What does invocative mean?
Invocative means relating to the act of invoking, summoning, or calling upon a deity or other sacred power. The word is most familiar from the phrase “invocative prayer,” a formal prayer that calls upon God and often serves to open a religious service. In this context, “invocative” does not merely mean that someone is making a request: it suggests actively summoning or addressing a divine presence. The word can also describe words, voices, or gestures that call upon spiritual powers. As a noun, an invocative is a prayer or invocation of this kind. The term is formal and has a distinctly religious or ceremonial tone, although related literary and poetic uses can describe an appeal to a person, place, memory, or unseen force. It should not be confused with evocative, which primarily means capable of bringing emotions or memories to mind, or provocative, which means intended to provoke a strong reaction.
Relating to or tending to invoke, summon, or call upon a deity or other power.
"The ceremony was accompanied by an invocative chant."
Chiefly used in formal religious, ceremonial, and literary contexts.
A prayer or invocation, especially one calling upon God.
"The officiant recited an invocative before the sermon."
The noun is uncommon and is most often used in the expression “invocative prayer.”
Plural forms are possible but rare; the noun is normally used in the singular or in the established phrase “invocative prayer.”
"The manuscript contains several carefully worded invocatives."
An invocative prayer does more than request: it calls, summons, and opens a relationship with the divine.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does invocative come from?
Invocative comes from Latin invocativus, meaning “of invocation” or “calling upon,” and ultimately from invocare, “to call upon” or “summon.” The Latin verb combines in-, “into” or “upon,” with vocare, “to call.” The family includes English forms such as invoke, invocation, and invocatory, as well as the cognate vocation, derived from a related Latin root meaning “a call” or “calling.”
Related word forms
How invocative is actually used
The adjective is chiefly formal and religious or liturgical. The noun is less common and is usually encountered in the expression “invocative prayer.”
Easily confused with invocative
Evocative means capable of recalling feelings, memories, or images, whereas invocative more specifically means relating to calling upon a deity or spiritual power.
Provocative describes speech, behaviour, or art intended to provoke a reaction, while invocative refers to invocation or prayer.