Standard Lemma guide

privative

adj · noun · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /ˈprɪvətɪv/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɪvətɪv

1

adj

Meaning 1

Causing privation; depriving.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Consisting in the absence of something; negative.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adj

Meaning 3

Indicating the absence of something.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: grammar, human-sciences, linguistics, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

something that causes privation or indicates an absence

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Latin privativus.

Across languages

Translations

11 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: отрицателен (otricatelen) — indicating the absence of something
  • Catalan: privatiu — indicating the absence of something
  • French: privatif — indicating the absence of something
  • Ancient Greek: στερητικός (sterētikós) — indicating the absence of something
  • Hungarian: fosztó- — indicating the absence of something
  • Hungarian: fosztóképzős — indicating the absence of something
  • Italian: privativo — indicating the absence of something
  • Norwegian Bokmål: privativ — indicating the absence of something
  • Polish: prywatywny — indicating the absence of something
  • Portuguese: privativo — indicating the absence of something
  • Spanish: privativo — indicating the absence of something