substantive

adj

1. Of the essence or essential element of a thing.

   “substantive information”

   “In one sense the first debate achieved the worst of all worlds: it managed to be technical, even dull, without being substantive or especially honest.”

2. (broadly)Of the essence or essential element of a thing.

   “Substantive editing is never trivial, whereas some aspects of copyediting are trivial.”

   “substantive changes made by the lawyers”

3. Having substance; enduring; solid; firm; substantial.

   “Once more then, strength and magnitude are qualities which impress the imagination in a powerful and substantive manner;”

4. Applying to essential legal principles and rules of right.

   “substantive law”

   “So this test, this whole area of substantive due process, is tricky for some of the reasons you say. That’s been a criticism of the doctrine in general and a criticism of the general notion that we can have rights that the Constitution doesn’t specify, precisely because of the kind of inquiry that it invites judges to undertake.”

5. Not needing the use of a mordant to be made fast to that which is being dyed.
6. Depending on itself; independent.

   “Hee therefore taking into Conſideration, how ſufficient and ſuſstantiue this Land was, to maintaine it ſelfe without any aid (at all) of the foreigner; […]”

7. Of or pertaining to a substantive.
8. Actually and legally held, as distinct from an acting, temporary or honorary rank or appointment.

noun

1. (abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis)Ellipsis of noun substantive or substantive noun, a noun or a group of words (a noun phrase) that act as a noun (in a sentence).

   “The Dutch verb beelden and substantive beelding signify form-giving, creation, and by extension image—as do gestalten and Gestaltung in German, where Neo-Plastic[ism] is translated as Die neue Gestaltung.”

2. Part of a text that carries the meaning, such as words and their ordering.

verb

1. (rare)To make a word belonging to another part of speech into a substantive (that is, a noun) or use it as a noun.