cumulative
adj/ˈkjuːmjʊlətɪv/ · /ˈkjuːmjʊˌleɪtɪv/
Etymology From cumulate + -ive. Compare also French cumulatif, Italian cumulativo and Spanish cumulativo.
1
Incorporating all current and previous data up to the present or at the time of measuring or collating.
2
That is formed by an accumulation of successive additions.
- As for knowledge which man receiveth by teaching, it is cumulative, not original.1605, Francis Bacon, “(please specify |book=1 or 2)”, in The Twoo Bookes of Francis Bacon. Of the Proficience and Aduancement of Learning, Diuine and Humane, London: […] [Thomas Purfoot and Thomas Creede] for Henrie Tomes, […], →OCLC:
- The argument […] is in very truth not logical and single, but moral and cumulative.1850, Richard Chenevix Trench, Notes on the Miracles of Our Lord:
1 more example
- New Zealand meanwhile made it to the finals having beaten Tahiti, Vanuatu, Samoa, Fiji and New Caledonia in qualifying, to the cumulative score of 29-1, and have subsequently lost eight of their last ten matches, the latest an embarrassing 4-0 defeat by Haiti.2026 June 6, Scott Murray, “England v. New Zealand: World Cup warm-up – live”, in The Guardian:
3
Human sciences, Linguistics, Sciences Adding one statement to another.
- cumulative conjunctions like and, both…and and as well as
4
That tends to accumulate.
6
Law (of evidence, witnesses, etc.) Intended to illustrate an argument that has already been demonstrated excessively.
- The state wants to bring in ten blood-spatter experts to testify. Your Honor, that is cumulative testimony.
- Derived terms
- cume, cumulative distribution function, cumulative effect, cumulative error, cumulatively, cumulativeness, cumulative voting, noncumulative
- Related terms
- cumulate