Argumentative Meaning
/ˌɑːɡjʊˈmɛntətɪv/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjOf or relating to argumentation; specifically, presenting a logical argument or line of reasoning; argumentive, discursive.
adjProne to argue or dispute.
Sentence Examples
Tom gets very argumentative with a few beers under his belt.
I agree with you, so there's no need to be so argumentative.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
His ____ nature made it difficult to have a calm discussion.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Stop being so ____ and try to listen to what the other person is saying.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree Latin arguō Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥ Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥tom Proto-Italic *-mentom Latin -mentum Latin argūmentum Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti Proto-Italic *-āō Latin -ō Latin argūmentor Proto-Indo-European *-wós Proto-Indo-European *-iHwósder. Latin -īvus Medieval Latin argūmentātīvusder. Middle English argumentatif English argumentative From Late Middle English argumentatif (“syllogistic, sophistic”), from Old French argumentatif, argumentative (modern French argumentatif (“argumentative”)) and Medieval Latin, Late Latin argūmentātīvus, from Latin argūmentātor + -īvus (suffix forming adjectives).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"I proceed next to treat of the argumentative or reaſoning Part of a Diſcourſe. In whatever place, or on whatever ſubject one ſpeaks, this beyond doubt is of the greateſt conſequence."
— 1783, Hugh Blair, “Lecture XXXII. Conduct of a Discourse—The Argumentative Part—The Pathetic Part—The Peroration.”, in Lectures on Rhetoric and Belles Lettres, volume II, London: W[illiam] Strahan; T[homas] Cadell, […]; Edinburgh: W[illiam] Creech, →OCLC, page 179:
"There muſt be a Special Demurrer to a Negative Pregnant, that is, a Negative Plea, which doth alſo contain in it an Affirmative; and to an Argumentative Plea, that is a Plea which concludes nothing directly, but only by Way of Argument or Reaſoning, for the Court will intend every Plea to be good till the contrary doth appear."
— 1793, Matthew Bacon [i.e., Mathew Bacon]; T. Cunningham, “Demurrer”, in A New Abridgment of the Law, […] In Five Volumes. […], 6th edition, volume IV, Dublin: Luke White, →OCLC:
"Discourses to an academical audience ought undoubtedly to be of a more learned and recondite class than those which are addressed to ordinary congregations. They should be mostly of the argumentative cast; rather adapted to inform the understandings and exercise the reasoning faculties of the hearers, than to awaken the affections or work upon the passions."
— 1812 June, “Art. IV.—Sermons on Various Subjects, Doctrinal and Practical, Preached before the University of Oxford. By John Eveleigh, […] 8vo. pp. 441. Oxford; Cooke and Parker. [book review]”, in John Taylor Coleridge, editor, The Quarterly Review, volume VII, number XIV, London: […] John Murray, […], →OCLC, page 293:
"Yet with all its straight-forwardness and argumentative rigor, its prime motive was the loving desire to bring back, if not absolute identity of thought and teaching, certainly an obedience to what is the essence of Christian life, brotherly love and the mutuality which requires freedom and toleration."
— 1911, “The Twelve Questions or Arguments against Impanation: July? 1525”, in Chester David Hartranft, editor, Letters and Treatises of Caspar Schwenckfeld von Ossig: June 11, 1524–1527 (Corpus Schwenckfeldianorum; II), Norristown, Pa.: Board of Publication of the Schwenckfelder Church; Leipzig: Breitkopf & Härtel, →OCLC, page 129:
"The previous chapter discussed the external structure of argumentation, that is to say, it was concerned with the prerequisites for a meaningful argumentative process. [...] [T]his chapter will discuss the relation between leadership and argumentation and will deal with the issue of how leadership can influence the argumentative process in a positive way."
— 2007, Eric-Hans Kramer, “Leadership and the Internal Structure of Argumentation”, in Stewart R. Clegg, Ralph Stablein, editors, Organizing Doubt: Grounded Theory, Army Units and Dealing with Dynamic Complexity (Advances in Organizaton Studies), Malmö, Sweden: Liber; Copenhagen, Denmark: Copenhagen Business School Press, →ISBN, part III (Analytical Framework: Organizing Doubt in an Organizational System), page 130:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
His ____ nature made it difficult to have a calm discussion.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Stop being so ____ and try to listen to what the other person is saying.