attrib.

Writing & Everyday abbreviation · Grammar and Dictionary

attrib. stands for Attributive, a grammar and dictionary abbreviation.

Marks an adjective or noun that is used only, or mainly, before the noun it modifies, as with "main" in "the main reason" or "chief" in "chief engineer." Dictionaries use it to show where a word can appear.

Example: main (adj.) attrib. most important: "the main entrance," but not "the entrance is main"

Usage notes

The opposite label is pred. (predicative), for words used after a linking verb, such as "afraid" or "asleep." Nouns used attributively, as "city" in "city council," work like adjectives without changing form. Learner's dictionaries may print a code such as [only before noun] instead.

Related abbreviations

More grammar and dictionary abbreviations

• adj. – Adjective
• adv. – Adverb
• AmE – American English
• ant. – Antonym
• arch. – Archaic
• art. – Article
• Austral. – Australian
• aux. – Auxiliary (verb)
• BrE – British English
• Brit. – British
• colloq. – Colloquial
• compar. – Comparative

See all 93 grammar and dictionary abbreviations →

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