additive
gb/ˈædɪtɪv/ us/ˈædɪtɪv/
B2
English
~ 8800
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
entity
1
substance added to a product
A substance that people add to food, fuel, or another product to keep it longer, change its color, or improve how it works.
Usage pattern:
an additive in [food/drink/product]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "additive" (a noun meaning a substance that is added to something) with "addition" or "additional" (which talk about the act of adding or something extra in general). "Additive" is usually used for chemicals in food, fuel, paint, and similar products.
Synonyms
supplement (More general; not limited to chemicals and products, and often used for extra nutrients rather than technical additives.)
|
add-on (Informal and broad; can be anything extra, not specifically a chemical substance in a product.)
Antonyms
whole food (Refers to food with no extra substances added, so it contrasts with food that contains additives.)
|
pure ingredient (Suggests a single, unmodified substance without extra chemicals mixed in.)
Collocations
food additive
|fuel additive
|chemical additive
|additive-free
|artificial additive
|use additives
Themes
food
|chemistry
|industry
|food_drink
|science
|daily_life
Examples
- This yogurt contains no artificial additives or preservatives.
- The company developed a new fuel additive that reduces engine wear.
- Some people are sensitive to certain food additives and may get headaches.
- The bright color comes from a natural plant-based additive.
- Regulations limit which additives can be used in baby food.
Learner examples
- I try to buy food without additives.
- This drink has many color additives.
- The car runs better with this fuel additive.
- The label lists all the additives in the product.
- Some additives keep food fresh for a long time.
adjective
technical
C1
property
2
with effects that simply add up
Used about effects or risks when each one just adds to the others, so the total is the simple sum, not more and not less.
Usage pattern:
an additive effect on [something]
Common mistake:
Learners often think "additive" here just means "additional" in a general way. In technical and scientific writing, "additive" usually has a stricter meaning: the total effect is the exact sum of the parts, not more (synergistic) and not less (antagonistic or canceling).
Synonyms
cumulative (Focuses on things building up over time; not always strictly about a simple mathematical sum, but often used similarly.)
|
linear (Mathematical/technical; often used when the result changes in direct proportion, similar to an additive relationship.)
Antonyms
synergistic (Describes combined effects that are stronger than the simple sum, which is the opposite of a purely additive effect.)
|
antagonistic (Describes combined effects that reduce or cancel each other, instead of simply adding together.)
Collocations
additive effect
|additive risk
|additive interaction
|additive impact
|purely additive
|assume an additive model
Themes
science
|medicine
|mathematics
|health
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The two drugs have an additive effect, so the total response equals the sum of their individual effects.
- When combined, these chemicals show an additive risk rather than a synergistic one.
- The study assumes an additive model, where each factor contributes independently to the overall outcome.
- Noise from different machines is treated as having additive impacts on workers’ hearing.
- The researchers found that stress and lack of sleep had additive effects on performance errors.
Learner examples
- The doctor said the side effects of the two medicines are additive.
- In this model, each factor has an additive effect on the result.
- The risks from smoking and air pollution can be additive.
- The scientists saw an additive effect when they used both treatments together.
- We treated the small changes as additive changes.
adjective
technical
C1
property
3
relating to mathematical addition
Used in mathematics when something is about adding numbers or values, or when a rule or function works by addition.
Usage pattern:
an additive function on [a set]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this technical sense with the everyday noun "additive" meaning a substance in food. Here, "additive" is about the operation of addition in math, as in "additive inverse" or "additive identity."
Synonyms
linear (In many mathematical contexts, linear functions are additive, but "linear" also includes other conditions and is not always exactly the same as "additive".)
Antonyms
multiplicative (Describes properties or structures based on multiplication rather than addition, which contrasts with "additive" in mathematics.)
Collocations
additive function
|additive group
|additive identity
|additive inverse
|additive measure
|additive property
Themes
mathematics
|science
|logic
|education
Examples
- In this space, we define an additive group operation denoted by plus.
- The function is additive if f(x + y) = f(x) + f(y) for all x and y.
- Probability is not always an additive measure when events overlap.
- Zero is the additive identity in the set of real numbers.
- Every real number has an additive inverse, which is its negative.
Learner examples
- In math, we talk about the additive identity, which is zero.
- A function is additive if it turns sums into sums.
- The number −3 is the additive inverse of 3.
- This formula shows an additive rule for these values.
- They study the additive structure of the group.
Grammar
Dictionary form
additive
IPA
GB/ˈædɪtɪv/
US/ˈædɪtɪv/
Syllables & stress
ad - dit - ive (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (ad)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: additive
Noun
- Base: additive
- Plural: additives
Word family
Forms
additives
noun
Core family
Expressions
additive effect
1/ˈædɪtɪv ɪfˈɛkt/
fixed phrase
technical
total effect equals simple sum
A situation where two or more things together have a total effect that is just the sum of each one alone, not stronger and not weaker.
Examples
- The two medications have an additive effect on blood pressure.
- Researchers found an additive effect of stress and poor sleep on heart disease risk.
additive inverse
1/ˈædɪtɪv ɪnvˈɚs/
fixed phrase
technical
number that gives zero when added
In math, the number you add to another number to get zero; for example, the additive inverse of 5 is −5.
Examples
- Every real number has an additive inverse.
- In this exercise, students must find the additive inverse of each fraction.
additive manufacturing
1/ˈædɪtɪv mˌænjəfˈækt͡ʃɚɪŋ/
fixed phrase
technical
3D printing–style layered manufacturing
A way of making objects, often with 3D printers, where material is added in thin layers to build the final shape.
Examples
- Additive manufacturing is used to produce complex metal parts for airplanes.
- The company invested in additive manufacturing to make custom medical implants.
additive-free
1/ˈædɪtɪv fɹˈi/
fixed phrase
containing no additives
Used on food or drink labels to show that no extra chemicals, colors, or preservatives have been added.
Examples
- The juice is advertised as 100% natural and additive-free.
- Consumers are willing to pay more for additive-free products.
food additive
1/fˈud ˈædɪtɪv/
fixed phrase
substance added to processed food
A chemical or other substance that is added to food when it is made, to keep it fresh, change its color or taste, or improve how it looks.
Examples
- Many parents try to avoid food additives when buying snacks for their children.
- The government strictly controls which food additives are allowed in baby products.