Extractive

//ɪksˈtɹæktɪv// adj, noun

adj, noun ·Rare ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    Something that may be extracted
  2. 2
    The substance left behind after something has been extracted
Adjective
  1. 1
    That serves to extract something

    "Certain branches of industry are conveniently designated extractive: e.g., agriculture, pastoral and mining pursuits, cutting of lumber, etc."

  2. 2
    That withdraws natural resources by extraction

    "The extractive industry consists of any operations that remove metals, mineral and aggregates from the earth. Examples of extractive processes include oil and gas extraction, mining, dredging and quarrying."

  3. 3
    Able to be extracted

    "Thirty grains of extractive matter."

Adjective
  1. 1
    involving the removal of substances from the ground wordnet
  2. 2
    of a capitalist system that prioritizes short-term profit over long-term sustainability wordnet

Synonyms

All synonyms
arousingeradicativeevocativeexactingextortionate

Example

More examples

"Certain branches of industry are conveniently designated extractive: e.g., agriculture, pastoral and mining pursuits, cutting of lumber, etc."

Etymology

From extract + -ive.

Related phrases

extractive distillationextractive principle

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.