1. in a way that involves making connections or associations between ideas, memories, or concepts
Usage: psychology; cognitive science
2. in a manner relating to the associative property in mathematics, where the grouping of operations does not affect the result
Usage: mathematics

Examples

• The brain processes information associatively, linking new experiences to existing memories.
• Students learn vocabulary more effectively when words are taught associatively rather than in isolation.
• The therapist encouraged her to think associatively about her childhood experiences.
• In algebra, addition works associatively: (a + b) + c = a + (b + c).
• The artist’s work flows associatively from one theme to another.
• Memory retrieval often happens associatively, with one thought triggering another.