illative meaning and definition

ILLATIVE adjective

Definition of illative (adjective)

1. relating to or having the nature of illation or inference
   • "the illative faculty of the mind"
   • synonyms: inferential
2. resembling or dependent on or arrived at by inference
   • "an illative conclusion"; "inferential reasoning"
   • synonyms: inferential
3. expressing or preceding an inference
   • "`therefore' is an illative word"