Agency Dictionary

Contextual

adjectivePronunciation: /kənˈteks.tʃu.əl/

In Portuguese: Contextual

Writing & Narrative

What does “Contextual” mean?

Depending on, relevant to, or determined by the surrounding circumstances or environment.

Etymology

Formed in English in the 19th century from context, on the pattern of textual. Context comes from Latin contextus, "a joining together, connection", from contexere, "to weave together", formed from com- ("together") and texere ("to weave"). In late Middle English context meant the composition of a text; the sense of the surrounding passage that fixes a meaning, and then of surrounding circumstances in general, came afterwards.

Synonyms

situational
circumstantial
context-dependent
relative

Word family

context
contextually
contextualize
contextualization

Usage examples

Trends Style is always contextual in time and history.

Concepts

Source editions

Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.

MetaMarketing.2 - Time to BrandJuly 3, 2023Read the edition

Words of the same theme

Antithesisnoun: A person, thing, or concept that represents the direct or exact opposite of another.
Rebirthnoun: A new beginning after a period of decline or destruction, used in mythology to describe the cyclical return to life after death. In Archetype.0, rebirth is the defining characteristic of both the Bennu and the Phoenix.
Discursiveadjective: Proceeding by reasoned argument or sequential exposition rather than by immediate visual intuition.
paperweightnoun: A small, heavy object placed on loose sheets of paper to prevent them from scattering or blowing away.
quotationnoun: A group of words taken verbatim from a published text or speech and repeated by another author.
omissionnoun: The intentional or accidental act of leaving something out or excluding details from a statement or text.
Treatisenoun: A formal, systematic, and comprehensive written work dealing methodically with the principles and evidence of a particular philosophical, scientific, or technical subject.
Maximnoun: A concise statement expressing a fundamental principle, general truth, or practical rule of conduct.
verbatimadjective: In exactly the same words as the original, word for word. Said of a quotation or a transcription that changes nothing.
rhetoricnoun: The art of effective and persuasive speaking or writing, especially through strategic linguistic devices.
literary devicenoun: A technique that a writer uses to produce a particular effect or to convey meaning, such as metaphor, irony, repetition, quotation or aphorism.
Accuracynoun: The degree of precision, correctness, and exactitude with which a message or action reaches its intended mark.

Also from these editions: terms

Resiliencenoun: The capacity to withstand or recover quickly from difficulties, tough conditions, or shock.
Authenticitynoun: The quality of being real, genuine, and true to one's own character or stated origins.
Bifurcationnoun: The division of something into two separate branches, directions, or parts.
Differentiationnoun: The act or process of distinguishing between two or more items or establishing uniqueness.
Interdisciplinaryadjective: Involving or combining two or more academic disciplines or professional specialized fields.
Mannerismnoun: A habitual gesture, distinctive personal style, or idiosyncratic behavioral trait.
Memorabilitynoun: The quality of being easy to remember, noteworthy, or enduring in human recollection.
narrativenoun: A spoken or written account of connected events, forming a coherent story or conceptual perspective.
Personanoun: The public face or role that a person or entity presents to the world, distinct from private inner reality.
Preposterousadjective: Contrary to reason or common sense, utterly absurd or ridiculous.
Symbolicadjective: Serving as a representation of something intangible or carrying deeper non-literal meaning.