Meaning & use
accommodative
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivecomparableformal
Willing to adjust or make allowances so that other people's needs, wishes or conditions can be met.
Grammar: Can follow a linking verb or come before a noun: the manager was accommodative; an accommodative attitude.
Patterns
- accommodative toward someone
- accommodative of something
The landlord was accommodative and let us pay the rent a week late.
An accommodative approach to remote work helped the company keep its staff.
She was less accommodative once the negotiations dragged into the second month.
adjectivebefore a nounfinancetechnical
Describing a central bank policy that keeps borrowing cheap, for example with low interest rates, in order to encourage spending and growth.
Grammar: Used before a noun: an accommodative policy, not a policy that is accommodative in everyday writing.
Patterns
- accommodative policy
- accommodative stance
The bank kept an accommodative stance for two years after the downturn.
Investors expect accommodative monetary policy to continue until prices rise faster.
adjectivebefore a nounmedicaltechnical
Relating to the eye's ability to change focus between near and distant objects.
Grammar: Used before a noun in eye care: accommodative effort.
Patterns
- accommodative effort
Long hours at a screen can cause accommodative strain in the eyes.
The optometrist tested her accommodative ability with cards held at different distances.
Word forms
| comparative | more accommodative |
|---|---|
| superlative | most accommodative |
Common combinations
- an accommodative policy
- The council adopted an accommodative policy toward small street vendors.
- an accommodative stance
- The central bank signaled an accommodative stance on interest rates.
- remain accommodative
- The bank is expected to remain accommodative through next year.
- an accommodative attitude
- His accommodative attitude made the merger talks easier.
- accommodative monetary policy
- Accommodative monetary policy tends to lower the cost of home loans.
Synonyms and how they differ
- accommodating
- This is the common everyday word for a person who is obliging, while accommodative sounds more formal and is also used for policies.
- flexible
- This simply means able to change, whereas accommodative stresses changing in order to suit someone else.
- obliging
- This describes a person who is happy to do favors, and it is warmer and more personal than the more formal accommodative.
- lenient
- This suggests being less strict than expected about rules or punishment, which is narrower than accommodative.
Opposites
Word family
- accommodate verb
- to provide for someone's needs or fit in with their wishes
- accommodation noun
- a place to stay, or an adjustment made to suit someone
- accommodating adjective
- helpful and willing to adjust
- accommodatingly adverb
- in a helpful and flexible way
Commonly confused: accommodative or accommodating?
accommodative vs accommodating
Accommodating is the more common word for a kind, flexible person. Accommodative is rarer and fits policies and technical writing better.
Practice
To help the economy recover, the central bank kept an ____ policy with very low interest rates.
Choose one answer.
An accommodative policy keeps borrowing cheap to support growth. A restrictive policy does the opposite, making money harder to borrow.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “accommodative”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.