adjectival

IPA/ˌædʒekˈtaɪvl/
IPA/ˌædʒekˈtaɪvl/

adjectival — adjective

  • adjectivalpositive
  • more adjectivalcomparative
  • most adjectivalsuperlative

1. describes a word, phrase, or clause that does the same job as an adjective — giv

1.adjectiveC1
Definition

describes a word, phrase, or clause that does the same job as an adjective — giving extra information about a noun, such as what kind it is, which one, or how many.

Example

The students studied adjectival phrases such as 'with the wooden handle' and 'full of fresh water.'

adjectival phrase — a group of words doing an adjective's job

In English, adding the suffix '-ous' to a noun often creates an adjectival form, like 'dangerous' from 'danger.'

adjectival suffix — a word ending that turns a noun into an adjective

Common collocations
  • adjectival phrase
  • adjectival clause
  • adjectival form
  • adjectival suffix
  • adjectival ending
  • adjectival meaning
  • adjectival function
Synonyms
  • adjective (noun use)

    'Adjective' is the ordinary word for a single describing word; 'adjectival' is more technical and usually refers to whole phrases or clauses.

  • modifying

    Describes any word or phrase that gives extra information about another word, not limited to adjectives

  • descriptive

    Broader — can describe verbs, adverbs, or whole sentences, not just noun modifiers

Antonyms
  • adverbial

    Describes words, phrases, or clauses that function like adverbs (modifying verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs)

Grammar Patterns

adjectival + noun

adjectival phrase / clause / suffix

Usage Note

Always used before a noun when directly modifying it (adjectival phrase, not phrase adjectival). This is a technical grammar term; everyday conversation uses 'adjective' instead.

Common Mistakes

We learned about adjectival in class today.
We learned about adjectival phrases in class today.
'Adjectival' is not a noun; it must modify a noun like 'phrase,' 'clause,' or 'form.'
She used an adjectival word to describe the car.
She used an adjective to describe the car.
Use 'adjective' for a single describing word; 'adjectival' is best for phrases, clauses, or endings that function like adjectives.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

'Adjective' and 'adjectival' are closely related, but 'adjective' is the everyday term for a single describing word (a red car), while 'adjectival' is a technical term used chiefly for phrases, clauses, or suffixes that perform an adjective's function (an adjectival clause). 'Modifying' is broader: any word or phrase that adds information about another element can be called a modifier, whether it is an adjective, an adverb, or a noun adjunct. 'Descriptive' is even wider, covering language that paints a picture — a descriptive passage, a descriptive title. 'Attributive' refers specifically to an adjective placed before the noun it modifies, as in 'wooden spoon' (cf. 'the spoon is wooden' — predicative). In teaching contexts, use 'adjective' for single words and 'adjectival' when discussing multi-word structures: 'That clause is adjectival, and its key word is an adjective.'

adjective ↗adjectival ↗modifying ↗descriptive ↗attributive ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Derived from the Latin word 'adjectivus', meaning 'that is added to (a noun)', which came from 'ad-' (to, toward) + 'jacere' (to throw). The English form 'adjective' entered the language in the 14th century, and 'adjectival' was formed later by adding the suffix '-al' (meaning 'relating to') — roughly 'relating to something that is thrown next to a noun.'