disjunctive
UK: dɪsˈdʒʌŋktɪv | US: dɪsˈdʒʌŋktɪv
adj. serving or tending to disconnect or separate
adj. (logic) expressing a choice between two mutually exclusive alternatives
adj. (grammar) denoting a word or clause that marks a contrast or alternative
Derived from Latin disiunctivus, from disiungere ("to disconnect"), combining dis- (apart) and iungere (to join). The root junct (from iungere) appears in English words like "junction" and "conjunction." Over time, disjunctive evolved to describe separation in logic (e.g., "or" statements) and grammar (e.g., "but" clauses). The morpheme -ive marks it as an adjective.
In logic, a disjunctive proposition offers alternatives like "either A or B."
The word "or" is a disjunctive conjunction.
His argument relied on disjunctive reasoning, presenting two opposing scenarios.
The disjunctive clause in the sentence created a contrast between ideas.
Legal contracts often use disjunctive terms to clarify exclusive options.