performative
/pərˈfɔːrmətɪv/
adjective
- Relating to an action or statement that itself accomplishes something, especially in language or social behavior.
- In linguistics, a performative utterance like 'I bet' actually performs the action it describes.
- The apology felt performative rather than sincere, as if he was just going through the motions.
- Saying 'I promise' is a performative act because the words themselves create the promise.
- Done for show or to impress others, often without genuine feeling.
- Her tears seemed performative, meant to gain sympathy rather than express real sadness.
- Some politicians give performative speeches that sound good but lack real substance.
- The charity event was more performative than helpful, focusing on photos instead of results.
Synonyms
Antonyms
noun
- A word or phrase that performs an action by being spoken, such as 'I promise' or 'I apologize'.
- The word 'guilty' in a courtroom is a performative that changes a person's legal status.
- In grammar class, we learned that 'I dare you' is a classic example of a performative.
- Teachers often use performatives like 'I name this school' during opening ceremonies.