associative

adjective

as·​so·​cia·​tive ə-ˈsō-shē-ˌā-tiv How to pronounce associative (audio)
-sē-,
-shə-tiv How to pronounce associative (audio)
1
: of or relating to association especially of ideas or images
2
: dependent on or acquired by association or learning
3
: of, having, or being the property of combining to the same mathematical result regardless of the grouping of an expression's elements given that the order of those elements is preserved
addition is associative since (a + b) + c = a + (b + c)
associatively adverb
associativity noun

Examples of associative in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Hopfield created an associative memory that can store and reconstruct images and other types of patterns in data, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said. Bloomberg, The Mercury News, 8 Oct. 2024 Connecting memories: Similar to how our brains create associations between concepts, the associative memory system forms links between related information by connecting the dots. Tor Constantino, Mba, Forbes, 8 Oct. 2024 But the approach might be a struggle for those less inclined to submit to associative trains of thoughts. Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019 What follows is an examination of the largely associative and intuitive process by which the designer is driven to create a fall lineup that will bring the critics back around to his side. Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 14 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for associative 

Word History

First Known Use

1801, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of associative was in 1801

Dictionary Entries Near associative

Cite this Entry

“Associative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/associative. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

associative

adjective
as·​so·​cia·​tive ə-ˈsō-shē-ˌāt-iv How to pronounce associative (audio) -sē- How to pronounce associative (audio)
-shət-iv
1
: of or relating to association
2
: of, having, or being the property of producing the same mathematical value no matter how an expression's elements are grouped so long as the order of those elements is the same
addition is associative since (a + b) + c = a + (b + c)
associatively adverb
associativity
ə-ˌsō-shē-ə-ˈtiv-ət-ē How to pronounce associative (audio)
-ˌsō-sē-
-ˌsō-shə-ˈtiv-
noun

Medical Definition

associative

adjective
as·​so·​cia·​tive ə-ˈsō-s(h)ē-ˌāt-iv How to pronounce associative (audio) -shət-iv How to pronounce associative (audio)
1
: of or relating to association especially of ideas or images
an associative symbol
2
a
: dependent on or characterized by association
an associative reaction
b
: acquired by a process of learning
an associative reflex
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