adj.1 a increasing or increased in amount, force, etc., by successive additions (cumulative evidence). b formed by successive additions (learning is a cumulative process).
2 Stock Exch. (of shares) entitling holders to arrears of interest before any other distribution is made.
Phrases and idioms:
cumulative error an error that increases with the size of the sample revealing it. cumulative voting a system in which each voter has as many votes as there are candidates and may give all to one candidate.
Derivatives:
cumulatively adv. cumulativeness n.