rhizoverbBeta
DictionarytransitiveLinked through an intermediate member
adjective

transitive

Describing a relation where A relating to B and B to C implies A relates to C.

The relation “is greater than” is transitive for real numbers.

Etymology
transitLatinto pass across
+iveEnglishhaving a specified character

The source concerns passing across. A transitive relation carries the relation through an intermediate member, allowing the first and third to be linked.

More examples

  • Equality is transitive: if a equals b and b equals c, a equals c.
  • The subset relation is transitive: a subset of a subset is also a subset of the original set.
  • Friendship is not transitive; your friend's friend need not be your friend.

Forms

transitive

transitivity noun — Property of extending relations through intermediate members.