Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

laxative

/ˈlæk.sə.tɪv/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 2.66 in modern English

Syllables: lax-a-tive
IPA: /ˈlæk.sə.tɪv/

18

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

3

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Having the effect of moving the bowels, or aiding digestion and preventing constipation.

noun

Any substance, such as a food or in the form of a medicine which has a laxative effect.

Example Sentences

"BOlvs in Engliſh is called a morſell. It is a medicine laxatiue, in forme & faſhion it is meanely whole, & it is ſwallowed by litle gobbets."
"According to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, the US is having a love affair with laxatives; Americans of all ages are ingesting so much of the stuff that there are now shortages nationwide."

Etymology

From Middle French laxatif, from Latin laxātīvus (literally “relaxing, loosening”).

Subject

Wiktionary places this term in Medicine.

Inflected Forms

more laxative (comparative) most laxative (superlative) laxatives (plural)

Derived Forms

laxatively laxativeness

Phrases

laxative oil

Frequently Paired Words

constipative minorative carminative diuretic

Questions

How do you pronounce laxative?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈlæk.sə.tɪv/.
What does laxative mean?: Having the effect of moving the bowels, or aiding digestion and preventing constipation.
Where does laxative come from?: From Middle French laxatif, from Latin laxātīvus (literally “relaxing, loosening”).

How to pronounce laxative

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “laxative”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈlæk.sə.tɪv/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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