# adjective

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈæd͡ʒ.ɪk.tɪv/ · frequency rank #18,475

## Definitions
1. A word that modifies a noun or noun phrase or describes a noun’s referent.
2. A dependent; an accessory.

## Etymology
From Middle English adjectif, adjective, from Old French adjectif, from Latin adiectivus, from adiciō + -īvus, from ad- (“to, towards, at”) + iaciō (“throw”). The Latin word adiectivus in turn was a calque of Ancient Greek ἐπιθετικόν (epithetikón, “added”), a derivative of the compound verb ἐπιτίθημι (epitíthēmi), from which also comes epithet.

## Easily confused with
- **affective** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/adjective-vs-affective)
- **addictive** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/addictive-vs-adjective)

## Common misspellings (13)
`addjective`, `adejctive`, `adjcetive`, `adjecctive`, `adjecitve`, `adjectiev`, `adjectivve`, `adjecttive`, `adjectvie`, `adjetcive`, `adjjective`, `ajdective`, `dajective`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/adjective