substantive en · ADJ
Pronunciation
Etymology
From Middle English substantif, from Old French substantif.
Meanings
-
Of the essence or essential element of a thing.
In one sense the first debate achieved the worst of all worlds: it managed to be technical, even dull, without being substantive or especially honest.
2012 October 6, “The first presidential debate: Back in the centre, back in the game”, in The Economist, archived from the original on 08 Mar 2023:substantive information
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(broadly) Of the essence or essential element of a thing. ▸ Constituting the substance of content rather than its style, and thus always nontrivial.
Substantive editing is never trivial, whereas some aspects of copyediting are trivial.
substantive changes made by the lawyers
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Having substance; enduring; solid; firm; substantial.
Once more then, strength and magnitude are qualities which impress the imagination in a powerful and substantive manner;
1836 [1829], William Hazlitt, “Definition of wit”, in Literary Remains of the Late William Hazlitt, page 19:
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Applying to essential legal principles and rules of right.
substantive law
So this test, this whole area of substantive due process, is tricky for some of the reasons you say. That’s been a criticism of the doctrine in general and a criticism of the general notion that we can have rights that the Constitution doesn’t specify, precisely because of the kind of inquiry that it invites judges to undertake.
2025 October 16, Ross Douthat, quoting Amy Coney Barrett, “Amy Coney Barrett Is Looking Beyond the Trump Era”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 20 Oct 2025:
- (of a dye) Not needing the use of a mordant to be made fast to that which is being dyed.
-
Depending on itself; independent.
Hee therefore taking into Conſideration, how ſufficient and ſuſstantiue this Land was, to maintaine it ſelfe without any aid (at all) of the foreigner; […]
1627 (indicated as 1626), Francis [Bacon], “New Atlantis. A Worke Vnfinished.”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], London: […] William Rawley […]; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […], →OCLC, page 16:
- Of or pertaining to a substantive.
- (of a rank or appointment) Actually and legally held, as distinct from an acting, temporary or honorary rank or appointment.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| most substantive | Degree=Sup | lexicographic | |
| more substantive | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic |
Antonyms
superficial · adjective · adjective · procedural · trivial
Deriveds
nonsubstantive · substantively · substantivity · substantive adjective · substantive law · substantive verb · insubstantive · substantiveness · common substantive noun · substantivise · substantivize · substantivisation · substantive proper · substantive case · substantive genitive · unsubstantive · substantive due process
Synonyms
in essence · substantival · meaty · in essence · essential · essential · substantial
Translations (62)
fi substantiivinen (of a dye that does not need the use of a mordant) · scn sustanziali (law: applying to essential legal principles) · uz ot (of the essence or essential element of a thing) · hu érdemi (law: applying to essential legal principles) · es substantivo (of the essence or essential element of a thing) · bg съществен (of the essence or essential element of a thing) · pl niezależny (independent) · fr titulaire (military: actually and legally held) · sv materiell (of the essence or essential element of a thing) · uk змісто́вний (having substance and prompting thought) · ru содержа́тельный (having substance and prompting thought) · hy բովանդակային (having substance and prompting thought) · fi suora- (of a dye that does not need the use of a mordant) · pl konkretny (having substance and prompting thought) · pl merytoryczny (of the essence or essential element of a thing) · fr substantif (of a dye that does not need the use of a mordant) · ga ábhartha (having substance and prompting thought) · es substantivo (substantival) · it sostanziale (having substance and prompting thought) · it sostanziale (law: applying to essential legal principles) · pt substantivo (of the essence or essential element of a thing) · es titular (military: actually and legally held) · pl faktyczny (having substance and prompting thought) · mk неза́висен (independent) · la substantīvus (of the essence or essential element of a thing) · fi itsenäinen (independent) · fr direct (of a dye that does not need the use of a mordant) · pt essencial (of the essence or essential element of a thing) · pl materialny (law: applying to essential legal principles) · mk само́стоен (independent) · sv materiell (law: applying to essential legal principles) · pt substancial (of the essence or essential element of a thing) · it materiale (law: applying to essential legal principles) · pl legalny (military: actually and legally held) · fi olennainen (having substance and prompting thought) · pl substancjalny (having substance and prompting thought) · it concreto (having substance and prompting thought) · fi olennainen (of the essence or essential element of a thing) · it essenziale (of the essence or essential element of a thing) · de materiell (law: applying to essential legal principles) · fi aineellinen (law: applying to essential legal principles) · pt titular (military: actually and legally held) · fr substantif (having substance and prompting thought) · bg независим (independent) · scn matiriali (law: applying to essential legal principles) · bg самостоятелен (independent) · mk су́штествен (of the essence or essential element of a thing) · mk материја́лен (law: applying to essential legal principles) · mk содр́жаен (having substance and prompting thought) · fi riippumaton (independent) · mk зна́чаен (having substance and prompting thought) · fi aineellisoikeudellinen (law: applying to essential legal principles) · pl niewymagający użycia zaprawy farbiarskiej (of a dye that does not need the use of a mordant) · fi varsinainen (military: actually and legally held) · ga ábhartha (of the essence or essential element of a thing) · es sustantivo (substantival) · pl rzeczywisty (having substance and prompting thought) · fi oleellinen (of the essence or essential element of a thing) · ru материа́льный (law: applying to essential legal principles) · fi oleellinen (having substance and prompting thought) · az dolğun (having substance and prompting thought) · es sustantivo (of the essence or essential element of a thing)