The meaning of PURPOSIVE is serving or effecting a useful function though not as a result of planning or design.

PURPOSIVE definition: having, showing, or acting with a purpose, intention, or design. See examples of purposive used in a sentence.

Purposive browsing describes what academic researchers do when they look over books with a serious purpose in mind, such as keeping up to date in their field or looking for new ideas.

Factsheet What does the adjective purposive mean? There are six meanings listed in OED's entry for the adjective purposive. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

She began to move, for the first time, in a purposive direction. His meanness lost its gaiety and took on a purposive quality. 2 meanings: 1. relating to, having, or indicating conscious intention 2. serving a …

Purposive definition: Having or serving a purpose.

Mar 10, 2024 · Purposeful focuses on the determined manner of doing something, while purposive highlights the design or intention behind actions or objects to serve a specific end.

Nov 27, 2025 · purposive (comparative more purposive, superlative most purposive) Serving a particular purpose; useful; adapted to a given purpose, especially through natural evolution. [from 19th c.]

purposive (ˈpɜːpəsɪv) adj 1. relating to, having, or indicating conscious intention 2. serving a purpose; useful

Usage Tips: Use "purposive" to describe actions or designs that are clearly intended to achieve a specific goal.