constructive

[ kuhn-struhk-tiv ]
/ kənˈstrʌk tɪv /

adjective

helping to improve; promoting further development or advancement (opposed to destructive): constructive criticism.
of, relating to, or of the nature of construction; structural.
deduced by inference or interpretation; inferential: constructive permission.
Law. denoting an act or condition not directly expressed but inferred from other acts or conditions.

Origin of constructive

1670–80; < Medieval Latin constrūctīvus, equivalent to Latin constrūct(us) (see construct) + īvus -ive

SYNONYMS FOR constructive

1 productive, helpful, handy, useful.

OTHER WORDS FROM constructive

Words nearby constructive

construction, construction loan, construction paper, constructional homonymity, constructionist, constructive, constructive dismissal, constructive interference, constructivism, constructor, construe

British Dictionary definitions for constructive criticism

constructive
/ (kənˈstrʌktɪv) /

adjective

serving to build or improve; positive constructive criticism
law deduced by inference or construction; not expressed but inferred
law having a deemed legal effect constructive notice
another word for structural

Derived forms of constructive

constructively, adverb constructiveness, noun