Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Definitions

associative

[uh-soh-shee-ay-tiv, -see-, -shuh-tiv] / əˈsoʊ ʃiˌeɪ tɪv, -si-, -ʃə tɪv /




Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

The concept of associative play refers to how well a player links up with his team-mates.

From BBC ● Feb. 8, 2026

This process is known as associative learning, which simply means learning through repeated connections between cues and results.

From Science Daily ● Dec. 26, 2025

Most of his lyrics read the way poems do, abandoning the typical verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-verse-chorus structure of standard pop songs for the loosely associative through line typical of free-verse poetry.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 26, 2025

From chapter to chapter, Lockwood deploys an associative strategy: anecdotes, memories and social commentary string together, rich and kinetic if confusing.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2025

Seldom is any mention made of an operation which is non- associative, so the definition seems unnecessary at best.

From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos




Vocabulary lists containing associative


Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Dictionary.com's Learning Companion

Go beyond just looking up words.
Remember them forever with VocabTrainer.

Start training