The meaning of ADDITIVE is of, relating to, or characterized by addition. How to use additive in a sentence.

ADDITIVE definition: something that is added, as one substance to another, to alter or improve the general quality or to counteract undesirable properties. See examples of additive used in a sentence.

Additives keep certain foods fresh. This paint has an additive that keeps mold from growing on it.

1. something that is added, as one substance to another, to alter or improve the quality or to counteract undesirable properties. 2. a. a substance added directly to food during processing, as for …

Additive definition: A substance added in small amounts to something else to improve, strengthen, or otherwise alter it.

Feb 14, 2026 · Noun additive (plural additives) A substance added to another substance or product to produce specific properties in the combined substance.

additive, adj. & n. meanings, etymology, pronunciation and more in the Oxford English Dictionary

ADDITIVE meaning: something (such as a chemical) that is added in small amounts to a substance to improve it in some way

An additive is a substance which is added in small amounts to foods or other things in order to improve them or to make them last longer. Strict safety tests are carried out on food additives.

An additive is an extra substance that's added to something in order to improve it in some way. Many additives are used to preserve or flavor food.