Authoritative vs. Authoritive
“Authoritative” is the standard adjective for something reliable, commanding, or officially accepted. “Authoritive” appears as a nonstandard or misspelled form in lexicographic references and should not replace “authoritative” in edited prose.
Use “authoritative” in standard edited English; do not substitute “authoritive” when you mean reliable, commanding, or officially accepted.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Intended meaning | Use | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Reliable, commanding, or officially accepted | authoritative | This is the standard adjective. |
| You encountered “authoritive” for the same meaning | authoritative in edited prose | “Authoritive” is treated as nonstandard or misspelled in the reviewed references. |
Quick tests
Standard-form test
Do you mean reliable, commanding, or officially accepted?
If yes: Use “authoritative.”
If no: If “authoritive” appears in quoted or historical material, preserve it only when reproducing that material accurately.
Caveat: Do not silently “correct” a quotation; the recommendation applies to your own edited prose.
Examples
The handbook is an authoritative source for the procedure.
“Authoritative” is the standard adjective for a reliable or officially accepted source.
The handbook is an authoritive source for the procedure.
Better: The handbook is an authoritative source for the procedure.
In ordinary edited prose, use the standard adjective “authoritative.”
Further guidance
Core difference
“Authoritative” is the established standard adjective; “authoritive” is not the standard edited-English spelling for that adjective.
Usage Boundary
In formal or edited writing, choose “authoritative”. A found instance of “authoritive” should not be treated as an interchangeable house-style variant.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- authoritative — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Standard spelling and meaning of authoritative
- authoritive — Wiktionary (opens in a new tab)Wiktionary · Secondary attestation of authoritive as a nonstandard/misspelled form relative to authoritative