summative
|sum-ma-tive|
/ˈsʌmətɪv/
as a summary / overall
Etymology
'summative' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'summa', where 'summa' meant 'sum, total, highest'.
'summative' was formed in English via the verb 'summate' (to sum up) plus the adjective suffix '-ive'; 'summate' itself derives from Late Latin/Medieval Latin roots related to 'summa'.
Initially it meant 'serving to sum up or total', but over time it evolved to the current senses of 'providing a summary' and, in education, 'final evaluation'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
serving to summarize; providing a summary or conclusion.
The final chapter gives a summative overview of the novel's main themes.
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Adjective 2
relating to assessment that evaluates learning at the end of an instructional period (as opposed to formative assessment).
The school uses summative assessments at the end of each term to measure student achievement.
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Last updated: 2026/01/05 18:19