conative: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical, academic
Quick answer
What does “conative” mean?
Relating to the mental faculty of desiring, willing, or striving.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Relating to the mental faculty of desiring, willing, or striving; of or pertaining to volition or effort.
In linguistics, pertaining to the semantic function that expresses the speaker's intention, effort, or attempt to act on the listener or the world.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or usage differences. The word is equally rare and technical in both varieties.
Connotations
None beyond its technical meanings.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general usage. Slightly more likely to be encountered in academic psychology or linguistics texts.
Grammar
How to Use “conative” in a Sentence
Used attributively (the conative function)Used predictively (The verb's aspect is conative.)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “conative” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A - The verb form 'conate' is obsolete and not used.
American English
- N/A - The verb form 'conate' is obsolete and not used.
adverb
British English
- N/A - The adverbial form 'conatively' is extremely rare.
American English
- N/A - The adverbial form 'conatively' is extremely rare.
adjective
British English
- The psychologist focused on the conative aspects of human behaviour, such as desire and striving.
- In the model, the conative function is distinct from the expressive and referential functions.
American English
- His research paper analysed the conative dimension of imperative sentences.
- The test measures cognitive, affective, and conative traits.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in psychology (conative psychology - study of will and drive) and linguistics (conative function of language).
Everyday
Extremely unlikely to be used or understood.
Technical
Primary domain. Used to describe a component of mind (alongside cognitive and affective) or a specific language function.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “conative”
- Pronouncing it as /kɒˈneɪtɪv/ (like 'connate').
- Confusing it with 'cognitive'.
- Using it in everyday contexts where simpler words like 'intentional' or 'motivating' are appropriate.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency, technical term used almost exclusively in academic or professional contexts in psychology, linguistics, and philosophy.
These are three parts of the mind: Cognitive relates to thinking and knowing, affective relates to feeling and emotion, and conative relates to willing and striving.
Yes. Imperative sentences like 'Close the door, please' or persuasive speeches are clear examples of language being used with a conative function—to get the listener to do something.
In British English: /ˈkəʊnətɪv/ (KOH-nuh-tiv). In American English: /ˈkoʊnətɪv/ (KOH-nuh-tiv). The stress is on the first syllable.
Conative is usually technical, academic in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “none”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'CONAtive' as related to 'CONation' - your will or drive to act. It's about the CONtrol you try to exert.
Conceptual Metaphor
LANGUAGE IS FORCE (in its linguistic sense: language exerts force on a listener).
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'conative' LEAST likely to be used?