constructive
AdjectiveOpen English WordNet
Adjective (2)
- constructing or tending to construct or improve or promote development“constructive criticism”“a constructive attitude”“a constructive philosophy”“constructive permission”Opposite destructiveSimilar creative, structural, reconstructive, inferential, formativeSee also positive
- emphasizing what is laudable or hopeful or to the good“constructive criticism”Opposite negative, neutralSimilar positive
What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz
Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Origin: Cf. F. constructif.
1. Having ability to construct or form; employed in construction; as, to exhibit constructive power.
The constructive fingers of Watts.— Ralph Waldo Emerson
2. Derived from, or depending on, construction, inference, or interpretation; not directly expressed, but inferred.
3. helpful; promoting improvement; intended to help; as, constructive criticism; constructive suggestions. Contrasted with destructive.
Constructive crimes Law, acts having effects analogous to those of some statutory or common law crimes; as, constructive treason. Constructive crimes are no longer recognized by the courts. — Constructive notice, notice imputed by construction of law. — Constructive trust, a trust which may be assumed to exist, though no actual mention of it be made.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54 · with additions: GCIDE editors