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Definition of "cumulative" []

  • Increasing or enlarging by successive addition. (adjective)
  • Acquired by or resulting from accumulation. (adjective)
  • Of or relating to interest or a dividend that is added to the next payment if not paid when due. (adjective)
  • Law Supporting the same point as earlier evidence: cumulative evidence. (adjective)
  • Law Imposed with greater severity upon a repeat offender: cumulative punishment. (adjective)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "cumulative" in a sentence
  • "At the core of Frey's thoughts on the subject is what he calls the cumulative law of information value."
  • "The study predicted that ultimately the benefits of immigration reform would go beyond pure tax revenue and would yield at least $1.5 trillion in cumulative U.S. gross domestic product over 10 years."
  • "Taking the experience of IRCA as a starting point, we estimate that comprehensive immigration reform would yield at least $1.5 trillion in cumulative U.S. gross domestic product over 10 years."