Contributory
adj, noun ·Uncommon ·College level
Definitions
- 1 A person or thing that contributes.
"The response to firing is remarkable, and though the 280 lb. pressure seems more in the nature of a reserve for emergencies than a continuous working figure, even with the present-day apology for coal it seldom fell below 250 lb., and could always be brought up to blowing-off point with little difficulty. To this liveliness of steaming the thermic syphons are doubtless the chief contributory."
- 1 Of, pertaining to, or involving a contribution.
- 2 Tending to contribute to a result.
- 3 Paying tribute, tributary. obsolete
"My Lord the great Commander of the worlde, Besides fifteene contributory kings, Hath now in armes ten thouſand Ianiſaries, Mounted on luſty Mauritanian Steeds, […]"
- 1 tending to bring about; being partly responsible for wordnet
Example
More examples"I would prefer to take a contributory role."
Etymology
From earlier contributary, from Middle English contributarie, from con- + tributarie after Middle French contributaire.
Related phrases
More for "contributory"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.