constructive

From Middle French constructif.

Morphologically construct +‎ -ive.

• IPA^(key): /kənˈstɹʌktɪv/

• Audio (Southern England):

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constructive (comparative more constructive, superlative most constructive)

1. Relating to or causing construction.

   Antonym: destructive

2. Carefully considered and meant to be helpful.

   Synonyms: productive, helpful, useful

3. Serving a useful purpose.
4. (law) Deemed after the fact to exist or to have occurred, despite the formal process not having been followed; often when there was no intention to do so at the time.

   constructive dismissal

   constructive notice

   constructive trust

5. Not direct or expressed, but inferred.
   • 1978, Richard Nixon, “The Presidency 1973-1974”, in RN: the Memoirs of Richard Nixon‎, Grosset & Dunlap, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, →OL, page 1077:

     A President's power begins slipping away the moment it is known that he is going to leave: I had seen that in 1952, in 1960, in 1968. On the eve of my resignation I knew that my role was already a symbolic one, and that Gerald Ford's was now the constructive one. My telephone calls and meetings and decisions were now parts of a prescribed ritual aimed at making peace with the past; his calls, his meetings, and his decisions were already the ones that would shape America's future.

• IPA^(key): /kɔ̃s.tʁyk.tiv/

• Audio (Canada):

  (file)

constructive

1. feminine singular of constructif