I. kəˈreləd.]iv, -lət], ]ēv also kȯˈ- or ]əv adjective
Etymology: Medieval Latin correlativus, from Latin com- + Late Latin relativus relative — more at relative
1. : naturally related (as by occurring in conjunction) : corresponding
points of view toward the contemporary world always imply correlative points of view toward … a dozen crucial issues in past centuries — Paul Farmer
2. : having, indicating, or involving a reciprocal relation : being a correlate
linked the continuing progress of our system to a correlative development in the economies of all democratic peoples — N.A.Rockefeller
: reciprocally related especially so that each directly implies the existence of the other
the correlative rights and duties between shareholders, directors, and executives — G.B.Hurff
3. of paired words or expressions : regularly used together but typically not adjacent to each other
the correlative conjunctions either … or
the correlative demonstratives the former … the latter
4. biology : exhibiting correlation
• cor·rel·a·tive·ly ]ə̇vlē, -li\ adverb
II. noun
( -s )
: correlate: as
a. : either of two correlative words or expressions
b. : a word denoting a correlate (sense 1)