generative grammar
noun
Simple meaning
A system of rules that can generate all and only those combinations of words that form grammatical sentences in a given language.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
jehneruhtihvgramerSay the bold part a little louder.
IPA pronunciation (US)
ˈdʒɛnɚətɪvɡɹæmɚ
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
linguistics
A type of grammar that describes syntax in terms of a set of logical rules that can generate all and only the infinite number of grammatical sentences in a language and assigns them all the correct structural description
linguisticscountable
A system of rules that can generate all and only those combinations of words that form grammatical sentences in a given language.
linguisticsuncountable
The general theory dealing with grammar as constructed by such rules.
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
This meaning: A type of grammar that describes syntax in terms of a set of logical rules that can generate all and only the infinite number of grammatical sentences in a language and assigns them all the correct structural description
Used this way, generative grammar is a specialist word that usually carries little praise or criticism of its own. This is a grammar or language-study use: it describes how language works, so it appears in teaching and reference writing.
- Emotional tone
- Neutral
- Formality
- Specialist/technical
- Intensity
- Not strongly marked
- How common
- Specialized
- Connotation
- Clinical and technical
- Usage feel
- Technical and specialized
Where it naturally appears
- Academic writing
- Education/classroom
- Technical/specialist writing
Usage note
In general conversation this sense usually needs explaining — outside its field, people reach for a plainer word.
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.