retentivity: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical/Formal
Quick answer
What does “retentivity” mean?
The ability to retain or hold something.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The ability to retain or hold something; a measure of how strongly a material can be magnetized after the magnetizing force is removed.
The quality of being retentive, particularly in mental capacity (memory) or in physical/material properties.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or usage differences. The term is equally technical in both variants.
Connotations
Highly technical/specialist in both regions.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general discourse; slightly higher in academic/engineering texts.
Grammar
How to Use “retentivity” in a Sentence
The retentivity of [material/concept][High/Low] retentivityDemonstrate/show retentivityVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “retentivity” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The retentive properties of the soil were analysed.
- She has a famously retentive memory for dates.
American English
- The retentive qualities of the clay were tested.
- His retentive mind stores vast amounts of trivia.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Could appear in R&D contexts: 'The material's retentivity gives our product a longer lifespan.'
Academic
Common in physics/engineering papers on magnetism: 'The alloy's magnetic retentivity was measured at 1.3 Tesla.'
Everyday
Virtually never used. 'Good memory' or 'retentiveness' would be used instead.
Technical
Core term in electromagnetism and materials science denoting a material's ability to retain magnetization.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “retentivity”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “retentivity”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “retentivity”
- Using 'retentivity' for general memory in everyday talk (sounds odd).
- Confusing 'retentivity' (capacity to retain magnetism) with 'coercivity' (resistance to demagnetization).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Retentivity' is primarily a technical term (e.g., magnetism), while 'retentiveness' is used for general capacity to retain, especially memory.
Only if the essay topic is highly technical (e.g., physics). For general topics about memory, use 'retentiveness' or 'good memory'.
No, it is a low-frequency, specialised term mostly confined to engineering and materials science.
In a loose sense, 'permeability'. More precisely, a material with low retentivity loses its magnetism easily.
The ability to retain or hold something.
Retentivity is usually technical/formal in register.
Retentivity: in British English it is pronounced /ˌriːtɛnˈtɪvɪti/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌritɛnˈtɪvədi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a magnet RETAINING its power (retent-ivity) even after you pull it away from metal.
Conceptual Metaphor
MEMORY IS A STORAGE CONTAINER (high retentivity = a strong, leak-proof container).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'retentivity' MOST appropriately used?