dis·pu·ta·tive \də̇ˈspyüd.əd.iv, -ütətiv\adjective Etymology: Late Latin disputativus, from Latin disputatus + -ivus -ive 1.: disputatious < the journalism of all pioneer communities has been abusive and disputative and personal — Scribner's > 2.: of or belonging to disputation • dis·pu·ta·tive·lyadverb • dis·pu·ta·tive·nessnoun-es