What does cementitious mean?
Cementitious is an adjective describing any substance that has the binding, hardening qualities of cement — the ability to set, harden, and adhere materials together into a solid mass. In construction and materials science it most commonly appears in the phrase 'supplementary cementitious materials,' referring to additives like fly ash, ground granulated blast-furnace slag, or silica fume that contribute to concrete's strength alongside Portland cement. The word derives from the Latin caementum, meaning quarried stone or rubble, which also gives us the noun 'cement.' Because it is a specialist term, cementitious is encountered almost exclusively in engineering reports, building codes, technical literature, and discussions of sustainable construction, where reducing the proportion of traditional cement in a mix is an important environmental goal. Though formal in register, its meaning is transparent once understood: if something is cementitious, it behaves like cement, binding loose ingredients into a durable whole.
adjectiveHaving the properties of cement; capable of setting and hardening into a solid mass, as cement does. Used chiefly in construction and materials science to describe substances such as lime, gypsum, or blast-furnace slag that bind other materials together.
- Having the binding or hardening properties of cement; able to act as a cement in construction materials.
- (By extension) Relating to or consisting of cement or cement-like substances.
"Fly ash is often added to concrete mixes for its cementitious properties."
"Supplementary cementitious materials such as slag and fly ash reduce the carbon footprint of modern concrete."
"The engineers tested the mortar's cementitious strength before approving it for the load-bearing walls."
The word 'cementitious' comes straight from the Latin caementum — meaning quarried stone rubble — the very stuff Romans mixed with ash and seawater to build harbors still standing today.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of cementitious
Cementitious comes from the Latin caementum, meaning rough quarried stone or rubble, which itself derives from caedere, 'to cut down or hew.' The Latin term passed through Old French as ciment before entering English as 'cement' in the Middle Ages, and the adjective cementitious was later formed by adding the Latinate suffix -itious. Its closest cognates are simply the other words built on the same Latin root, including cement, cementation, and cementum (the hard tissue covering tooth roots).
Related word forms
How cementitious is actually used
A technical term used mainly in civil engineering, construction, and materials science. It is formal rather than colloquial and rarely appears outside professional or academic contexts.
Easily confused with cementitious
Ceremonious means overly formal or ritualistic in manner, while cementitious refers to the cement-like, binding quality of a material.