Dictionary Home » Dictionary Definitions » constructive

constructive

Listen See in Thesaurus See in a sentence

The definition of constructive is something that has a useful purpose or that is likely to cause improvements, or is something that is implied, rather than explicit.

(adjective)

When you read a poem you wrote and your creative writing class gives you criticism designed to help you improve the poem, this is an example of constructive criticism.
When an employer becomes liable for the actions of his employee because the law gives that liability to him, not because his actions make it obvious that he is liable, this is an example of constructive liability.

See constructive in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

helping to construct; leading to improvements or advances; formative; positive: constructive criticism
of construction or structure
inferred or implied by legal or judicial interpretation: constructive fraud

Origin: ML constructivus

Related Forms: