia nervosa, and compulsive overeating. Michael MacIntyre, Verywell Health, 13 Mar. 2025 The paper identifies two potential formal diagnoses: acute suicidality affective disturbances (ASAD) and suicide-crisis syndrome (SCS). Esteban L. Hernandez, Axios, 7 Mar. 2025 These nonverbal bids for connection aligning with affective repair—not just problem-solving—can shift the emotional climate of a conflict. Mark Travers, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025 Additionally, disco offered a framework for instrumentalists to play around with, as well as characteristics that cannot be boiled down to logic: there can also be affective reasons, regardless of whether the intent is irony, camp, parody, or the expression of genuine sentiment. Angelica Frey, JSTOR Daily, 23 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for affective

Word History

Etymology

Middle English affectif, borrowed from Middle French, borrowed from Late Latin affectīvus, from Latin affectus, past participle of afficere "to produce an effect on, exert an influence on" + -īvus -ive — more at affect entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of affective was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Affective.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/affective. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.

Medical Definition

affective

adjective
af·​fec·​tive a-ˈfek-tiv How to pronounce affective (audio)
: relating to, arising from, or influencing feelings or emotions : emotional
affective symptoms
affectively adverb
affectivity noun
plural affectivities

More from Merriam-Webster on affective

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