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Definition of extractive

extractive

/ɪkˈstræk.tɪv/
ex · trac · tive

Adverb:extractively
•
Plural:extractives
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extractive Lexical Profile

extractive Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Relating to or involving the removal or withdrawal of natural resources, raw materials, or substances from their source, such as through mining, drilling, or logging.

Example

"The region's economy has historically relied on extractive industries like coal mining and timber harvesting."


2

Designed to take wealth, labor, or value from a population or environment without providing fair return or long-term sustainability (especially of economic or political institutions).

Example

"Economists argue that extractive political institutions concentrate power in the hands of a narrow elite at the expense of the general public."


3

Serving to draw out, isolate, or select specific information, compounds, or elements from a larger body or mixture.

Example

"The software uses an extractive summarization method that selects key sentences directly from the original document."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• noun

1

A chemical compound or substance that can be removed from a raw material, such as wood or plant tissue, using solvents without altering its basic structural framework.

Example

"Resins, tannins, and essential oils are common wood extractives that help protect the tree against decay and insects."

• Rhymes for extractive

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed from Medieval Latin extractivus, from the past participle stem of Latin extrahere ('to draw out or pull forth'), combining ex- ('out') and trahere ('to draw').

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Extractive. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/extractive
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