argumentive

Argumentive is an adjective that denotes a tendency to argue or engage in argument. In contemporary usage, it is largely considered a nonstandard variant of argumentative, and most modern writers and dictionaries favor the form argumentative. As a result, argumentive is uncommon outside of historical texts, regional usage, or as a likely misspelling.

Etymology and form sources suggest that argumentive is built from the same root as argument and shares the same suffix family as words like argumentative. However, because it is seldom attested in present-day usage, its precise historical development is unclear, and it is generally treated as a less preferable variant.

Usage notes indicate that when expressing the idea of being prone to arguing, the preferred term is argumentative. For example, one would write that a person is "argumentative in discussions" rather than "argumentive in discussions." In most reference works, argumentive appears only as a historical or mistaken form rather than as a recognized synonym with a distinct sense.

In summary, argumentive exists as a rare or obsolete variant of the more common term argumentative. For clarity and standard English style, the form argumentative should be used in both writing and formal contexts. See also: argumentative, argument, debate, rhetoric.