preformative Definition
pertaining to an utterance that performs an action or creates a new reality by the act of speaking itself.
Using preformative: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "preformative" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
In the sentence 'I apologize,' the word 'apologize' is preformative because it creates an apology by being spoken.
Example
The phrase 'I now pronounce you husband and wife' is a preformative utterance that creates a new reality by the act of speaking itself.
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Summary: preformative in Brief
The term 'preformative' [pree-fawr-muh-tiv] describes an utterance that creates a new reality or performs an action simply by being spoken. Examples include 'I apologize' and 'I now pronounce you husband and wife.'
