In the grammar of some languages, the genitive, or the genitive case, is a noun case which is used mainly to show possession. In English grammar, a noun or name with 's added to it, for example 'dog's' or 'Anne's', is sometimes called the genitive form.
genitive in British English
(ˈdʒɛnɪtɪv) grammar
adjective
1.
denoting a case of nouns, pronouns, and adjectives in inflected languages used to indicate a relation of ownership or association, usually translated by English of
noun
2.
a.
the genitive case
b.
a word or speech element in this case
Derived forms
genitival (ˌdʒɛnɪˈtaɪvəl)
adjective
genitivally (ˌgeniˈtivally) or genitively (ˈgenitively)
adverb
Word origin
C14: from Latin genetīvus relating to birth, from gignere to produce
genitive in American English
(ˈdʒɛnɪtɪv)
adjective
1. Grammar
designating, of, or in a relational case typically expressing possession, source, or a partitive concept
see also possessive
noun
2.
the genitive case: expressed by inflection in languages such as Latin and either by an analytical construction or by inflection in English (Ex.: the sons of the queen; the queen's sons)
3.
a word or phrase in this case
Word origin
ME genitif < OFr < L (casus) genitivus, lit., (case) of orig. < genitus (see genital): mistransl. < Gr genikē, generic (case), (case) of genus < Gr genos, genus
Examples of 'genitive' in a sentence
genitive
Whose serves as the genitive form for that and which.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
It enables the reader to tell apart a plural and a genitive.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Gradually the apostrophe was adopted as a genitive marker too.