# retentive

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ɹɪˈtɛntɪv/ · frequency rank #73,589

## Definitions
1. Having power to retain.
2. Anal-retentive.

## Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French rétentif, from Old French retentif, from Medieval Latin retentivus, from Latin retentus.

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