introductif

Introductif is a French adjective meaning introductory or serving to introduce something. It derives from Latin introductivus, from introducere “to lead in,” and is formed with the common French suffix -if. The feminine form is introductive and the plural forms are introductifs (masc.) and introductives (fem.). In practice, it describes elements that precede or provide an opening or context for another part.

Usage and scope

Introductif is primarily used to qualify parts of a text, discourse, or work that function as an introduction. For example, one may refer to a chapitre introductif or a section introductive to designate the opening portion of a book or document. In rhetoric or analysis, terms such as proposition introductive or phrase introductive indicate opening statements or clauses. In publishing and media, phrases like séquence introductive or material introductif may be used to describe opening segments. The word is more common in French than in English, where introductory or opening is preferred.

Relation to related terms

Introductif is related to but distinct from nouns such as introduction, préface, and avant-propos, which denote specific kinds of introductory material. While introductory in English covers similar ground, French often prioritizes explicit phrases like chapitre introductif or section introductive rather than using a noun form derived from the verb introduire.

Notes on usage

In contemporary French, introductif is widely understood as an adjective describing opening or preparatory content. The feminine form applies when the modified noun is feminine (e.g., section introductive). The term is less likely to appear as a stand-alone noun; when a noun is required, use introduction or préface according to context.