- having a useful and helpful effect rather than being negative or with no purpose
- constructive criticism/suggestions/advice
- His work involved helping hyperactive children to use their energy in a constructive way.
- The government is encouraging all parties to play a constructive role in the reform process.
- You should always welcome constructive criticism of your work.
Oxford Collocations DictionaryConstructive is used with these nouns:- advice
- comment
- criticism
- …
Word Originmid 17th cent. (in the sense not obvious): from late Latin constructivus, from Latin construct- ‘heap together’, from the verb construere, from con- ‘together’ + struere ‘pile, build’.
Check pronunciation:
constructive