What does constructive mean?
Definitions for constructive
kənˈstrʌk tɪvcon·struc·tive
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word constructive.
Princeton's WordNet
constructiveadjective
constructing or tending to construct or improve or promote development
"constructive criticism"; "a constructive attitude"; "a constructive philosophy"; "constructive permission"
constructiveadjective
emphasizing what is laudable or hopeful or to the good
"constructive criticism"
GCIDE
Constructiveadjective
helpful; promoting improvement; intended to help; as, constructive criticism; constructive suggestions. Contrasted with destructive.
Wiktionary
constructiveadjective
Relating to construction.
constructiveadjective
Carefully considered and meant to be helpful.
constructiveadjective
Imputed by law; created to give legal effect to something for equitable reasons, as with constructive notice or a constructive trust.
Wikipedia
Constructive
Although the general English usage of the adjective constructive is "helping to develop or improve something; helpful to someone, instead of upsetting and negative," as in the phrase "constructive criticism," in legal writing constructive has a different meaning.
ChatGPT
constructive
Constructive refers to something that is helpful or beneficial, often contributing to progress, improvement, or the achievement of a specific goal. It can also refer to a way of expressing opinions or criticism in a positive manner that encourages development, growth or positive change. In mathematics or logic, constructive refers to theories or methods that prove the existence of a mathematical object by creating or providing a method for creating it.
Webster Dictionary
Constructiveadjective
having ability to construct or form; employed in construction; as, to exhibit constructive power
Constructiveadjective
derived from, or depending on, construction or interpretation; not directly expressed, but inferred
Etymology: [Cf. F. constructif.]
Editors Contribution
constructive
Accurate, specific and responsible feedback to enable accurate solidarity, cohesion, improvement, stability, unity and teamwork.
Constructive feedback is always welcomed when it's given with love, empathy and understanding.
Submitted by MaryC on March 22, 2020
Usage in printed sourcesFrom:
- [["1515","4"],["1600","6"],["1607","2"],["1635","1"],["1644","5"],["1675","3"],["1680","1"],["1683","6"],["1686","3"],["1688","17"],["1696","1"],["1699","1"],["1701","1"],["1703","4"],["1705","1"],["1706","9"],["1707","1"],["1708","8"],["1712","1"],["1713","2"],["1714","2"],["1718","1"],["1719","1"],["1720","1"],["1721","2"],["1723","2"],["1724","16"],["1726","1"],["1728","1"],["1731","2"],["1732","3"],["1738","2"],["1742","2"],["1744","1"],["1746","3"],["1747","1"],["1748","2"],["1750","2"],["1751","8"],["1752","3"],["1753","1"],["1754","1"],["1755","4"],["1756","4"],["1757","1"],["1759","5"],["1760","3"],["1761","2"],["1762","7"],["1763","6"],["1764","1"],["1765","4"],["1766","86"],["1769","12"],["1770","14"],["1771","4"],["1772","3"],["1773","16"],["1774","8"],["1775","49"],["1776","3"],["1777","8"],["1778","24"],["1779","2"],["1780","3"],["1781","37"],["1782","5"],["1783","12"],["1784","15"],["1785","32"],["1786","9"],["1787","25"],["1788","9"],["1789","17"],["1790","38"],["1791","74"],["1792","40"],["1793","16"],["1794","15"],["1795","70"],["1796","18"],["1797","34"],["1798","45"],["1799","56"],["1800","78"],["1801","62"],["1802","62"],["1803","46"],["1804","37"],["1805","73"],["1806","38"],["1807","159"],["1808","92"],["1809","60"],["1810","174"],["1811","154"],["1812","101"],["1813","218"],["1814","102"],["1815","170"],["1816","115"],["1817","215"],["1818","265"],["1819","205"],["1820","255"],["1821","264"],["1822","237"],["1823","382"],["1824","226"],["1825","257"],["1826","376"],["1827","327"],["1828","307"],["1829","266"],["1830","265"],["1831","254"],["1832","499"],["1833","340"],["1834","271"],["1835","300"],["1836","690"],["1837","442"],["1838","538"],["1839","530"],["1840","460"],["1841","396"],["1842","332"],["1843","615"],["1844","595"],["1845","809"],["1846","928"],["1847","766"],["1848","1048"],["1849","1638"],["1850","1163"],["1851","1173"],["1852","756"],["1853","1175"],["1854","1625"],["1855","1841"],["1856","1309"],["1857","1301"],["1858","1090"],["1859","1492"],["1860","1349"],["1861","1091"],["1862","1607"],["1863","1256"],["1864","1077"],["1865","1343"],["1866","1650"],["1867","1456"],["1868","1593"],["1869","1431"],["1870","1764"],["1871","1316"],["1872","1719"],["1873","2281"],["1874","3093"],["1875","1884"],["1876","3127"],["1877","2236"],["1878","2316"],["1879","2416"],["1880","2410"],["1881","2684"],["1882","2927"],["1883","3505"],["1884","3887"],["1885","3984"],["1886","3786"],["1887","3842"],["1888","3519"],["1889","3143"],["1890","3633"],["1891","3774"],["1892","4289"],["1893","4836"],["1894","4777"],["1895","5193"],["1896","5265"],["1897","5241"],["1898","4966"],["1899","6356"],["1900","6548"],["1901","7138"],["1902","7519"],["1903","7797"],["1904","7966"],["1905","9955"],["1906","8571"],["1907","10096"],["1908","10441"],["1909","9644"],["1910","11056"],["1911","12399"],["1912","14146"],["1913","13102"],["1914","14583"],["1915","14413"],["1916","13388"],["1917","16150"],["1918","14229"],["1919","18707"],["1920","23950"],["1921","18237"],["1922","21783"],["1923","16244"],["1924","16244"],["1925","14713"],["1926","14873"],["1927","18642"],["1928","16948"],["1929","15221"],["1930","16987"],["1931","16962"],["1932","15726"],["1933","12618"],["1934","14695"],["1935","15334"],["1936","15980"],["1937","16221"],["1938","18121"],["1939","18724"],["1940","16025"],["1941","16212"],["1942","15302"],["1943","14068"],["1944","12448"],["1945","14177"],["1946","18656"],["1947","19905"],["1948","19738"],["1949","21335"],["1950","24278"],["1951","20345"],["1952","21232"],["1953","20087"],["1954","22848"],["1955","22436"],["1956","24401"],["1957","24901"],["1958","25380"],["1959","24779"],["1960","29567"],["1961","32174"],["1962","31091"],["1963","34787"],["1964","35750"],["1965","38889"],["1966","39328"],["1967","44740"],["1968","43943"],["1969","44714"],["1970","46134"],["1971","46638"],["1972","45403"],["1973","45476"],["1974","44767"],["1975","42624"],["1976","43765"],["1977","48429"],["1978","46237"],["1979","45340"],["1980","43689"],["1981","45888"],["1982","47912"],["1983","46812"],["1984","50166"],["1985","50793"],["1986","54251"],["1987","55391"],["1988","55561"],["1989","60581"],["1990","63158"],["1991","62461"],["1992","67363"],["1993","67142"],["1994","68253"],["1995","73297"],["1996","76969"],["1997","79122"],["1998","84950"],["1999","88607"],["2000","97986"],["2001","98920"],["2002","105703"],["2003","113096"],["2004","123288"],["2005","119422"],["2006","128582"],["2007","128941"],["2008","137267"]]
Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of constructive in Chaldean Numerology is: 4
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of constructive in Pythagorean Numerology is: 7
Examples of constructive in a Sentence
We don't see any quick end to this state of the markets until we see some resolution, constructive dialogue and something very solid in terms of deals. But the hopes for that are a bit misplaced currently.
There is no virtue in being uncritical nor is it a habit to which the young are given. But criticism is only the burying beetle that gets rid of what is dead, and, since the world lives by creative and constructive forces, and not by negation and destruction, it is better to grow up in the company of prophets than of critics.
Investors are taking a constructive view on mid-to-long-term oil prices, for well-capitalized companies, investors are looking through the low-point implied by the current STRIP, under the belief that unconventional US oil producers survive current low price environment and operate in a more realistic mid-cycle pricing.
Right now we're trying to have a constructive conversation with everybody, in the end, though, this isn't up to the international community or others.
Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird:
I would characterize the meeting as constructive and worthwhile, and we look forward to resolving that issue. It's still not resolved today, but that’s why I came, this is a complex case … (The) minister understands how important this is to me, to all Canadians. I thought today’s meeting was a very constructive step on the road to a successful resolution.
Popularity rank by frequency of use
References
Translations for constructive
From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary
Get even more translations for constructive »
Translation
Find a translation for the constructive definition in other languages:
Select another language:
- - Select -
- 简体中文 (Chinese - Simplified)
- 繁體中文 (Chinese - Traditional)
- Español (Spanish)
- Esperanto (Esperanto)
- 日本語 (Japanese)
- Português (Portuguese)
- Deutsch (German)
- العربية (Arabic)
- Français (French)
- Русский (Russian)
- ಕನ್ನಡ (Kannada)
- 한국어 (Korean)
- עברית (Hebrew)
- Gaeilge (Irish)
- Українська (Ukrainian)
- اردو (Urdu)
- Magyar (Hungarian)
- मानक हिन्दी (Hindi)
- Indonesia (Indonesian)
- Italiano (Italian)
- தமிழ் (Tamil)
- Türkçe (Turkish)
- తెలుగు (Telugu)
- ภาษาไทย (Thai)
- Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
- Čeština (Czech)
- Polski (Polish)
- Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian)
- Românește (Romanian)
- Nederlands (Dutch)
- Ελληνικά (Greek)
- Latinum (Latin)
- Svenska (Swedish)
- Dansk (Danish)
- Suomi (Finnish)
- فارسی (Persian)
- ייִדיש (Yiddish)
- հայերեն (Armenian)
- Norsk (Norwegian)
- English (English)
Word of the Day
Would you like us to send you a FREE new word definition delivered to your inbox daily?
Citation
Use the citation below to add this definition to your bibliography:
Style:MLAChicagoAPA
"constructive." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2025. Web. 9 Feb. 2025. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/constructive>.
Discuss these constructive definitions with the community:
Report Comment
We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe.
If by any chance you spot an inappropriate comment while navigating through our website please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly.
Attachment
You need to be logged in to favorite.
Log In