protrusive

Protrusive is an adjective describing something that tends to protrude or project forward beyond a surface or plane. The word derives from the Latin protrudere, to thrust forward, and entered English through medical and scientific usage with the suffix -ive.

In general usage, protrusive describes physical features or objects that stick out or extend outward. A protrusive chin, lips, or a dentate projection can be described as protrusive. The term can also apply to non-biological contexts, referring to parts or elements that extend forward from a larger body or structure, such as a protrusive ornament on a piece of machinery or architecture.

In dentistry and dental anatomy, protrusive is a technical term used to describe forward displacement of the jaw or teeth. A protrusive jaw movement occurs when the lower jaw moves forward relative to the upper jaw. A protrusive bite refers to a contact pattern in which the anterior teeth meet when the mandible is moved forward, a consideration in occlusion analysis and orthodontic treatment planning. The term helps distinguish forward-projecting dental relationships from retrusive or neutral positions.

Compared with related terms such as protrusion or protruding, protrusive emphasizes the tendency or capability to extend forward, rather than merely the current state of projection. In scholarly and clinical contexts, its precise meaning depends on the domain, but always centers on forward extension or outward projection.