51Թ

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performative

[per-fawr-muh-tiv]

adjective

  1. Philosophy, Linguistics.(of an expression or statement) performing an act by the very fact of being uttered, as with the expression “I promise,” that performs the act of promising.

  2. relating to the performance of behaviors associated with a particular social role or identity.

    He reflects on his mother's performative femininity, remembering the times he witnessed her adorning herself with eyeshadow, bracelets, and belts.

  3. relating to ways of behaving that exhibit a socially acceptable belief, trait, or quality, often making a superficial impression.

    Performative wokeness enables privileged people to reap the social benefits of wokeness without actually undertaking the necessary legwork to combat inequality.



noun

  1. a performative utterance.

performative

/ əˈɔːəɪ /

adjective

    1. denoting an utterance that constitutes some act, esp the act described by the verb. For example, I confess that I was there is itself a confession, and so is performative in the narrower sense, while I'd like you to meet … (effecting an introduction) is performative only in the looser sense See also locutionary act illocution perlocution

    2. ( as noun )

      that sentence is a performative

    1. denoting a verb that may be used as the main verb in such an utterance

    2. ( as noun )

      ``promise'' is a performative

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other 51Թ Forms

  • ˈڴǰپ adverb
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of performative1

First recorded in 1950–55; perform + -ative
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

And that show of force is no less performative or unnecessary than the parade in the nation’s capital.

From

I followed that quickly with a performative “why” and twice a week ever since, when I remember these horrors have occurred, I stop what I’m doing and consider tracking down these souls and offering them money for ink-removal sessions.

From

Her romances may have been overanalyzed to death, but the very public, one might even say performative nature of Taylor Swift's relationship with her girl squad has long provided ample fascination for the gossip press and an unnerving amount of creative fodder for her lyrics.

From

For many fans, her stage theatrics, often connected to culture, are far from performative.

From

In an interview with the BBC on Monday, Sir Keir said he would not put a date on when the UK would meet the 3% target, arguing to do so without an idea of how it would be paid for would be "performative fantasy politics".

From

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