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Definition of substantive adjective from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

substantive

adjective
 
/səbˈstæntɪv/,
 
/ˈsʌbstəntɪv/
 
/ˈsʌbstəntɪv/
(formal)
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  1. dealing with real, important or serious matters
    • substantive issues
    • The report concluded that no substantive changes were necessary.
    Oxford Collocations DictionarySubstantive is used with these nouns:
    • argument
    • disagreement
    See full entry
    Word Originlate Middle English (in the sense ‘having an independent existence’): from Old French substantif, -ive or late Latin substantivus, from substantia ‘essence’, from substant- ‘standing firm’, from the verb substare.
See substantive in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee substantive in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English

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