Entry 1 sense Webster, 1913 Associative /əs-ōsh'-ət-ĭvˌ/ · As·so·ci·a·tive · IPA /əˈsoʊ.ʃi.ə.tɪv/ 01 a. Having the quality of associating; tending or leading to association; as, the associative faculty. 1. Having the quality of associating; tending or leading to association; as, the associative faculty.