How to pronounce purposive
Say it like PER-puh-siv. Purposive has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PER).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce purposive. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PER
- puh
- siv
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Purposive pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PERSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- puhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- sivKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of purposive
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: PUH-puh-siv.
What does purposive mean?
- Serving a particular purpose; useful; adapted to a given purpose, especially through natural evolution.
- Done or performed with a conscious purpose or intent.“Most human activity is purposive.”
- Pertaining to purpose, as reflected in behavior or mental activity.
- A mood indicating a purpose of the course of activity expressed by the verb.
Where does purposive come from?
From purpose + -ive. Compare purpositive.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying purposive
How do you pronounce purposive?
Say PER-puh-siv. The American pronunciation is /ˈpɚpəsɪv/. In British English it is /ˈpəpəsɪv/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in purposive?
Purposive has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PER). Broken into parts: PER · puh · siv.
Is purposive pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈpəpəsɪv/ (PUH-puh-siv).