WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
con•struc•tive /kənˈstrʌktɪv/USA pronunciation
adj.
con•struc•tive•ness, n. [uncountable]See -stru-.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- causing or leading to development;
helping to improve:constructive criticism.
con•struc•tive•ness, n. [uncountable]See -stru-.
con•struc•tive
(kən struk′tiv),USA pronunciation adj.
con•struc′tive•ly, adv.
con•struc′tive•ness, n.
- constructing or tending to construct;
helping to improve;
promoting further development or advancement (opposed to destructive):constructive criticism. - of, pertaining to, or of the nature of construction;
structural. - deduced by inference or interpretation;
inferential:constructive permission. - Lawmakingdenoting an act or condition not directly expressed but inferred from other acts or conditions.
- Medieval Latin constrūctīvus, equivalent. to Latin constrūct(us) (see construct) + īvus -ive
- 1670–80
con•struc′tive•ness, n.
- 1. productive, helpful, handy, useful.
'constructively' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):