qual·i·ta·tive \ˈkwäləˌtād.]iv, -āt], ]ēv also ]əv sometimes ˈkwȯl-\adjective Etymology: Late Latin qualitativus, from Latin qualitat-, qualitas + -ivus -ive : of, relating to, or involving quality or kind < qualitative change > < qualitative data > — contrasted with quantitative • qual·i·ta·tive·ly\]ə̇vlē, -li\adverb