adjectivefor

Adjectivefor is a coined term in linguistics and lexicography that refers to a subclass of adjectives that select a following for-phrase to specify the intended domain, audience, or use of the modified noun. The term blends adjective and for and is meant to highlight the dependence of the adjective on a prepositional complement introduced by for. It is not widely standardized and appears mainly in informal discussions proposing a systematic account of adjectives that take PP complements.

Examples of adjectivefor usage are found in phrases such as safe for children, legal for sale, approved for medical use, and suitable for beginners. In these cases, the adjective conveys a property about the noun that is conditioned by its context or purpose, with the for-phrase clarifying the target group, setting, or allowed domain.

In linguistic analysis, adjectivefor can be represented as an adjective phrase linked to a following prepositional phrase, for example [AP safe [PP for children]]. Researchers may examine how these structures differ across languages, how the for-phrase contributes to meaning, and how such adjectives are taught in grammar and lexicography.

Reception of the term varies. Some linguists view these as ordinary predicative adjectives with PP complements and see no need for a distinct category, while others use adjectivefor as a useful label to describe a recurring pattern in modifier structures that express domain, audience, or use.

See also: predicate adjective, adjectival complement, prepositional phrase. This represents a brief, provisional articulation of a neologism that may evolve with usage.