generative

adjective

gen·​er·​a·​tive ˈje-nə-rə-tiv 

ˈjen-rə-tiv,

ˈje-nə-ˌrā-tiv 

: having the power or function of generating, originating, producing, or reproducing

… Elizabeth Gilbert dives into her own generative process to share her wisdom and unique perspective about creativity.

—Camryn La Sala

… her gift is essentially organizational rather than generative.

—Martin Filler

: such as

a

biology : of or relating to the production of offspring

vegetative and generative plant growth

the generative organs of mammals

see also generative cell, generative nucleus

b

computing : using artificial intelligence algorithms to create complete units of content (such as text compositions, images, audio, or video) based on a broad corpus of material

Unlike the phone's predictive text feature, ChatGPT is said to be generative (the G in GPT).

—JoElla Carman and Jasmine Cui

see also generative AI

Examples of generative in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Quartz Intelligence Newsroom uses generative artificial intelligence to report on business trends. —Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 29 Jan. 2025

Analysts cited stronger smartphone competition in China and a lack of compelling Apple Intelligence and generative artificial intelligence applications to cause an iPhone upgrade cycle. —Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 29 Jan. 2025

At the start of what is likely to be a busy news year amid Trump’s return to the Oval Office, ABC News‘ unionized writers have secured new protections governing the use of generative AI in their workplace. —Katie Kilkenny, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Jan. 2025

The phones include an enhanced version of Google Gemini, upgrades to Circle-to-Search, new call transcript AI summaries, on-device generative photo editing, and more. —PCMAG, 24 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing generative

• generative AI
• generative artificial intelligence
• generative cell
• generative grammar
• generative nucleus
• generative semantics

Medical Definition

generative

adjective

gen·​er·​a·​tive ˈjen-(ə-)rət-iv  -ə-ˌrāt- 

: having the power or function of propagating or reproducing

generative organs