overwordExplorer
ENGLISH · A WORD WITH POSSIBILITIES

adjective.

A word that modifies a noun or noun phrase or describes a noun’s referent.

9 characters3 syllables approx.English language

Meaning & usage

noun/ˈæd͡ʒ.ɪk.tɪv//ˈæd͡ʒ.ɛk.tɪv//ˈæd͡ʒ.ək.tɪv//ˈæd͡ʒ.ə.tɪv/
  1. A word that modifies a noun or noun phrase or describes a noun’s referent.

    The words “big” and “heavy” are English adjectives.
  2. A dependent; an accessory.

    obsolete
Where this word comes from

From Middle English adjectif, adjective, from Old French adjectif, from Latin adiectivus, from adiciō + -īvus, from ad- (“to, towards, at”) + iaciō (“throw”). The Latin word adiectivus in turn was a calque of Ancient Greek ἐπιθετικόν (epithetikón, “added”), a derivative of the compound verb ἐπιτίθημι (epitíthēmi), from which also comes epithet.

adj/ˈæd͡ʒ.ɪk.tɪv//ˈæd͡ʒ.ɛk.tɪv//ˈæd͡ʒ.ək.tɪv//ˈæd͡ʒ.ə.tɪv/
  1. Adjectival; pertaining to or functioning as an adjective.

    not-comparable
  2. Applying to methods of enforcement and rules of procedure.

    not-comparable
  3. Needing the use of a mordant to be made fast to that which is being dyed.

    not-comparable
  4. Incapable of independent function.

    not-comparable · obsolete
Where this word comes from

From Middle English adjectif, adjective, from Old French adjectif, from Latin adiectivus, from adiciō + -īvus, from ad- (“to, towards, at”) + iaciō (“throw”). The Latin word adiectivus in turn was a calque of Ancient Greek ἐπιθετικόν (epithetikón, “added”), a derivative of the compound verb ἐπιτίθημι (epitíthēmi), from which also comes epithet.

verb/ˈæd͡ʒ.ɪk.tɪv//ˈæd͡ʒ.ɛk.tɪv//ˈæd͡ʒ.ək.tɪv//ˈæd͡ʒ.ə.tɪv/
  1. To make an adjective of; to form or convert into an adjective.

    transitive
  2. To characterize with an adjective; to describe by using an adjective.

    transitive
Where this word comes from

From Middle English adjectif, adjective, from Old French adjectif, from Latin adiectivus, from adiciō + -īvus, from ad- (“to, towards, at”) + iaciō (“throw”). The Latin word adiectivus in turn was a calque of Ancient Greek ἐπιθετικόν (epithetikón, “added”), a derivative of the compound verb ἐπιτίθημι (epitíthēmi), from which also comes epithet.

FROM WORD TO NAME

Try it on your idea.

adjective has 9 characters. Say it out loud, try it alongside a description of your project, and see whether its meaning fits what you want to create.

adjective studioadjective workshello, adjective

These are naming prompts. Meanings and pronunciation can vary; existing brand and domain uses have not been checked.

Explore the name generator

A word with a source.

Definitions, grammatical labels, IPA, etymology and examples: Wiktionary contributors, extracted by Kaikki / Wiktextract. Adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0. Selected fields and authored examples are shown; third-party quotations and audio are omitted. See contributor history.

Last enriched 2026-09-10. Definitions are in English. Romanizations are shown when supplied by the source; syllable estimates are omitted for unsupported scripts.