What does introductive mean?
Introductive means serving to introduce a subject, work, or course of study. It is often used before words such as remarks, course, chapter, or material and suggests that the thing being described is intended to begin a larger subject or activity. For example, introductory remarks may welcome an audience or provide brief background, while an introductory course gives learners a first orientation in a field. The word is somewhat formal and literary; introductory is the usual everyday alternative. Its main connotation is preliminary and foundational rather than advanced or conclusive. Introductive is particularly useful in formal descriptions, where it clearly identifies a section or statement as an opening or orientation to something that follows.
adjectiveIntended to introduce or provide an introduction to a subject, work, or course of study.
- Intended to introduce or provide an introduction to a subject, work, or course of study.
"The course includes an introductory chapter on the history of the language."
"The speaker offered a few introductory remarks before the formal address."
"The book is an introductory text for students with no previous experience in Latin."
Introductory comes from the same root as introduce: both point to opening the door before the main event begins.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does introductive come from?
Introductive comes from Latin introducere, meaning to bring in or lead into, with intro- meaning in or into and ducere, to lead. The English words introduce, introduction, introductory, and introductive developed from this same Latin foundation. The suffix -ive forms the adjective, while related forms use -tion and -ory. In modern English, introductory is much more common than introductive.
Related word forms
How introductive is actually used
This is a formal or literary adjective. In everyday use, introductory is much more common.
Easily confused with introductive
An introductory word or course introduces a subject, whereas an intrusive person or thing is unwanted or disruptive.