iso·la·tive \ˈ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˌlād.]iv, -āt], ]ēv also ]əv\adjective 1.of a sound change: occurring in isolation : not dependent on phonetic environment < OE \stään\ stān became by isolative change Modern English \stōn\ stone > — compare combinative 2.: isolating