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constructive

UK/kənˈstɹʌktɪv/US/kənˈstɹʌktɪv/
adjectiveB2Common in everyday speech and writing · #5,640 of 15,258neutral

Constructive means meant to build up and improve rather than to tear down. Criticism that comes with a suggestion attached.

The phrase constructive criticism is the commonest use by far, and it promises that the fault-finding has a purpose. Constructive talks and a constructive approach both mean progress is being made. British employment law has a precise term in constructive dismissal, where an employer makes conditions so bad that the employee resigns. Its opposite is destructive, and the verb behind both is construct.

Definitions of constructive

  1. 1adjectiveconstructiveIntended to be helpful and lead to improvement.B2

    “She offered some genuinely constructive suggestions.”

Where it comes from

  1. Proto-Indo-European

    *strew-

  2. Latin

    cōnstrūctīvus

  3. English, today

    constructive

From Latin cōnstrūctīvus. by surface analysis, construct + -ive.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA

Practised in A Man Called Ove

First appears in chapter 15 of A Man Called Ove.

Practise this word

constructive in the wild

  • Research supports the notion that using feedback and constructive criticism in the learning process is very influential.

    Criticism

  • A quasi-contract (or implied-in-law contract or constructive contract) is a fictional contract recognised by a court.

    Quasi-contract

  • For avoiding confusion with the stronger concept that follows, such a constructive proof is sometimes called an effective proof.

    Constructive proof

  • A constructive proof may also refer to the stronger concept of a proof that is valid in constructive mathematics.

    Constructive proof

  • In employment law, constructive dismissal occurs when an employee resigns due to the employer creating a hostile work environment.

    Constructive dismissal

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From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. These sentences were written by other people about their own subjects; they are here to show the word at work, not as anybody’s opinion.

Related words

  • constructive dismissal