reductive

/ɹɪˈdʌktɪv/

//ɹɪˈdʌktɪv// adj

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"reductive" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“reductive” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #39,523 in English word frequency and used as an adjective.

#39,523
frequency rank, English
9
letters
13
tracked misspellings
3
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Pertaining to the reduction of a decree etc.; rescissory.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

reductive vs reactive
78% similar
reductive vs reduction
78% similar
reductive vs reductase
78% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for reductive
PropertyValue
Headwordreductive
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ɹɪˈdʌktɪv/
Letters9
Frequency rank#39,523
Misspellings tracked13
Confusable pairs3
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “reductive” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). reductive lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for reductive is 9 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ɹɪˈdʌktɪv/. Corpus data places it at rank #39,523 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 5 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 13 likely wrong-spelling variants for reductive, with forms such as "erductive", "rdeuctive", and "redcutive". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 3 confusable-pair relationships, "reactive", "reduction", "reductase", since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle French réductif, from Late Latin reductivus, from the participle stem of Latin reducere (“to reduce”). The correct English form is reductive, spelled R-E-D-U-C-T-I-V-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    Pertaining to the reduction of a decree etc.; rescissory.
  2. 2
    Causing the physical reduction or diminution of something.
  3. 3
    That reduces a substance etc. to a more simple or basic form.
  4. 4
    That can be derived from, or referred back to, something else.
  5. 5
    That reduces an argument, issue etc. to its most basic terms; simplistic, reductionist.

Etymology

From Middle French réductif, from Late Latin reductivus, from the participle stem of Latin reducere (“to reduce”).

Antonyms

oxidative

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: erductive,rdeuctive,redcutive,redductive,reducctive,reducitve,reductiev,reductivve,reducttive,reductvie,redutcive,reudctive,rreductive

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of reductive - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

erductive2rdeuctive2redcutive2redductive1reducctive1reducitve2reductiev2reductivve1
Edit distance from "reductive"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "reductive"?
"reductive" is spelled R-E-D-U-C-T-I-V-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ɹɪˈdʌktɪv/.
What does "reductive" mean?
As an adjective, "reductive" means: Pertaining to the reduction of a decree etc.; rescissory.
What words are commonly confused with "reductive"?
"reductive" is commonly confused with "reactive", "reduction", "reductase". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "reductive"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "reductive" is /ɹɪˈdʌktɪv/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "reductive"?
From Middle French réductif, from Late Latin reductivus, from the participle stem of Latin reducere (“to reduce”). See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “reductive”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is R-E-D-U-C-T-I-V-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ɹɪˈdʌktɪv/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “reactive” - see the side-by-side comparison. reductive vs reactive
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list