cumulative
KYOO-myuh-luh-tiv
/ˈkjuː.mjə.lə.tɪv/
Increasing or becoming better or worse over a period of time by successive additions.
Focuses on the total sum of all previous changes rather than just the most recent one.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'cumulus', meaning a heap or a pile. It's the same root that gives us 'cumulus clouds'—those big, puffy clouds that look like heaps of cotton in the sky.
Word relationships
- accumulative: Accumulative is often used for the process of gathering; cumulative is used for the resulting total or effect.
- subtractive: Subtractive involves taking away rather than adding.
Commonly confused with
- collective: Collective refers to a group acting together; cumulative refers to the buildup of something over time.
Word family
- accumulate (verb): To gather or build up over time.
- accumulation (noun): A mass or quantity that has built up.
Collocations
- cumulative effect
- cumulative total
- cumulative weight
Example sentences
- "The cumulative effect of using pesticides for decades has severely damaged the local bee population." Environmental science
- "The final exam is cumulative, covering everything taught since the beginning of the semester." Education
Memory hook
Think of a 'cumulus' cloud getting bigger and bigger as more moisture is added. It's a 'heap' of effects. The power of the pile.
When not to use
Not for changes that replace previous states (like a software update that deletes the old version).
Fun facts
- In statistics, a 'cumulative frequency' tells you how many items fall below a certain value.
Related words
Also appears in
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